Air Fryer Tater Tots
Your child (and your childhood) will rejoice to see their favorite mid-afternoon snack!
Table of Contents
What do you think about when you remember lunchtime in your youth? Do you remember a school cafeteria, seated around a table of friends with an assortment of homemade sandwiches and lunchroom classics? Do you slip into a spring break picnic? A Fourth of July barbecue? A weekend with your grandparents? Lunchtime is something so simple and seemingly banal (if you’re eating healthily, it happens every day!) yet everyone holds some image of lunchtime in their head as a nostalgic image of the whole concept.
Your nostalgia might remember lunchtime as something significant like a special holiday gathering, perhaps Picnic Potato Salad or that time you had unforgettably bomb hotdogs for July Fourth. Some people’s retrospective of lunch is a little wholesome – mine, for instance, is eating Cajun Burgers while sitting in a towel after a fresh swim during weekend visits to my grandmother’s house. But I think I can safely say that most people remember, somewhere on the table of their childhood, that quintessential classic – Tater Tots.
Tater Tots are such a formative memory for most kids that they still love those crispy hashed spuds long into adulthood! There’s something special about them – they’re crispy and salty, potato-y and plush, hot and pop-able! They’re everything a child (or even a nostalgic adult) loves!
You probably have frozen Tater Tots at home, so why not whip up a batch for your next lunch?
Are Air Fryer Tater Tots Healthy?
Potatoes are rich in minerals as well as fiber, but Tater Tots are typically viewed as being unhealthy due to the fact that they’re fried in oil to get that crispy exterior. Our air-fryer Tater Tots use no oil at all! This takes them from notoriously unhealthy to surprisingly wholesome in one quick step!
Most frozen Tater Tots are already vegan and gluten-free, with keto-friendly options often available in your grocery aisle so check out the selection when you go shopping!
Why do tater tots just hit different?
Everybody loves a crispy exterior with fluffy insides – that’s why French fries have such a broad appeal! Texturally, potatoes make the perfect satisfier in the fryer while also being just safe enough that most children (even picky ones) will happily gobble them up! But did you know that there’s a science behind it all?
Children are often burning more calories due to growth and physical activity. By growing up and playing a lot, kids have a very different caloric intake need that’s reflected in their food interests! Children often covet sweet, calorie-dense foods to give them energy and sodium-rich foods for the electrolytes which aid in moderating water balances. As a result, kids often flock to sweet treats and those foods we would usually deem unhealthy – like Tater Tots!
INGREDIENTS
- 16 ounces of frozen Tater Tots avoid overfilling the air fryer basket
INSTRUCTIONS
Prep
Get your air fryer ready by preheating it to the perfect temperature for golden tots.
Arrange
Place your Tater Tots in the basket, spaced out for the ultimate crispiness.
Cook
Let them sizzle to perfection, shaking occasionally for that even golden-brown exterior.
Enjoy
Serve them piping hot and dive into the crunch with your favorite dip.
Devour!
FAQs & Tips
How to Make Ahead and Store
Tater Tots are so easy to make in the air fryer that they can be prepped ahead of time and served whenever your kids (or your adults!) are settled down and ready to eat! Just pop your Tater Tots in the oven for a brief toast to ensure that the outsides stay crispy and the insides stay fluffy; or, you can toss them in your air-fryer again!
Aren’t Tater tots kind of simple for grown-ups?
They don’t have to be! Tater Tots, much like French fries and baked potatoes, share the spud-tacular trait of being totally top-able! If you’re feeling cheesy, drizzle your Tater Tots in melted cheddar and top with chives! If you want something meaty, give them a bacon crumble! Your tots are only as imaginative as you are!
Is there a way to hide other vegetables in this food my kids love?
It can be hard to get your kids to eat anything but Tater Tots, sometimes. If you’re trying to slip some secretive nutrition into your Tater Tots, try using bacon to up the protein content or blend up a mixture of tomatoes, carrots, onions, and a pinch of sugar for some dippable homemade ketchup!
Serving Suggestions
Tater Tots go with any and all of your favorite lunch plates! Just try them with Air Fryer Chicken Bites for a kid’s favorite combination! Or, if you’re looking for a nostalgic lunch that’s vegetarian and fun, try serving these air fryer Tater Tots alongside a Vegetarian Quiche! Wash it down with a delicious Kale Smoothie and you’ll feel like a kid again! Take a trip down memory lane with nostalgic Tater Tots, just don’t forget to stop for lunch!
Air Fryer Tater Tots
Your child (and your childhood) will rejoice to see their favorite mid-afternoon snack!
Servings 6
Calories 141kcal
Ingredients
- 16 ounces of frozen Tater Tots avoid overfilling the air fryer basket
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F. This ensures that the Tater Tots will start cooking immediately and get that desired crispy exterior.
- Arrange the frozen Tater Tots in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure not to overcrowd. This allows for even air circulation and crispiness. Fill the basket no more than halfway full.
- Cook the Tater Tots for 15-20 minutes, giving the basket a gentle shake every 5 minutes. This shaking motion ensures that all sides of the Tater Tots get evenly cooked and crispy.
- Once the Tater Tots are golden brown and crispy to your liking, carefully remove them from the air fryer. They will be hot, so use caution.
- Serve the Tater Tots immediately while they’re hot and crispy. Pair with your favorite dipping sauce, such as ketchup, ranch dressing, or a spicy aioli, for an added flavor kick.
Nutrition
Calories: 141kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 341mg | Potassium: 197mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 3IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 0.4mg
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