Loaded Tater Tots Recipe

This Loaded Tater Tots recipe is perfect as a fun appetizer, a laid-back side dish with burgers, or a crowd-pleasing game day snack. Crispy tater tots are smothered in warm queso and melted shredded cheese, turning them into an irresistibly gooey and crave-worthy appetizer or side dish.

Ingredients to Make Loaded Tater Tots Recipe

I’m not sure what it is about tater tots that makes them so irresistible to eat. Those little bite-size nuggets of potatoes are addictive! They’re popular at sports bars and pizza joints like Dominos who bakes their loaded tachos in the oven right along with the pizzas. Whether tater tots are in a breakfast casserole with Italian sausage or arranged on top of a barbecue beef dinner casserole, the crispy exterior and soft interior is undeniably delicious. This cheesy tater tots dish is perfectly customizable and the recipe easily doubles, if you have a hungry crowd to feed. Serve these loaded tater tots for game day, as a side dish or an appetizer, the kids will love it!

Checkout this quick list of ingredients you’ll need to have on hand to make the best Loaded Tater Tots in the oven: (Scroll down for full printable recipe card.)

• Potatoes – One 32 ounce package of frozen tater tots. I used Orieda.
• Crispy Bacon – Eight slices of crispy cooked bacon, skip the bacon bits for this one go for the real deal.
• Ranch Sour Cream – Sour cream, mayonnaise and ranch seasoning.
• Queso – One cup queso blanco warmed just until it’s pourable gives the tater tots a cheesy flavor.
• Shredded Cheese – Two cups shredded queso quesadilla, monterey jack or colby-jack cheese, binds all of the ingredients together. You can use your favorite.
• Onion – Thinly sliced green onions for color and a mild onion flavor. You could also use fresh chives.

How to Make the Best Loaded Tater Tots Recipe

This recipe is so simple to make, you really can’t go wrong. Just a couple of tips to mention:

• Prep Tater Tots – Bake in a preheated 425°F oven in a single layer until golden brown and crispy per package directions.
• Fry Bacon – Arrange bacon slices on a sheet pan. Bake along with the tater tots for 15-20 minutes or until crispy. Remove from the oven and drain excess grease on a paper towel, then chop. You can line the sheet pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper for easy clean-up.
• Make Ranch Sour Cream – Whisk together sour cream, mayo and ranch dressing mix. Keep chilled until assembling. This can be done up to one day in advance.
• Melt Queso – Warm Queso in the microwave or in a saucepan on the stovetop until pourable.
• Assemble the Tater Tots – Arrange tater tots on a serving platter or pan. Drizzle with warm queso.
• Shredded Cheese – Sprinkle the tots with shredded cheese, 1/2 ranch seasoned sour cream, crumbled bacon and green onion, chives or scallions to garnish.
• Serve – Enjoy with remaining ranch sour cream on the side.

Kitchen Equipment to for Making Loaded Tater Tots

• One large rimmed sheet pan.
• Cheese grater for freshly grated cheese.
• Measuring cups and spoons.
• Sharp knife and chopping board.

Recipe Variations, Tips and Substitutions

• Cheese – You can use shredded cheddar cheese, pepper jack cheese or even mozzarella cheese. You can also use a cheddar cheese sauce in place of queso blanco.
• Potatoes – You could make this recipe using any shape of tater tots or french fries.
• Protein Variations – You can top these cheesy tater tots with ground beef taco meat (made with taco seasoning), shredded chicken or pulled pork or steak bites.
• Toppings – You could also add salsa, guacamole, jalapeño peppers, pico de gallo, black beans or pinto beans and set up a tater tots bar for everyone to create their own loaded tater tots.
• Use Freshly Cooked Bacon – This is one of those times you need to make your own bacon and skip the bacon bits. Go for the gold! You can make the bacon in advance using my oven fried bacon recipe here.
• Use Your Favorite Queso Dip – To cut down on prep time,  I used a delicious prepared queso that we enjoy. If you’d like to make your own queso, see how to make Slow Cooker Queso Blanco Dip here.
• Serve Piping Hot – Due to the nature of tater tots, after assembling, serve immediately so they won’t become soggy.
• Use a Melty Cheese – You can use any flavor of shredded cheese that you enjoy, or that you have on hand. Queso quesadilla or monterey jack cheese melts very easily and it’s my go-to for these loaded tater tots. That being said, use a really yummy easy to melt cheese and you’ll be good to go.
• Ranch Sour Cream – If you prefer, you can use only sour cream for the ranch dip dressing and omit the mayonnaise. You can also replace the mayo with plain Greek yogurt. If you’re in a time crunch, a purchased Ranch dip will work.

Storage and Leftovers

• Make-Ahead Tip: For a time saver, whip-up the ranch flavored sour cream in advance, place into an airtight container and chill. Doing so will give time for the seasonings to mellow and become full flavored.
• Leftovers: These loaded tater tot totchos are best made and eaten fresh. Store leftovers separately (tater tots and toppings) in an airtight container in the fridge or wrapped in foil for up to 2-3 days.
• Reheating: If you have any leftover, you can reheat them on a sheet pan in a 350­°F oven or in an air fryer for a few minutes just until they’re crispy. Remove any sour cream prior to reheating.
• Freezer: Once assembled, I don’t recommend freezing leftovers.

More Easy Appetizer Recipes to Make

I’ve always said that appetizers are one of the most important parts of entertaining. It gives everyone the chance to casually chat and eat at the same time! More easy appetizer recipes you may also like to try:

• Classic Shrimp Cocktail served with cocktail sauced and lemon dill sauce for dipping.
• Candied Bacon Wrapped Breadsticks can be made in advance for a time saver.
• These Reuben Nachos are a tasty option for St Patrick’s Day.
• Save money and make your own Crab Rangoon at home.
• These pastry wrapped Italian Meatball Bites are so yummy dipped in warm pizza sauce or marinara sauce.
• These homemade Southern Cheese Straws are a cross between a cheese stick and a cheese cracker.
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip from Crayons and Cravings.

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Helpful Kitchen Items: 

• Sheet Pans
• Cheese Grater
• Turning Spatula
• Non Stick Grill Pan