Tachos

These loaded Tachos are a variation of nachos that features crispy tater tots in place of tortilla chips for the base. They’re loaded with the best of classic nacho toppings and can be served as an appetizer or a small plate main course.

Ingredients to Make Tachos Recipe

Nachos remain a party favorite nationwide and we love them, too! It’s super fun to mix it up once in a while using the same familiar flavors in an unexpected way. What exactly are Tachos? Tachos are a twist on classic nachos using tater tots for the base in place of tortilla chips. You may have also heard them called totchos. The allure of tater tots is the way they bake with a golden crispy exterior and creamy soft interior. This recipe begins with frozen tater tots for ease of preparation, there’s no need to make them homemade. Store-bought will work perfectly, just choose your favorite brand to use for the base. Ingredients to make simple Tachos: (Scroll down for full printable recipe card.)

• Tater Tots: One 32 ounce package of tater tots. Use your favorite brand.
• Beef: One pound of lean ground beef for the taco beef.
• Onion: One sweet onion or yellow onion for seasoning the beef layer.
• Oil: Olive oil or vegetable oil for cooking the meat.
• Taco Seasoning: Use your favorite brand of taco seasoning or use two tablespoons of homemade seasoning.
• Additional Seasonings: From your pantry you’ll need granulated garlic or 2 cloves of minced garlic, salt and lemon pepper. You could also use black pepper and a squeeze of lime.
• Taco Sauce: This forms the sauce for the beef. You can use mild, medium or hot depending on your preference.
• Shredded Cheese: Two cups of shredded queso quesadilla cheese, colby jack cheese or pepper jack cheese.
• Queso Dip: You can use classic white queso dip or nacho cheese sauce.
• Garnishes: Diced Roma tomatoes, red onion and jalapeños to add color, crunch and flavor.
• Sour Cream: Full-fat or low fat sour cream.

How to Make the Best Tachos Recipe

• Bake Tater Tots – Preheat oven to 425°F. Spray a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray. Arrange tater tots on the pan and bake per the directions until crispy.
• Make Taco Meat – In a large 12-inch skillet cook ground beef and onion over medium-high heat until no pink remains.
• Season the Beef– Add taco seasoning, salt, lemon pepper, garlic and taco sauce. Simmer over medium heat.
• Sprinkle Tater Tots with Cheese – Once tater tots are crispy and golden, sprinkle with shredded cheese. Increase the oven temperature to broil and bake just until the cheese melts.
• Assemble Tachos – Use a spatula to transfer a portion of the cheesy tater tots to a serving platter. Create layers using tater tots, taco meat and warm queso. Repeating layers until all ingredients are used.
• Garnish: Garnish with diced tomatoes, red onion and jalapenos. Dollop with sour cream and serve any remaining on the side.
• Enjoy: Serve immediately with your favorite nacho toppings as an appetizer, game day snack, entree or weeknight side dish.

Tips for Making Tachos

• Kitchen Tools You’ll Need: A rimmed sheet pan, a large serving platter or cast iron skillet, large skillet, sharp knife and chopping board, measuring cups and spoons, large spoon and cheese grater.
• Serve Extra Queso on the Side: You can use your favorite brand of prepared queso dip for the melted queso layer. I find that one cup is an ample amount for drizzling on top of the tater tots. You can have more warmed and serve it on the side for those who might want more.
• Shredded Cheese: Shredded queso quesadilla cheese melts beautifully. You can also use pepper jack, colby jack, monterey jack or even cheddar cheese, if that’s your preference.
• Make-Ahead Tip: The taco meat mixture can be prepared one day in advance and reheated just before assembling the Tachos to save time.
• Alternate Veggie Toppings: You could add corn, black beans, pinto beans, black olives, salsa, lettuce, green onions, fresh cilantro or guacamole to the top of these tachos. You could also make your own pico de gallo.
• Serving Suggestion: I like to transfer the tater tots from the sheet pan and layer them with the toppings on a separate platter or serving dish. If you prefer, you can serve them straight from the pan and assemble everything on the baking pan the tater tots were cooked on.

Recipe Variations and Substitutions

• Protein: You can use ground chorizo, ground turkey, ground pork or ground chicken for the meat layer in this recipe.
• Alternate Protein Toppings: You could use carne asada, cooked shrimp, skirt steak or sliced chicken breasts cooked with peppers in place of taco meat.
• Vegetarian: Use vegan cheese and top with bell peppers, kidney beans or black beans, onion, mushrooms, zucchini and squash or any combination of sauteed vegetables that you love on veggie tacos.
• Cheese: You can use another variety of shredded cheese or a bag of pre-shredded Mexican cheese blend purchased at the grocery store.
• Tater Tots: You could adapt this recipe using sweet potato tater tots or french fries in place of classic tater tots.

Storage and Leftovers

• Leftovers: Tachos are best made and enjoyed fresh. If you have any leftover, chill them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Reheating: Reheat in a 375°F oven just until heated through. Remove any sour cream prior to warming. You can also reheat at 325°F in an air fryer for a couple of minutes just until the tater tots are crispy.
• Freezer: You can freeze the taco meat and tater tots separately in airtight containers for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge and assemble and reheat just before serving.

More Tater Tots Recipes to Make

• These easy Sheet Pan Breakfast Stacks can be personalized to suit your taste.
• If bacon is your thing, check out my recipe for Loaded Tater Tots.
• Barbecue Beef Tater Tot Casserole is topped with crispy crowns and cheese for the ultimate comfort food.
• Start the day with this Tater Tot Italian Sausage Breakfast Casserole.
• The family will flip for this Bacon Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole.
• Air Fryer Tater Tots from The Spruce Eats.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Sheet Pan
• Measuring Set
• Kitchen Utensils
• Knives and Chopping Board