Tater Tots in the Air Fryer

Tater Tots in the Air Fryer is a deliciously simple way to get crispy tater tots! It’s the best way to enjoy this quick snack any time of day.

Whether you’re making ore-ida tater tots for a side dish accompanying chicken nuggets, pork chops, grilled chicken, or burgers this cooking method is so easy!

Frozen tater tots are. a great “vehicle” for all kinds of recipes.

Make Sloppy Joe Tot-Chos and enjoy a new family favorite! They’re like tater tot nachos, but better… It’s a great party food idea!

Pair them with your favorite dipping sauce, like this Green Onion Chip Dip, and you’ve got an appetizer ready for game days!

Of course, the usual barbecue sauce, ketchup, ranch, or honey mustard are always a go-to idea.

These are the perfect side dish, and one of my favorite things to serve with the main course!

How to Make Tater Tots in the Air Fryer

First, gather your ingredients:

Frozen tater tots or potato puffs. I buy the Ore-Ida extra crispy labeled ones. Trader Joe has great ones in their freezer section. There are plenty of brands to choose from, pick one, and go with it!

Cooking Spray – whatever nonstick spray you have on hand will work! I like to spray the air fryer basket down before adding the tots to cook.

Seasonings – while in this recipe I just used kosher salt, I do love seasoning them with Ranch powder, Buffalo Wing Dust, or Seasoning Salt!

Dipping Sauce – choose your favorite!

Now, you’ll need an air fryer.

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I love my Chefman Small Compact Air Fryer – it’s perfect for this single girl! It makes just enough for a serving, and that’s plenty!

Another Air Fryer I like is the Ninja Foodi Air Fryer — when I purchase another one, this will be it.

An air fryer is a mini convection oven that allows hot air to circulate all around the food you’re cooking. That’s why there are open weave baskets inside your air fryer! So heat can woosh all around, creating the perfect crispy texture without deep frying or using any extra oil!

If you don’t have an air fryer but have a convection oven you can create the same atmosphere by using a baking sheet with a wire rack inside it. This is especially helpful when you are making tater tots or chicken wings for a crowd!

Air Frying Tater Tots

Start by preheating your air fryer. While this isn’t completely necessary, it’s a habit that won’t go away. I’ll crank my small air fryer on to 400˚, and let it heat for 5 minutes.

After the air fryer basket has preheated, remove it, and coat it with a non-stick cooking spray.

Usually, you would want a single layer of whatever you’re cooking in the air fryer. However, for tater tots, french fries, or potato rounds you don’t have to.

You can pour a load into your air fryer, give it a shimmy shake, and let the air fryer do its job.

Yes! It does take slightly longer than if you were to cook them in one layer. But, a few extra minutes is worth it!

You’ve poured your frozen tots into the basket of your air fryer, and given it a shimmy shake, now pop the basket into the air fryer, and let it cook at 400 degrees f for 8 minutes.

After 8 minutes, you’ll take the basket out, give it another good shake, and put it back in.

Do this over and over until you have crispy air fryer tater tots!

When you can hear how the crispy potato puffs sound, they’re ready. I know that’s an odd way of describing a cooking time. Every air fryer is different, but everyone knows the sound of the crispiest tater tots!

Use your favorite seasonings on them when they’re hot. It’ll give you the best results!

If you love Potato Latkes, try serving your tater puffs with sour cream and apple sauce. Yum!

Store leftovers in an airtight container and use your air fryer to reheat anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do you cook tater tots in the air fryer?

Depending on how many you are cooking it should take 12-15 minutes. Cook time for your air fryer may vary, keep a close eye!

What temperature do you heat tater tots in the air fryer?

Using a higher temperature like 400˚ helps the tater tots crisp the best.

How do I preheat my air fryer?

Turn your air fryer to the temperature and setting you need, then let it run for a few minutes. Small air fryers take less time, maybe 2-3 minutes to preheat. A larger air fryer should preheat for 5 minutes.

Can you line your air fryer with parchment paper or aluminum foil?

While this sounds like a great idea, making for easy clean-up, I do not suggest this. Air fryer baskets are open so the hot air circulates all around the food. When you line it with either parchment paper or tin foil, you are then allowing the food to steam instead of crisp.

Tater Tots in the Air Fryer is an easy air fryer recipe your older kids can make too!

More Easy Recipes You Should Try:

Extra Crispy Air Fryer Wings

Air Fryer Totino’s Pizza Rolls

Save this recipe to your favorite snack board on Pinterest!

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