Air Fryer tater tots are crispy potato puffs that come out exceptionally well in the air fryer. Cooking tater tots in the air fryer is quicker than in the oven and they cook up crispy and crunchy on the outside and tender and fluffy on the inside. These golden potato puffs are a great alternative to french fries and kids seem to love them as a quick snack.
When my kids were little, tater tots were a favorite. They would get them at restaurants and I would make frozen tater tots at home in the oven, which is healthier than deep frying.
It’s been a while since I’ve made them but I was curious about making frozen tots in the air fryer. And I found that the air fryer makes the crispiest tater tots.
The air fryer is particularly good at crisping up frozen food. I’ve been trying out other favorite easy recipes such as frozen pizza rolls, frozen taquitos and sweet potato fries and wanted to see if tater tots would turn out as well. And they do!
The other reason I like using the air fryer is the time savings. Foods cook much faster in the air fryer. You can use an Instant Pot air fryer such as the Duo Crisp or Pro Crisp or you can use a traditional air fryer.
Air Fryer Frozen Foods
Tips for Success
Preheat the air fryer if yours doesn’t have a built-in preheat functionality. Some air fryers preheat before starting to count down. e.g. the Instant Pot Duo Crisp. My Cosori has a preheat button that lets me heat up the air fryer before putting the food in.
For best results, keep the tater tots frozen until you’re ready to air fry them in the preheated air fryer.
To get evenly crispy tater tots, you should shake them up twice during cooking. I shake them at the 5-minute mark and 10-minute mark.
To get evenly crispy tater tots, you should shake them up twice during cooking. I shake them at the 5-minute mark and 10-minute mark.
If you want to season the tater tots, toss the frozen tater tots with some oil and your favorite seasonings before air frying. Here are some options:
You don’t need to have the air fryer tots in a single layer. You can stack the frozen tater tots in the air fryer but don’t overcrowd the basket. I like to limit each batch to half of a (32 oz) bag of tater tots or tater rounds
If you need to make a larger quantity, do it in multiple batches. You can reheat the prior batches for 1-2 minutes cook time at 350 degrees Fahrenheit if they cool down too much.
Every air fryer will vary. The first time you make tater tots in the air fryer, monitor and check on them 2 minutes before the cooking time is up. Or you might find that you need to add a few extra minutes to the air frying time in order to get golden brown and crispy air fryer tater tots. Adjust the air fryer tater tot recipe as needed in the future.
FAQS
You shouldn’t need to use oil in this recipe. I haven’t had any issues with sticking when air frying tater tots. If you want to use a little bit of oil, use olive oil, avocado oil, or vegetable oil in a spray bottle. Don’t use the canned cooking spray.
Cook them for about 12 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, shaking them twice, at the 5 and 10-minute mark.
Yes, you can use the same timing and temperature to make these crispy air fryer tater tots using the Instant Pot air fryer lid, Duo Crisp or Pro Crisp.
I used Ore Ida tater tots. They are the most popular store-bought tater tots and are widely available. Trader Joe tater tots are another brand I use.
This recipe was tested using Cosori and Duo Crisp brands of air fryers.
Yes, store leftovers in an airtight container and reheat them by air frying tater tots for 2 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you need to air fry double the quantity, you can do it in two batches. The second batch may take less time to cook because the air fryer is hot.
How to cook tater tots in air fryer
- Keep frozen until ready to use
- Place frozen tater tots in the air fryer basket
- Air fry
- Turn or shake them twice while they’re air frying
- Transfer to serving platter
- Serve with ketchup, barbecue sauce, or your favorite dipping sauce.
See details in the recipe card below
Air Fryer Tater Tots
Equipment
Ingredients
- 16 oz. frozen tater tots ½ of 32 oz. bag
Instructions
Air Fryer Instructions
- Place the empty air fryer basket in the air fryer and preheat at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes. **
- Add the frozen tater tots to the air fryer basket.
- Air fry for 12 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, shaking the basket at the 5-minute and 10-minute marks.
- Transfer the tater tots to a serving platter.
Notes
- * Nutrition information is for Ore Ida tater tots.
- Don’t thaw the frozen tater tots before air frying them.
- ** Preheat the air fryer if the air fryer doesn’t have a built-in preheat functionality.
- Every air fryer will vary. The first time you make this recipe, monitor the tater tots and adjust the air frying time as needed.
Nutrition
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I am not a certified nutritionist. I provide my best estimate of nutritional information merely as a courtesy to my readers. If you depend on nutritional information for dietary or health reasons, I suggest using your favorite online nutrition calculator to confirm the nutritional value of this recipe based on the actual ingredients that you use.
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