These Air Fryer Tater Tots are a simple way to cook one of your favorite potato snacks and get a super crispy exterior and fluffy interior – just the way tater tots are supposed to be.
» Also try these Air Fryer Chicken Wings, Air Fryer Bagel Bites and Air Fryer Chicken Strips.
Potatoes are one of the best things to make in an air fryer. We make potato recipes all the time, like potato wedges, crispy cubed potatoes, even sweet potato fries. The circulating air in the air fryer helps crisp up the exterior of the tots, just like they’d be in a deep fryer, but without all the extra oil.
I used to make tater tots in the oven, but once I got my air fryer, I stopped doing that entirely. Why put them in the oven when the air fryer does such a better job and in half the time?
Ingredients You Need
This is a very simple recipe that only needs a few basic ingredients:
- Frozen tater tots – Use any brand you like. We use Ore-Ida brand Golden Tater Tots. There is a list of other options that we’ve tried and liked below.
- Salt – Tater tots definitely need salt once they are cooked. All potatoes need a good sprinkle of salt to bring out their flavor. To give them a little extra boost, use seasoned salt.
- Dipping sauce – Optional.
Equipment Information
- Air fryer: I use this 4-quart basket-style air fryer. It’s large enough to fit a meal for 4-6. But some things need more space in the air fryer basket, so they cook evenly.
- Kitchen tongs: It’s very easy to remove food from your air fryer with kitchen tongs. I use these kitchen tongs that are silicon coated so they don’t scratch the interior.
Ninja® Foodi®XL 2-Basket Air Fryer
- 2 independent XL air fryer baskets
- Integrated Foodi® Smart Thermometer
- Cook 2 foods 2 ways that finish at the same time
Why Use an Air Fryer
An air fryer is an incredibly easy way to cook just about anything. You place the food in a fryer-style basket and hot air rapidly circulates all around the food, making the food crisp – much like deep-frying, but without the oil. You can cook anything you’d make in the oven.
- I use a Ninja MaxXL air fryer (pictured left). If you don’t have an air fryer yet, check out these options to find one that fits your needs.
- See reviews and prices for air fryers on Amazon.
- Here’s a printable Air Fryer Cooking Times Cheat Sheet to get you started.
- Click to find more recipes to make in your Air Fryer.
- Learn how to make fun things in the air fryer, like potato wedges, pork belly bites, and chicken wings.
How to Make Tater Tots in the Air Fryer
I always recommend using store-bought tater tots, rather than making your own. They’re just a real pain to make and often they don’t turn out quite the way you want them to. If you want to try making them check out this recipe. Rather than going through the trouble, buy a bag of tater tots.
You can even cook them from frozen, so there’s no need to thaw the bag before cooking. In fact, they’re better if you don’t.
Cook the tater tots at 400°F (204°C) for 15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. I find that everyone likes their tater tots cooked to a different degree of crispiness. So you might need to cook them for a few more minutes until they reach the crispiness you like.
To check the interior, just grab one and taste it. If it needs more time, continue cooking. They’re done when they’re crispy and browned.
Don’t forget to give them a nice sprinkle of salt once they’re cooked. This will really make them tasty.
Why Use an Air Fryer
An air fryer is an incredibly easy way to cook just about anything. You place the food in a fryer-style basket and hot air rapidly circulates all around the food, making the food crisp – much like deep-frying, but without the oil. You can cook anything you’d make in the oven.
- I use a Ninja MaxXL air fryer (pictured left). If you don’t have an air fryer yet, check out these options to find one that fits your needs.
- See reviews and prices for air fryers on Amazon.
- Here’s a printable Air Fryer Cooking Times Cheat Sheet to get you started.
- Click to find more recipes to make in your Air Fryer.
- Learn how to make fun things in the air fryer, like potato wedges, pork belly bites, and chicken wings.
How To Make Tater Tots From Scratch
Making tater tots from scratch isn’t hard to do but definitely takes more time than just opening a bag! If you want to give it a try here are the steps:
Parboil 2-4 medium sized russet potatoes in a pot of water for 6-8 minutes. Drain them and allow them to cool. Grate the potatoes and use a clean dish towel to drain the shredded potatoes thoroughly, squeezing out as much water as possible.
In a bowl mix together the potatoes, 1 tablespoon of flour, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon of onion powder and salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of ground black pepper. The consistency should be workable but on the drier side. Form the potato mixture into tots, shaping them into small cylindrical shapes.
Preheat air fryer to 400° F for 5 minutes. Add the tater tots to the air fryer basket, spray with cooking spray, and cook for 15 minutes, flipping half way through cooking. Work in batches leaving enough room for the air to circulate.
What Brand of Tater Tots to Use
There are quite a few brands of tater tots you can purchase. Our favorite and the one we use most often is Ore-Ida. You might not know this bit of trivia, but Ore-Ida is the brand that not only coined the term “tater tots,” but invented them back in 1953.
In my opinion, the Ore-Ida brand Golden Tater Tots or Extra Crispy Easy Tater Tots are still the best on the market, and they’re certainly the easiest to find. We also like Alexia Organic Yukon Select Puffs, 365 Everyday Value Sweet Potato Puffs, and Cascadian Farm Spud Puppies. For something a little different – with less carbs – try Birds Eye Cauliflower & Potato Tots.
Seasonings For Air Fryer Tater Tots
Experiment with these seasonings to find your favorite combination.
- Cajun seasoning – If you like a little heat, Cajun seasoning adds a spicy kick to tater tots.
- Ranch Seasoning – A blend of herbs, spices, and buttermilk flavoring, ranch seasoning adds a tangy and herby taste to tater tots.
- Italian Seasoning – This mix of dried herbs like oregano, basil, thyme, and rosemary can add an Italian twist to your tots. It works particularly well if you’re serving them with marinara sauce.
- Parmesan Cheese – Sprinkling grated or shredded Parmesan cheese over tater tots gives them a rich, savory flavor. It also adds a slightly crispy texture when baked.
Ninja® Foodi®XL 2-Basket Air Fryer
- 2 independent XL air fryer baskets
- Integrated Foodi® Smart Thermometer
- Cook 2 foods 2 ways that finish at the same time
What Sauce to Serve Them With
Tater tots can go with so many different types of sauces, so use whatever you like most. My favorites are:
- Ketchup
- Ketchup & Mayo mixed
- Honey Mustard
- Spicy Mustard
- Copy Cat Chick Fil A sauce
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Cook Tater Tots From Frozen?
If you are using tater tots you bought in a bag from the store, you should cook those in the air fryer from frozen. They don’t need any extra oil either. If for some reason your tater tots are no longer frozen, you’ll want to cut the cook time down by a few minutes.
How long does it take to cook tater tots in an air fryer?
Frozen store bought tater tots will cook at 400° F for 15 minutes shaking the basket half way through cooking. Check them for desired crispiness and cook for 2 minutes at a time until done to your liking.
What to Serve with This Dish
There are so many options for main dishes to serve with this dish. You can make these all in the air fryer or in the oven, if you wish.
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Air Fryer Tater Tots
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 bag frozen tater tots
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- dipping sauce optional
Instructions
- Add tater tots to the air fryer basket or tray (how many you can fit depends on the capacity of your air fryer). There is no need to spray the tots with oil.
- Sprinkle with salt. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- Prepared frozen tater tots do not need any oil added to them in the air fryer. They are pre-fried with oil that will make them crispy without adding any more.
- You can make your own tater tots if you wish. Here is a recipe. They should still be cooked from frozen, even if homemade.
All air fryers have different wattage and may cook at different rates. You may need to adjust the time or temp for the best results.
Nutrition
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What Oil & Oil Sprayer is Best for the Air Fryer?
The biggest issue most air fryer lovers face is finding the right oil and oil sprayer to use on food cooked in the air fryer. A fine mist of oil will help the entire piece of food crisp evenly, so it’s very important.
My personal preference is to use canola oil, extra virgin olive oil, or avocado oil. I use both a refillable spray bottle like the Evo one pictured below and non-propellant extra virgin olive oil, which has no harmful aerosols or chemicals.
Laura is a passionate foodie and owner of Air Fry Anytime She is dedicated to sharing delicious recipes and helpful tips for using air fryers at home. With years of experience in the kitchen and a love for healthy, flavorful cooking, Laura has become an expert at using air fryers to create amazing meals that are both nutritious and delicious.
I can’t believe how easy and delicious these air fryer tater tots are.
The air fryer gave them the perfect crunch.
I’m new to using an air fryer, and I’m wondering if I need to preheat it before adding the tater tots? Or can I simply place them in the basket and start the cooking process right away?
Hi Tristan, we rarely preheat the air fryer before using. If you choose to preheat you might need to reduce the cooking time by a minute or two.