These delicious Loaded Tater Tots are ready to eat in just 25 minutes! Tater tots are baked, covered in bacon, sour cream, and tomatoes, they’re the perfect game day dish or midnight snack.
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Tater Tot Facts
It may surprise you that tater tots, a common American side dish frequently served with hamburgers or hot dogs, has a complex history. Tater tots were invented for the Ore-Ida company by brothers F. Nephi and Golden Grigg, potato farmers who created the frozen food favorite from leftover French fry scraps.
However, due to the machinery used to make tater tots, they’re difficult to make from scratch at home, and can take up to 12 hours to make.
Why This Tater Tot Casserole Recipe is a Keeper
There is something magical about tater tots. They’re great on their own, but they go over the top when the tater tots are topped with delicious ingredients. Wait until you see how easy it to make this recipe!
- 25 Minute Meal: This easy casserole takes only 25 minutes to make, and makes a great appetizer or side dish.
- Easy Ingredients: All of the ingredients for this crispy tater tot recipe can likely be found in your kitchen or local grocery store.
- Party Favorite: Your party guests are sure to love this delicious game day snack.
Is this Loaded Tater Tot Casserole a Side Dish or an Appetizer Recipe?
You can enjoy this loaded tater tot recipe either way! However, these gooey tater tots with bacon and green onion are best enjoyed hot out of the oven, so make sure you serve this finger food when you’re ready to eat. We love it with fry sauce for dipping!
Ingredient Notes for Loaded Totchos
- Frozen Tater Tots: Use a whole bag of tater tots to make this recipe.
- Bacon: Any kind of bacon works.
- Grated Cheese: Top the tater tot casserole with shredded cheddar cheese.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Variations and Substitutions for Loaded Tater Tots Recipe
The best part about this recipe is how easy it is to make it your own!
- Chili: Add a kick to the loaded baked tots by topping with chili.
- Pulled Pork: For some more meat, make pulled pork in the crock pot or slow cooker and use to top the casserole.
- Breakfast Tater Tots: For a breakfast variation, top with crumbled breakfast sausage. Whisk eggs in a small bowl to scramble them, then cook them and top the casserole.
How to Make this Easy Appetizer Recipe
These are the basic steps for making loaded tater tots. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions. We love reader interaction if you make recipe, please let us know.
Step 1: Prep
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Chop the bacon into ½ inch pieces, and cook it over medium heat until crispy, turning often. Drain the grease. Then, chop the tomato and the onion.
Step 2: Place Tater Tots in a Even Layer
Grease a 9×13 inch baking sheet pan or line with parchment paper, and place tots in a single layer. Bake for 20 minutes until golden and crispy, or bake the tater tots according to the package directions.
Step 3: Remove from Oven, Rebake, and Return to the Oven
Remove from the oven, then sprinkle the shredded cheese on top, and then arrange the bacon. Place tater tots back in the oven for 5 more minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Once the cheese has melted, take the casserole out of the oven again, and top with dollops of sour cream, then sprinkle with chopped tomatoes and green onions.
Cheesy Tater Tot Finger Food FAQs
Expert Tips for Making Loaded Tater Tots
- Different Bacon: You can make this tater tot recipe with any kind of bacon you want. Try maple bacon, hickory bacon, turkey bacon, etc.
- Sweet Potato Tots: Try using sweet potato tater tots instead of regular ones for a different flavor. You can also make this recipe with cauliflower tots.
- Tater Tot Cups: To make stuffed tater tot cups, just flatten four tater tots in the bottom of a muffin tin, place the rest of the ingredients inside, and bake.
- Reheat: Set the oven to broil and place tater tots in a single layer on a baking sheet.
What to Serve with Loaded Tater Tots
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Loaded Tater Tots
Equipment
- Paper towel-lined plate
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Ingredients
- 1 32 ounce bag Frozen tater tots
- ½ pound Bacon, chopped
- 1 cup Shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup Roma tomato, diced
- ½ cup Sour cream
- 2 Green onions, sliced
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450°F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until crisp, stirring occasionally. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
- While the bacon cooks, dice the tomato and slice the green onions.
- Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer in the prepared baking dish. Bake for 20 minutes, or until they begin to turn golden brown and crisp.
- Remove the baking dish from the oven. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the tater tots, then top with the cooked bacon. Return to the oven and bake for 5 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted.
- Remove from the oven and top with dollops of sour cream, the diced tomato, and sliced green onions. Serve immediately.
Christina’s Notes
For extra-crispy tots, bake them directly on a rimmed baking sheet for the first 20 minutes, then transfer them to the baking dish before adding the toppings.
Try different types of bacon, such as maple, hickory-smoked, peppered, or turkey bacon, for a fun flavor variation.
Sweet potato tots or cauliflower tots make great substitutions if you’d like to switch things up.
Turn this recipe into Loaded Tater Tot Cups by pressing four tater tots into the bottom of each muffin cup, baking until crisp, then filling with the remaining toppings.
Serve with ranch dressing, chipotle ranch, barbecue sauce, or your favorite hot sauce for dipping.
Assemble the toppings ahead of time and refrigerate them separately. Bake and assemble just before serving for the crispiest results.
Store leftover loaded tater tots in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat under the broiler or in a 400°F oven until the tater tots are crisp and the cheese is hot. Microwaving is not recommended because it softens the tater tots.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.