Air Fryer tater tots go from frozen to incredibly crunchy, hot and delicious in just 15 minutes! These crispy tots make a great easy side dish for burgers, chicken and more.
Who else thinks their Air Fryer might just be a magic machine that makes all the foods more delicious?
And today, we're making Air Fryer tater tots!
Oh, tater tots. Those frozen little bites of potato that get crispy edges all around the outside with soft, pillowy potato goodness on the inside.
It's one of those easy staples that I try to always keep on hand in the freezer so I can pull some out for a quick side dish with burgers or grilled chicken.
And they get so amazingly golden brown and crispy in the Air Fryer. Beats the oven hands down.
Plus, they go straight from the freezer to delicious crunchy nuggets in just 15 minutes.
It's glorious. And it's a weeknight sanity saver!
How long do you cook frozen tater tots in an Air Fryer?
Exact timing will depend on your desired degree of doneness and crispiness for your tater tots.
| Tater Tots: | Timing: |
| Up to 1 lb. regular tots | 12-15 minutes in the Air Fryer |
| Up to 1 lb. mini tater tots | 11-14 minutes in the Air Fryer |
| 1 ½ to 2 or more lbs. tater tots | Use the oven! |
Tip: Shake the tray once halfway through for even crisping and browning.
I set mine for 14 minutes, flip after 6-7 minutes and then start checking around 12 minutes until they look to be the perfect level of crispy.
Tips & Tricks:
Frozen: We are using frozen tater tots straight from the freezer. No need to defrost them or pre-cook them. They go in the Air Fryer frozen, making this even easier and more convenient.
Batches: The tots needs to be in a single, even layer so they cook and crisp evenly. No stacking. This means you may be only able to fit ½ a bag or so of tater tots at a time, depending on the size of your Air Fryer.
Timing: The exact timing will depend on your preference for crunchiness. Check a couple of times when you first make them to determine your optimal time and then you'll know going forward.
Big batch: If you are trying to make a lot of tater tots, like the entire 2 lb. frozen bag, the Air Fryer might not be the best way to go. You'd have to do at least 2 and maybe 3 separate batches, whereas you could cook them all on 1-2 sheet pans in the oven at once.
In case you are in the market for an Air Fryer, I highly recommend mine. Originally, I had a small size one, but I needed more room to cook for us. So I got this one (it's usually on sale, which is nice) and I've loved it. It's a better fit for families with children, or if you're cooking for bigger groups.
Dipping sauces:
Finally, let's talk dipping. Cause those crispy nuggets are delicious on their own, but a little dunk in your favorite sauce takes them to the next level.
- Ketchup
- BBQ sauce
- Ranch dressing
- Honey mustard
- Mayonnaise
Or use any other favorite dressing or sauce.
If you are a tater tot lover like we are - and man, you can't beat the convenience of having those on hand in the freezer - I really hope you try cooking them this way.
You'll likely never go back.
Enjoy!
XO,
Kathryn
Air Fryer Tater Tots
Ingredients
- 1 lb. frozen tater tots
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat the Air Fryer to 400 for 5 minutes. (If yours requires preheating.)
- Place the frozen tater tots in a single layer in the Air Fryer so there's no overlapping or stacking (this helps them cook evenly and crisp up all the way around). Spray the tops with cooking spray.
- Cook the tots at 400 for 12-15 minutes, shaking the tray halfway through for even crisping. Start checking for your desired degree of crispiness at 12 minutes, adding another minute or two as needed.
- Serve the tater tots hot and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
If you love the Air Fryer like I do, I've got tons more Air Fryer recipes you can browse.
Air Fryer chicken tenders are a kid and adult favorite around here - oh that crunch! And Air Fryer chicken Parm is breaded and topped with marinara and mozzarella for a delicious family dinner. And these Air Fryer meatballs - use fresh or frozen - are great for spaghetti nights or meatballs subs.
And veggies, oh how I love some veggies in the Air Fryer! Air Fryer broccoli and cauliflower and Brussels are some of our favorites. And you can't beat Air Fryer zucchini sticks for an appetizer!
Hobo says
Really ? Instructions on frozen tater tots ? It's on the bag!
JL says
The brand I buy does not have air fryer instructions on it, so I was happy to find this!
Art says
Was a little upset at the end of your instructions you said to each her own on the doneness men make Tater Tots too you should have said to each their own