I always have a bag of tater tots in the freezer.
It’s one of those “we’ll figure it out later” foods. You throw them in the oven and hope they don’t come out half soft, half burnt.
Then I tried them in the air fryer and… yeah, no going back.
They come out crispy, actually crispy, not “kind of crispy if you squint.” And it takes like 15 minutes.
My kids act like I made something special, which is funny because I basically just pressed a button.
Add a little salt and spices, maybe some ketchup on the side, and they’re gone in minutes.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 1 lb frozen tater tots
- 1/3 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 teaspoon paprika
- 1/3 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 tablespoon oil
How to Make Tater Tots in Air Fryer
Preheat your air fryer to 360°F.
Lightly grease the basket with a bit of oil so nothing sticks.
Add the frozen tater tots in a single layer. Don’t pile them up too much or they won’t get crispy.
Mix the salt, paprika, and garlic, then sprinkle it over the tots.
Cook for 7 minutes, then give them a shake or turn them over.
Cook for another 5–8 minutes until they’re golden and crispy.
Serve right away while they’re still hot.
How to Make Homemade Tater Tots
If you don’t have frozen tater tots, you can make your own with a few simple ingredients.
Start by peeling 3–4 medium potatoes. Grate them using a box grater, then place the grated potatoes in a clean towel and squeeze out as much water as you can. This step matters. Less water means crispier tots.
Put the potatoes in a bowl and add a pinch of salt, a little pepper, and some garlic powder if you like. Mix everything together.
Take small portions of the mixture and shape them into little cylinders, like the frozen ones.
Lightly brush or spray them with oil, then place them in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
Cook at 375°F for about 12–15 minutes, turning halfway through, until they’re golden and crispy on the outside.
Serve them hot with your favorite sauce.