Air fryer tater tots are crispy, golden, and delicious, flavored with garlic and parmesan. These savory homemade tater tots take only 15 minutes to cook in the air fryer.
Air Fryer Tater Tots
I like to think of tater tots as golden nuggets –– they are truly bite-sized pieces of perfection.
These homemade air fryer tater tots have a crispy exterior but maintain a soft and tender interior. Each bite is loaded with the delicious savory flavors of garlic powder, onion powder, and parmesan cheese.
My favorite thing about these tater tots is how easy they are to cook in the air fryer: no deep-frying or mess involved. Ever since I learned how to cook tater tots in air fryer, I haven’t wanted them any other way!
While tater tots are one of the most popular forms of potatoes, it goes without saying that potatoes in any form are sure to make any meal better. A few more potato dishes that I love to cook include these easy crispy breakfast potatoes, and roasted red potatoes with chipotle spice.
Why you will love this recipe
- Air fried tater tots are healthier than deep-fried tots
- Makes a great snack or side dish
- Pairs wonderfully with dipping sauces
- Delicious savory flavor
- Easy to reheat frozen tater tots in air fryer
How to make perfect Air Fryer Tater Tots
Cook and cool the potatoes. Boil whole peeled potatoes for 8 to 10 minutes, or until they are fork-tender but not breaking apart. Once the potatoes have cooled completely, refrigerate them for at least 20 minutes before proceeding.
Shred the potatoes and combine all ingredients. Shred the potatoes using a coarse box grater or food processor, then place them in a large mixing bowl. Add the salt, flour, chopped parsley, onion powder, garlic powder, and parmesan cheese. Stir until fully combined.
Form the tater tots. Use your hands to roll the mixture into 2-inch long tater tots. Rolling them into compact cylinders will help them keep their shape while in the air fryer.
Preheat the air fryer. Once the air fryer has warmed to 400 degrees F, arrange the tater tots in the basket in a single layer and brush them lightly with olive oil.
Cook the tater tots, flipping halfway. Tater tots in air fryer should be crispy and golden in 14-15 minutes.
Serve warm and enjoy! These air fryer tater tots taste delicious with plenty of dipping sauces, including ketchup or aioli.
Pro Tips
- Cooked tater tots can be frozen and stored for later. When I want to freeze cooked tater tots, I first let them cool completely, place them on a baking sheet in a single layer, then freeze until firm. This prevents them from sticking together.
Once they’re frozen, I transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container and pop them back in the freezer. I always recommend labeling and dating the contents for easy reference. - Leftovers are easy to reheat. Leftover tots will last for 3-4 days in the refrigerator when stored properly. Reheating tater tots in air fryer is my favorite way to get them warm and crispy again.
Key Ingredients and Substitutions for Tater Tots
Potatoes: I love using golden potatoes for this recipe since they have a rich flavor as well as a buttery texture when cooked.
Flour: All-purpose flour will help hold the tater tots together and give them a nice crispy texture.
Parmesan Cheese: I prefer using freshly grated parmesan cheese because of its flavor and how well it combines with the other ingredients without getting grainy.
Seasoning: Salt, garlic powder, and onion powder give these air fryer tater tots a delicious savory flavor, while freshly chopped parsley brightens each bite.
Olive Oil: Brushing the frozen tater tots with oil before air frying them will make the tater tots crispy and golden.
Frequently Asked Questions about Tater Tots in Air Fryer
How to cook tater tots in air fryer?
Tater tots should be cooked in a single layer for best results. I recommend cooking in batches if needed. Overcrowding the air fryer will result in uneven cooking.
How long to cook tater tots in air fryer?
The amount of time needed will depend on the temperature of the air fryer, and whether the tots are frozen or not. Cooking frozen tater tots in air fryer will take a few minutes longer, but most recipes will take anywhere between 8 to 15 minutes.
To save time and ensure maximum crispiness, I like to pre-heat my air fryer before adding the tater tots.
How long to cook tater tots in air fryer at 400?
At this temperature, tater tots made from scratch will be crispy and golden in about 14-15 minutes.
How long to cook frozen tater tots?
In an air fryer pre-heated to 400 degrees F, frozen tater tots will take 5-6 minutes to heat through. When cooking frozen tater tots in air fryer, I recommend shaking the basket occasionally for even heating. Another great way to cook frozen tater tots is in the oven or toaster oven.
Air Fryer Tater Tots
Ingredients
- 32 oz golden potatoes
- 1 handful parsley chopped
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 2 tbsp all purpose flour
- 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Peel the potatoes and cook them whole in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes; they should be fork-tender but not breaking apart. Then, let them cool completely. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes before following the next step.
- Shred potatoes using a coarse box grater or food processor. Then, place shredded potatoes into a large bowl. Add chopped parsley, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, all-purpose flour, and parmesan cheese. Stir to combine.
- Roll the dough into 2-inches long tater tots. When forming the tater tots, roll them into compact cylinders. This helps them hold their shape while air frying.
- Pre-heat the Air Fryer to 400F. Then, arrange tater tots in a single layer and brush them with oil or spray oil. Overcrowding can lead to uneven cooking, so cook in batches if needed.
- Cook tater tots for 14-15 minutes, flipping them over at half-time
- Serve them warm with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- Allow cooked tater tots to cool to room temperature first. Then, place the tater tots on a baking sheet in a single layer and freeze until firm. This prevents them from sticking together. Once frozen, transfer the tater tots to a freezer-safe, airtight container or bag. Label and date it for easy reference.
- To reheat frozen tater tots, preheat your Air Fryer to 400°F (200°C) and cook for 5-6 minutes, shaking the basket occasionally for even heating. Alternatively, you can use an oven or toaster oven.
- Store any leftover cooked tater tots in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat them in the Air Fryer or oven for the best results.
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