• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Cooking Duo
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Recipes By Course
    • Appetizers
    • Bread
    • Breakfast
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Dinner
    • Salads
    • Sides
    • Soups + Stews
  • Method
    • Air Fryer Recipes
    • 30 Minute Meals
    • Baking
    • Easy Casseroles
    • Grilling Recipes
    • Instant Pot
    • One Pot Meals
    • Sheet Pan Dinners
    • Skillet Recipes
    • Stove Top Recipes
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Recipes By Course
  • Method
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Recipes By Course
  • Method
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
ร—
Home ยป Air Fryer Recipes ยป Tater Tots in an Air Fryer

Tater Tots in an Air Fryer

Published: Jun 20, 2024 by Ryan Allen ยท This post may contain affiliate links ยท Leave a Comment

  • Facebook
  • Email
Jump to Recipe

These Air Fryer Tater Tots cook up perfectly in about 15 minutes making them ideal for an afternoon snack, weeknight side, or celebration appetizer. Feel free to season as you wish and serve with your favorite dipping sauce. 

Close up of tater tots stacked on top of each other.
Jump to:
  • Why Youโ€™ll Love These Air Fryer Tater Tots
  • Ingredients
  • Variations
  • How to Make Air Fryer Tater Tots
  • Hint
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Expert Tips
  • Recipe FAQs
  • More Delicious Side Dishes
  • Tater Tots in an Air Fryer

Crispy and crunchy on the outside with a soft, pillowy interior, these tater tots bake to perfection in the air fryer. Lightly coated with cooking spray and a touch of salt, we guarantee you wonโ€™t be able to eat just one. 

The perfect snack for the kids while you prepare dinner, ideal as a game day snack or appetizer for your next get-together or family celebration, you canโ€™t go wrong with tater tots. I always keep a bag stashed in the freezer for those just-in-case days. 

If you love these tater tots, youโ€™ll love these Oven Roasted Potatoes, these Loaded Fries, and these Twice Baked Potatoes. 

Why Youโ€™ll Love These Air Fryer Tater Tots

  • Crispy: Tater tots in air fryer cook up nice and crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. It's the perfect texture combination.
  • Fast: You can easily get these tater tots air fryer into hungry mouths in about 15 minutes.
  • Adaptable: Feel free to change up the flavor of the tater tots and coat them in your favorite seasonings.
  • Crowd pleaser: Everyone loves tater tots!
Overhead look at tater tots in an air fryer.

Ingredients

  • Tater tots: Use a bag of frozen tater tots. 
  • Nonstick cooking spray: You can use nonstick spray, olive or avocado oil to coat the tater tots. This helps them crisp up on the outside.
  • Salt:  Season with salt to taste.

See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.

Variations

  • Add your favorite seasoning: Toss the frozen tater tots in air fryer with garlic powder, Cajun seasoning, Italian seasoning, or any of your favorite spices.
  • Top with cheese: Sprinkle the cooked tater tots with parmesan, cheddar, or freshly grated mozzarella cheese.
  • Add some spice: Drizzle sriracha or sprinkle red pepper flakes over the tater tots.
  • Garnish with green onions: Diced green onions or chives would complement the flavor of these tots in the air fryer well. 

How to Make Air Fryer Tater Tots

Preheat your air fryer and read more about how to air fry tater tots before getting started.

Step 1: Place the tater tots in the air fryer. Place the frozen tater tots in the air fryer basket and lightly coat them with nonstick cooking spray, sprinkle them with salt, and toss to evenly coat.

Step 2: Cook the tater tots.  Air fry the tater tots for 15 minutes, shaking the basket two to three times for even cooking.

Step 3: Serve the tater tots. Serve the tots hot with ketchup or fry sauce.

Hint

Space the tater tots out in the basket. If they are too crowded they wonโ€™t be able to crisp up properly since the air can't circulate around the tots.

Close up of a hand dipping a tater tot into ketchup.

Serving Suggestions

These tater tots go well with loads of recipes. Here are some great examples: 

  • Pair them as a tasty side with these Taco Joes, this Ground Turkey Sloppy Joe Recipe, or these Cowboy Beans. 
  • Make and serve as a party appetizer along with these Bacon Wrapped Smokies and this Pizza Dip. 
  • Serve with this Cottage Cheese Ranch Dip or this Wingstop Ranch Recipe for delicious dipping. 

Expert Tips

  • Donโ€™t skip the cooking spray: If you like your tater tots crispy on the outside make sure to spray them with the cooking spray. 
  • If you are feeding a crowd: Cook each batch of tater tots separately so you donโ€™t overcrowd the basket and compromise on the crispiness.
  • Preheat the air fryer: You want the tater tots to start cooking as soon as they are in the air fryer so preheat it accordingly. If they sit in an un-preheated air fryer they may get soggy. 
  • Store leftover tater tots: Uneaten tater tots can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat the tater tots in the air fryer until warmed through or place them in the toaster oven. 

Recipe FAQs

Can I make these air fryer frozen tater tots in the oven?ย 

Yes, if you want to cook the tater tots in the oven, place them in an oven preheated to 425F on a lightly greased cooking sheet. Flip halfway through the cooking process so they get nice and crisp on all sides.ย 

Do I need to defrost the tater tots before cooking them?

No, thereโ€™s no need to thaw the tater tots, just cook them from frozen.

How long does it take to cook tater tots in an air fryer?

About 15 minutes but air fryers are all different so itโ€™s best to check for doneness about halfway through the recommended cook time so you donโ€™t overcook them.

Overhead look at tater tots in a tray.

More Delicious Side Dishes

  • Authentic Hawaiian macaroni salad in a clear bowl garnished with pineapple.
    Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Recipe
  • Homemade dinner rolls stacked on top of each other.
    Easy Homemade Dinner Rolls Recipe
  • Roasted potatoes and carrots in a bowl.
    Roasted Potatoes and Carrots
  • Overhead look at Mexican rice in a skillet with a wooden spoon.
    Authentic Mexican Rice

We would love it if you would leave a 5 Star โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ rating below. Then follow me onย Facebook,ย Instagram,ย andย Pinterest! Share your favorite recipes or ask questions in myย Facebook Group.

Close up of tater tots stacked on top of each other.

Tater Tots in an Air Fryer

Author: Ryan Allen
Air Fryer Tater Tots make for the easiest, crispiest snack, weeknight side, or party appetizer. Season as you like or pair with your favorite dipping sauce.
No ratings yet
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 15 minutes mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 212 kcal

Equipment

  • 6.8 Quart Air Fryer
  • Air Fryer Liners

Ingredients
  

  • 16 ounces frozen tater tots
  • nonstick cooking spray vegetable, olive, or avocado oil
  • salt season to taste

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your air fryer to 400ยบF. Add frozen tater tots to the basket and lightly coat with nonstick cooking spray. Sprinkle with salt, and toss to coat.
  • Air fry for 15 minutes, shaking the basket two to three times for even cooking.
  • Serve while hot with ketchup or fry sauce.

Notes

  • Donโ€™t skip the cooking spray: If you like your tater tots crispy on the outside make sure to spray them with the cooking spray.ย 
  • If you are feeding a crowd: Cook each batch of tater tots separately so you donโ€™t overcrowd the basket and compromise on the crispiness.
  • Preheat the air fryer: You want the tater tots to start cooking as soon as they are in the air fryer so preheat it accordingly. If they sit in an unpreheated air fryer they may get soggy.ย 
  • Store leftover tater tots: Uneaten tater tots can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat the tater tots in the air fryer until warmed through or place them in the toaster oven.ย 

Nutrition

Calories: 212kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 2gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gSodium: 511mgPotassium: 295mgFiber: 3gSugar: 0.3gVitamin A: 5IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 16mgIron: 1mg

*All nutrition information provided is automatically calculated and is an estimate and will vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact numbers on your ingredients, I would recommend calculating them with your prefered nutrition calculator.

Keyword Air Fryer Frozen Tater Tots, Air Fryer Tater Tots, Tater Tots in an Air Fryer
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

More Air Fryer Recipes

  • Air fryer steak fajitas and vegetables resting on wooden board with tortillas to the side.
    Air Fryer Steak Fajitas
  • Two air fryer chicken breasts on a plate with one that has been sliced up
    Air Fryer Chicken Breasts

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating





Primary Sidebar

Ryan and Shanna owners of thecookingduo.com.

Hey there, we are Ryan and Shanna!

As food bloggers and parents, we share easy, delicious recipes with simple ingredients to make mealtime easy and yummy. Come join us on our culinary journey!

More about us

Popular Recipes

  • Marry me chicken tortellini in a skillet.
    Marry Me Chicken Tortellini
  • Healthy turkey sloppy Joes on a piece of parchment paper
    Easy Ground Turkey Sloppy Joes Recipe
  • Overhead look at sheet pan breadsicks on parchment paper
    Quick & Easy Sheet Pan Breadsticks
  • Overhead look at Instant Pot baked ziti on a plate with a salad in the background.
    Easy Instant Pot Baked Ziti with Meat
  • The Best Cheeseburger soup in a black bowl and garnished with cheddar cheese.
    Best Cheeseburger Soup with Potatoes
  • Reese's pieces cookies stacked on top of each other on a white background.
    Reese's Pieces Cookies

Dinner Recipes

  • Two racks of smoked baby back ribs on a wood cutting board.
    Smoked Baby Back Ribs
  • Marry me chicken pasta in a bowl with more in a skillet.
    Marry Me Chicken Pasta
  • Ground beef stroganoff in a blue bowl with parsley in the background.
    Ground Beef Stroganoff Recipe
  • Taco mac and cheese in a cast iron skillet with a wooden spoon.
    Taco Mac and Cheese
  • Sheet pan shrimp boil on parchment paper garnished with parsley and lemons.
    Sheet Pan Shrimp Boil
  • Pepper steak in a skillet ready to be served.
    Pepper Steak Recipe

Footer

โ†‘ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Let's Connect

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Punchfork

Contact

  • Contact

The Cooking Duo is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

Copyright ยฉ 2025 The Cooking Duo

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required