It is so easy to cook tater tots in the air fryer! Simply pop frozen tater tots into the air fryer basket, spray them lightly with cooking spray, and let the air fryer do the rest. They turn out so crunchy you won’t be able to tell they weren’t deep-fried!
Plus, you can make them more or less crisp, depending on your preference. For more crunch, just cook them a little longer, checking them every minute or so until they’re a darker brown and as crispy as desired. For softer potatoes with just a bit of crispness, reduce the cooking time by a minute or so. For more potato recipes, try my sweet potato fries, air fryer baked potato, and air fryer potato wedges.
What you need to make this recipe
Tater tots — no need to thaw them out. In this easy recipe, the tater tots go straight from the freezer into the air fryer! If you’re a fan of really crispy tater tots, grab a bag labeled “extra-crispy” for air frying.
Cooking spray — while you can skip the cooking spray if you’d prefer, it does help get the crunchiest air fryer tater tots possible. I like to use non-aerosolized avocado oil or vegetable oil spray in the air fryer because they hold up to higher heat well without a funky flavor.
Salt — a sprinkle of salt adds flavor to the tater tots. See the FAQ section for lots of ideas for how to season them.
This is just an overview of the ingredients. For the full recipe please scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the post!
How to Make Tater Tots in the Air Fryer
1. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Place the frozen tater tots straight into the air fryer basket (no need to defrost) in a single layer. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to fry them in batches.
2. Spray the potato puffs lightly with cooking spray. Then, toss them and spray again.
3. Air fry the tater rounds for 12 to 15 minutes. Shake the basket gently every 5 minutes as they cook. Air fryer tots are ready when they are crispy and golden brown.
4. Sprinkle the potatoes with salt or your seasoning blend of choice (ideas in the FAQ section) and serve. Wait a minute or two before digging in as they will be piping hot right out of the air fryer!
Why Cook Tater Tots In An Air Fryer?
Cooking air fryer frozen tater tots is a convenient, healthier way to get the crispy tater tots you love at restaurants without the need to deep-fry. You need just a light coating of cooking spray for tater tots with the most addictive crunchy exterior and soft insides. The air fryer also offers a much quicker alternative than the oven, with a more deep-fried texture than an oven can achieve.
How Long To Air Fry Tater Tots?
For the perfect balance of crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside, I usually air fry tater tots for 12 to 15 minutes at 400°F. But it really comes down to how you like your tater tots. If you prefer them to be very crunchy, cook them for a few minutes more, checking them every additional minute or so. The color should be darker brown versus golden. For softer tater tots, air fry them for less time. Check them around the 10 or 11-minute mark.
Do You Have To Spray The Tots With Oil?
While not totally essential, I highly recommend lightly spraying the frozen tater tots with oil. Not only will it keep them from sticking to the air fryer basket, but you’ll also end up with crispy air fryer tater tots that crunch like they’ve been deep-fried! I recommend using a non-aerosolized cooking spray (avocado oil, vegetable oil, or olive oil that’s not extra virgin) for the best flavor. These oils have a higher smoke point, so they will cook better in the air fryer and won’t leave a rancid or bitter flavor on the food.
What Goes Well With Tater Tots?
Air fryer tater tots are a tasty snack with your favorite dipping sauce like ketchup, ranch, barbecue sauce, or honey mustard. But they’re also a convenient side dish! I like serving them for breakfast with my breakfast casserole or air fryer bacon and fried eggs. They are a delightful substitute for fries alongside a grilled cheese, hot dogs, or a juicy turkey burger. You can even load them up with slow cooker chili and cheese or replace tortilla chips with crunchy tots for tater tot nachos!
Pro tips for making this recipe
- Cook air fryer tater tots in a single layer. This will help them cook evenly. If you need to, air fry the potatoes in batches.
- For extra flavor: Sprinkle with seasoned salt or another herb seasoning blend (ideas in the FAQ section).
- Wait a minute or two before eating. They are very hot right out of the air fryer! Wait a little bit to avoid a painful first bite.
Frequently asked questions
No, they can go straight from the freezer into the air fryer and will actually cook better if not defrosted. Starting with frozen tater tots means the outside will heat up and start to crisp before the inside is totally defrosted, but by the time they finish cooking, you have a hot and fluffy interior with a crisp exterior.
You don’t need to flip each individual tater tot, but you should shake the basket every 5 minutes so they can crisp up on all sides.
Yes, you should preheat the air fryer. It’s better for the tater tots to go into a hot air fryer so they cook quicker and become more crunchy.
Plain sea salt is always a winner, but you can also add your favorite spices or seasoning blends. Garlic powder, paprika, seasoned salt, Italian seasoning, and taco seasoning are all great options.
If you love this recipe try these out!
If you’ve tried this air fryer tater tots recipe, then don’t forget to rate it and let me know how you got on in the comments below. I love hearing from you!
Air Fryer Tater Tots
Ingredients
- 1 pound frozen tater tots (450g)
- Cooking spray
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
- Place the frozen tater tots in the air fryer basket in a singer layer (cook in batches if necessary). Spray lightly with cooking spray. Toss and spray again.
- Air fryer for 12 to 15 minutes, shaking the basket every 5 minutes, until the tater tots are crispy and golden brown. Sprinkle immediately with salt to taste before serving.
Notes
- Cook air fryer tater tots in a single layer. This will help them cook evenly. If you need to, air fry the potatoes in batches.
- For extra flavor: Sprinkle with seasoned salt or another herb seasoning blend (ideas in the FAQ section).
- Wait a minute or two before eating. They are very hot right out of the air fryer! Wait a little bit to avoid a painful first bite.
