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Air Fryer Tater Tots are the crispy, golden, garlic parmesan snack my whole family fights over, made from scratch with shredded hash browns and no deep frying at all. I whip these up on a *lazy weekend* when the girls want something crunchy to dip, and they are gone before they even cool. They come out crispier than the frozen kind. If you love easy air fryer snacks, try our air fryer buffalo chicken tenders too.
These homemade garlic parmesan tots are crispy on the outside, tender inside, and made in the air fryer with just a handful of ingredients.
Air Fryer Tater Tots Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 20 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 18 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 38 minutes
- 🍽️ Serving: 8 servings
- ⚡ Calories: 139kcal
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Crispy golden homemade tots tossed in garlic and parmesan
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, about as simple as our homemade french fries
Quick Answer
Pulse shredded hash browns in a food processor until finely chopped, then mix with olive oil, flour, minced garlic, and Italian seasoning. Scoop and shape the mixture into small tots, pressing firmly so they hold together. Place them in a single layer in the air fryer, spray with oil, and air fry at 375 degrees F for 15 to 18 minutes, shaking halfway, until golden and crispy. Toss the warm tots with parmesan and salt and serve with your favorite dip.
Jump to:
- Air Fryer Tater Tots Quick Look
- Quick Answer
- Why This Recipe Works
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Key Ingredients
- Variations and Substitutions
- How to Make Air Fryer Tater Tots
- Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Serving Ideas and Suggestions
- Air Fryer Tater Tots FAQs
- Other Recommended Air Fryer Snacks and Sides
- Air Fryer Tater Tots
Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- Crispier than frozen. Air frying homemade tots gives you a shatteringly crisp outside and fluffy inside without a vat of oil.
- Made from shredded hash browns. Starting with frozen shredded hash browns means no peeling, boiling, or grating potatoes.
- Garlic parmesan flavor. Fresh garlic, Italian seasoning, and grated parmesan give these tots way more flavor than the plain frozen kind.
- Just a handful of ingredients. You only need seven simple ingredients you probably already have on hand.
- No deep frying. The air fryer does all the work with a light spray of oil, so there is no messy pot of hot oil to deal with.
- Perfect for dipping. These sturdy little tots hold up to ranch, ketchup, garlic aioli, or cheese sauce.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- They come out crispier and more flavorful than any frozen tater tot.
- You only need seven simple ingredients and an air fryer.
- They are the ultimate snack or side, right alongside our chili cheese fries.
- The garlic parmesan coating makes them totally crave worthy.
Key Ingredients
Here is everything you need to make a batch of air fryer tater tots.
- Frozen shredded hash browns: The base of the tots. Let them thaw slightly and pulse them so they hold together.
- Olive oil: Helps the tots crisp up and adds richness. A spray of oil on top helps too.
- All purpose flour: Just a little binds the mixture so the tots do not fall apart.
- Garlic and Italian seasoning: Bring big savory, herby flavor to every bite.
- Parmesan cheese and kosher salt: Tossed on the hot tots for a salty, cheesy finish.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
These tots are easy to customize. Here are a few ideas.
- Add a pinch of cayenne or chili powder for a spicy kick.
- Swap the parmesan for cheddar or a cheese blend for a different flavor.
- Serve them loaded with cheese, bacon, and green onion like our loaded tater tot nachos.
- Stir chopped fresh chives or parsley into the finished tots for color.
- Use gluten free flour to keep them gluten free.
How to Make Air Fryer Tater Tots
- Pulse the hash browns in a food processor until finely chopped, then mix in a large bowl with the olive oil, flour, garlic, and Italian seasoning until combined.
- Scoop and firmly shape the mixture into small tots. Place them in a single layer in the air fryer, spray with oil, and air fry at 375 degrees F for 15 to 18 minutes, shaking halfway, until golden.
- Remove the tots and, while still warm, toss with the parmesan cheese and salt. Serve right away with your favorite dipping sauce.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Pulse, do not puree the hash browns, you want them finely chopped but not mashed so the tots stay light.
- Compact each tot firmly so they hold their shape and do not crumble in the air fryer.
- Do not crowd the basket, arrange the tots in a single layer with space so they crisp instead of steam.
- Shake the basket halfway through so the tots cook and brown evenly on all sides.
- Toss with parmesan while hot so the cheese sticks to the tots.
- Serve them fresh, air fryer tots are crispiest right out of the basket.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
Serve air fryer tater tots hot and crispy with a big bowl of dipping sauce. Ranch, ketchup, garlic aioli, and cheese sauce are all favorites in our house, and they make the perfect party snack, game day appetizer, or after school treat.
They are also a fun side dish next to burgers, sandwiches, and hot dogs. Pile them high like our nacho fries or serve them alongside a gravy loaded poutine for the ultimate potato spread.
Because they hold up so well, you can also load them up. Top the hot tots with melted cheese, crumbled bacon, and green onion, or turn them into a full meal like our cheeseburger tater tot casserole.
Air Fryer Tater Tots FAQs
Yes. Peel and shred russet potatoes, then rinse and squeeze out as much moisture as possible before pulsing and mixing. Frozen shredded hash browns are the shortcut here because they are already shredded and partially cooked, which saves a lot of time.
Store cooled tots in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. They are best reheated in the air fryer at 375 degrees F for a few minutes to bring back the crispiness, rather than the microwave, which makes them soft.
Yes. Freeze the shaped, uncooked tots in a single layer, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 2 months. Air fry them straight from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the cook time until golden and crisp.
They usually crumble if the mixture is too wet or not compacted enough. Make sure your hash browns are not soggy, add the flour to help bind, and press each tot together firmly so it holds its shape while cooking.
These garlic parmesan tots are delicious with ranch, ketchup, garlic aioli, honey mustard, cheese sauce, or a spicy sriracha mayo. Set out a few options so everyone can pick their favorite.
Yes. Shape the tots and keep them covered in the refrigerator for up to a day, or freeze them, then air fry when ready to serve. Cook them fresh for the crispiest results and toss with parmesan right before serving.
Craving more crispy snacks? Make our air fryer buffalo chicken tenders next.
Air Fryer Tater Tots
Equipment
Ingredients
- 16 ounce bag of frozen shredded hash browns
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- In a food processor, pulse the shredded potatoes/hash browns until they are finely chopped but not mashed.16 ounce bag of frozen shredded hash browns
- In a large mixing bowl, add the potatoes, olive oil, flour, garlic, and Italian seasoning. Mix together gently— without compacting the potatoes too much.2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 3 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- Using a small spoon or tablespoon, scoop out enough of the mixture to shape a 1” tot in your hand. Make sure to compact the tot well so it doesn’t fall apart. Place potatoes in the air fryer, making sure they aren’t crowded.
- Spray the tots with olive oil cooking spray and air fry at 375°F for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown. Make sure to gently shake the air fryer basket halfway through cooking so the tots cook evenly.
- Remove from the fryer, and sprinkle with parmesan cheese and salt while they are still warm. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Notes
- Don’t Overcrowd: Make sure the tots are in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Shake It Up: Don’t forget to gently shake the basket halfway through the cooking time for even crispiness.
- Extra Cheese: You can mix in half the parmesan cheese into the tots for a cheesier bite.
- Test One First: Be sure to taste test to know when they’re done. That’s one of the best parts of cooking!
- Gloves for Garlic: When chopping garlic, wear disposable gloves to avoid smelly fingers.
- Cook in Batches: If you have a smaller air fryer, you might have to cook in batches to get the best results.
Nutrition
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