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Air Fryer Tater Tots come out shatteringly crispy on the outside and fluffy in the middle in under 20 minutes, with just three ingredients and zero deep frying. These became our go to busy weeknight side the moment I realized the air fryer makes them crunchier than the oven ever could. If you love our garlic parmesan air fryer tots, this is the easy, classic version your whole family will devour.
Crispy, golden, and ridiculously easy, these air fryer tater tots are the perfect snack or side any night of the week.
Air Fryer Tater Tots Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 1 minute
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 18 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 19 minutes
- 🍽️ Serving: 5 servings
- ⚡ Calories: 170kcal
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Crispy, crunchy outside with a fluffy potato center
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, on par with our homemade French fries
Quick Answer
To make Air Fryer Tater Tots, preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F. Add frozen tater tots to the basket, spray lightly with olive oil, and sprinkle with seasoned salt, then toss to coat. Spread them in a single layer and air fry for 15 to 18 minutes, tossing every 4 minutes, until golden brown and crispy. Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce.
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 Recipes
- The Best Crispy Air Fryer Tater Tots
Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- The air fryer does it all. Hot circulating air crisps the tots all over without a drop of deep frying oil.
- A light oil spray. A quick spritz of olive oil helps the outsides turn golden and extra crunchy.
- Seasoned salt adds flavor. A sprinkle of seasoned salt takes plain frozen tots from boring to crave worthy.
- A single layer matters. Spreading the tots in one layer lets the hot air reach every side so they crisp evenly.
- Tossing as they cook. Shaking or tossing every few minutes keeps the tots from sticking and browning unevenly.
- From frozen, no thawing. You go straight from the freezer to the air fryer, so they are ready in under 20 minutes.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ready in under 20 minutes. Crispy, golden tots from freezer to plate in no time.
- Just 3 ingredients. Frozen tots, olive oil spray, and seasoned salt are all you need, like our garlic parmesan air fryer tots.
- Crispier than the oven. The air fryer makes them way crunchier than baking ever could.
Key Ingredients
Here is a look at what goes into these air fryer tater tots. Just three simple ingredients make the crispiest tots.
- Frozen Tater Tots: Any brand of frozen tater tots works. There is no need to thaw them; they go straight from the freezer into the air fryer.
- Olive Oil Spray: A light spray of olive oil helps the tots crisp up golden and crunchy. Use a non aerosol mister or any cooking spray.
- Seasoned Salt: A sprinkle of seasoned salt adds savory flavor. Feel free to swap in your favorite seasoning blend.
- Dipping Sauce: Ketchup, ranch, or fry sauce are all great for dunking, like the sauces we love with our homemade French fries.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
These tots are a blank canvas. Here are a few fun ways to dress them up.
- Garlic parmesan: Toss the hot tots with garlic powder and grated parmesan.
- Spicy: Sprinkle with cajun seasoning or a little chili powder for a kick.
- Loaded: Top with cheese, bacon, sour cream, and green onions for loaded tots.
- Ranch: Dust with dry ranch seasoning right after they come out of the air fryer.
- Cheesy: Add shredded cheese in the last 2 minutes of cooking and let it melt.
How to Make Air Fryer Tater Tots
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F, then add the frozen tater tots to the basket.
- Lightly spray the tots with olive oil spray and gently toss to coat.
- Sprinkle the seasoned salt all over and toss again, then spread the tots into a single layer.
- Air fry for 15 to 18 minutes, tossing every 4 minutes, until golden brown and crispy.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Do not crowd the basket. A single layer is the secret to crispy tots, so cook in batches if needed.
- Preheat the air fryer. Starting with a hot air fryer helps the tots crisp up from the very first minute.
- Toss as they cook. Shaking the basket every 4 minutes keeps them from sticking and browns them evenly.
- Use a light hand with oil. Just a quick spray is enough; too much can make them greasy.
- Season at the end too. Taste and add a little more seasoned salt right after cooking for the best flavor.
- Serve them hot. Tater tots are crispiest fresh out of the air fryer, so serve them right away.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
Air fryer tater tots are the ultimate easy side or snack. Serve them alongside burgers, hot dogs, or sandwiches with plenty of ketchup and ranch for dipping, just like our homemade French fries.
Turn them into a meal by loading them up nacho style or piling on cheese and bacon like our loaded French fries and copycat nacho fries.
They are also a great party snack next to other air fryer favorites like our air fryer hot pockets for game day or movie night.
Air Fryer Tater Tots FAQs
The secret to crispy air fryer tater tots is cooking them in a single layer, spraying them lightly with oil, and tossing them every few minutes. The hot circulating air can then reach every side for an evenly golden, crunchy result.
No, do not thaw them. Air fryer tater tots cook best straight from frozen. Thawing them can make them mushy, so go right from the freezer to the preheated air fryer.
Cook air fryer tater tots at 400 degrees F for 15 to 18 minutes, tossing every 4 minutes. The exact time depends on your air fryer and how crispy you like them, so check them toward the end.
Ketchup, ranch, fry sauce, honey mustard, and barbecue sauce are all delicious with air fryer tater tots. A spicy sriracha mayo or cheese sauce is great too if you want something a little different.
Store leftover tater tots in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat them in the air fryer at 350 degrees F for a few minutes to bring back their crispy texture.
A light spray of olive oil helps air fryer tater tots crisp up golden and prevents them from drying out. You can use any cooking spray, but a pump mister with olive oil avoids the additives found in some aerosol sprays.
Love easy air fryer sides? Our Garlic Parmesan Air Fryer Tater Tots are the next crispy snack to try.
Craving crispy snacks? Our fried green beans disappear fast.
The Best Crispy Air Fryer Tater Tots
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound frozen tater tots
- olive oil spray
- 3/4 teaspoons seasoned salt
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes.
- Add the tater tots to the preheated air fryer basket, lightly spray with olive oil spray, and gently toss to coat.
- Sprinkle the seasoned salt all over and gently toss again to coat.
- Make sure the tater tots are in a single layer.
- Air fry for 15-18 minutes until golden brown or until your desired crispiness, gently tossing every 4 minutes so they cook evenly. Cooking time will vary on your personal preference for crispness.
- Taste and add more seasoned salt if desired. Serve with your favorite sauce, and enjoy.
Notes
- Use olive oil cooking spray so you don’t damage your air fryer.
- Tons of custom seasoning options, see my tips above on that.
- Great for use in other recipes.
- Toss the basket often for even cooking.
- Use your favorite store-bought tater tots.
Nutrition
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