Enjoy the ultimate appetizer or dinner idea—Loaded Tater Tot Nachos! This irresistible 30-minute recipe with crispy tots, melted cheese, ground beef, and bacon will have you coming back for seconds and thirds!
Don't forget to try my Taco Tater Tot Casserole!
Who can resist the crispy exterior of a tater tot? Certainly not me! You?
There are countless ways to enjoy the fluffy goodness of tots like this Tater Tot Casserole, but if you're looking for an easy tater tot appetizer, delicious snack, side dish, or quick dinner, then Loaded Tater Tots are definitely the way to go!
More Game Day Favorites: Try Buffalo Chicken, slow cooker 3-ingredient Meatballs, or Chicken Tostada Bites for fun appetizer options.
Why You'll Love These Tater Tot Nachos
- Ease: This quick recipe is easy to throw together on busy weeknights or right before the big game.
- Cheesy Goodness: Need we say more? Melty cheese gets me every time! Total comfort food.
- Love By All: With its mild flavor, these crispy tater tots are adored by all who eat them!
Ingredient Notes
- Frozen Tater Tots: Use your favorite bag of tater tots, but we like the extra crispy version from Ore-Ida. You'll need to cook them per package instructions.
- Ground Beef: Ground meat gives this recipe a savory, hearty feel. Use an 80/20 or 90/10 fat-content meat.
- Taco Seasoning: We love making our own homemade taco seasoning because we can customize it to our liking, and it doesn't contain any additives. However, a packaged version is fine too.
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese: Shredding the cheese yourself is best since it melts beautifully. Packaged shredded cheese contains additives, so it doesn't melt as well.
- Crispy Bacon: We love thick-cut bacon, but any style will do. You'll cook and crumble it.
- Toppings: Avocado, chopped cilantro, salsa, diced tomatoes, sliced olives & sour cream are all wonderful on this tasty appetizer!
Variations
I find the possibilities for these tater tot nachos are endless! These crispy taters and cheese had me at hello. The best thing about this easy recipe is that you can customize it for your taste buds.
- Add Heat: Like 'em spicier, add some sliced jalapenos or pepper jack cheese.
- Cheese: Use whatever cheese you like. A Mexican blend, Colby Jack, or Sharp cheddar cheese is amazing!
- Protein: Not into beef. Use shredded pork, chicken, ground sausage, plant-based meat, or black beans.
- Tater Tot Options: Want to really mix it up? Use tater tots made from sweet potatoes, broccoli, or Cauliflower or find Gluten Free Tater Tots.
Topping Ideas
There is no doubt. You can go crazy with your garnishes and toppings, too.
- sour cream
- avocado
- guacamole
- tomatoes
- green onion
- olives
- cilantro
- salsa
- pico de gallo
- hot sauce
- siracha
There is something magical about crispy cheesy tots and delicious toppings 🙂 Dreamy!
Crispy Tater Tots loaded with cheese & bacon and baked until hot and bubbly just can't be beaten at your Super Bowl party!
Step-By-Step Instructions
Prep: Preheat your oven according to the instructions on the tater tots package. Line your baking sheet with parchment paper, aluminum foil, or a Silpat baking mat.
Cook Tater Tots: Spread the tater tots in a single layer on a baking sheet (Image 1). Bake them until they are golden brown and crispy, following the package instructions. You can also use your air fryer.
Prepare Ground Meat: While tater tots bake, cook ground beef with taco seasoning in a skillet over medium heat until the meat is browned and cooked through (Image 2). Drain off fat and set it aside.
Assemble Your Nachos and Bake: Once your tots are done baking, remove them from the oven. Keep your oven on. Evenly spread the cooked beef, cooked bacon, and cheese over the tater tots (Image 3). Place back in the oven until cheese is bubbly and melted.
Top/Garnish: Finally, remove from the oven and top with sour cream, salsa, olives, green onions, avocado, cilantro, or other desired toppings. Enjoy!
The nice thing about this tater tot nacho recipe is that once the tater tots bake in the oven, the rest of the dish comes together super fast, so it's perfect for Super Bowl Sunday!
Loaded Tater Tot Skewers
Loaded tater tot skewers are a fun and portable twist for your next party. Here's a simple recipe for making them:
- Cook your tater tots according to the package instructions.
- Transfer them to a bowl and drizzle with olive oil or spray with non-stick cooking spray. Season with onion powder, salt, and pepper, tossing gently to coat.
- Preheat your broiler. Thread the cooked tater tots onto skewers, leaving some space between each tot. Place the skewers on a lined baking sheet.
- Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the tater tots on the skewers. Broil the skewers until the cheese is melted and bubbly, usually for 2-3 minutes.
- Remove the skewers from the oven and sprinkle crumbled bacon bits and chopped green onions over the melted cheese.
Expert Tips and Tricks
- Line Your Pan: For easy clean-up, you can put foil or parchment paper down before baking.
- Go For Crispy: We find the perfect game day appetizer contains crispy tater tots! Make sure you cook them enough for those crispy edges.
- Prevent Sogginess: Try to assemble and bake the nachos just before serving. If you're making them in advance, keep the cooked tater tots separate from the toppings until ready to serve.
- DIY Taco Seasoning: You can make your taco seasoning, which is cheaper and healthier than packaged brands.
- Serving Suggestions: If you want to get fancy and put your tater-tot nachos in a pretty serving dish, go for it! However, these tater-tot nachos won't last long, so that idea may not be worth it! You can serve them with dipping sauces like salsa, ranch dressing, guacamole, or a simple sour cream-based dip.
Storing
- For me, Tater Tot Nachos are best consumed after making them, but they will keep in the fridge for a couple of days. Either cook them in the oven or in the microwave to heat them back up.
Recipe FAQs
While it's best to assemble and bake tater tot nachos just before serving, you can prepare some components in advance. Keep the cooked tater tots separate from the toppings and assemble them right before baking.
Reheat tater tot nachos in the oven at a low temperature to maintain crispiness. Microwaving may result in a loss of texture.
Absolutely! Use plant-based or meat substitute crumbles instead of ground meat, and choose dairy-free cheese and sour cream for a delicious vegetarian or vegan version.
More Tater Tot Recipes
If you love tater tots, try my other recipes:
Love this Tater Tot Nacho recipe? Please leave a 5 star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below ⬇️ and/or a review in the comment section further down.
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Printable Recipe
Loaded Tater Tot Nachos Recipe
Equipment
- Spatula or cooking spoon
Ingredients
- 1 32-ounce large bag frozen tater tots (baked per package instructions)
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 package taco seasoning (or 2-3 tablespoons homemade taco seasoning)
- 2-3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 6 slices bacon (cooked & crumbled)
- avocado (cilantro, salsa, sliced olives & sour cream for garnish)
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat your oven according to the instructions on the tater tots package. Line your baking sheet with parchment paper, aluminum foil, or a Silpat baking mat.
- Cook Tater Tots: Spread the tater tots in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake them until golden brown and crispy, following the package instructions. You can also use your air fryer.
- Prepare Ground Meat: While tater tots bake, cook ground beef with taco seasoning in a skillet over medium heat until the meat is browned and cooked through. Drain off fat and set it aside.
- Assemble Your Nachos and Bake: Once your tots are done baking, remove them from the oven. Keep your oven on. Evenly spread the cooked beef, cooked bacon, and cheese over the tater tots. Place back in the oven until cheese is bubbly and melted.
- Top/Garnish: Finally, remove from the oven and top or serve with sour cream, salsa, olives, green onions, avocado, cilantro, hot sauce, or other desired toppings. Enjoy!
Notes
- Line Your Pan: Put foil or parchment paper down before baking for easy clean-up.
- Go For Crispy: The perfect game day appetizer contains crispy tater tots! Make sure you cook them enough for those crisp edges.
- Prevent Sogginess: Try to assemble and bake the nachos just before serving. If you're making them in advance, keep the cooked tater tots separate from the toppings until ready to serve.
- DIY Taco Seasoning: You can make your taco seasoning, which is cheaper and healthier than packaged brands.
- Storage: Tater Tot Nachos are best consumed after making them, but they will keep in the fridge for a couple of days. Either heat them in the microwave or in the oven to heat them back up.
Nutrition
We updated the recipe on 2/12/2019 and again on 1/11/2024 with enhanced instructions. The recipe originally appeared on Real Housemoms.
Kristyn says
These make me so happy!! All my favorites in one, addicting recipe!
Erin Henry says
Yes! An addicting recipe for sure!! So good!
Stephanie says
I've never made nachos with tater tots before but my kids love'em so I had to make them. They were a HUGE hit!
Erin Henry says
They are a hit at our house too! Can't go wrong with kids and tater tots!
Melissa says
I absolutely love tater tots and nachos! This recipe is everything!!!!!
Erin Henry says
Everything and more! Love tater and cheese!
Mike says
Now I know what I'm doing with the bag of tater tots I just bought! Yummy, Erin! 🙂
Erin says
Yep, you totally know what you're doing with those tater tots!! Be careful, this recipe is dangerous. You'll want to finish every last tater in the pan!
CakePants says
Nachos are one of my all-time favorite foods, and so are potatoes, so the idea of combining the two in one dish...well, to say that I'm smitten would be an understatement! I can't wait to try this sometime!
Erin says
Yeah, they are my weakness! Nachos and potatoes combined is just a little pan of heaven! Enjoy the recipe!