Carmy - Easy Healthy-ish Recipes

  • Home
  • All Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Airfryer
    • Breakfast
    • Drinks
    • Freezer Friendly
    • Grill
    • Instant Pot
    • Main Dishes
    • Meal Prep
    • Meatless
    • Sides
    • Under 60 Minute Meals
  • Meal Prep
  • Instant Pot Recipes
  • Main Dishes
  • Shop My Kitchen
  • About Me
    • Collaborate With Me
    • Privacy Policy
menu icon
go to homepage
  • All Recipes
  • Meal Prep
  • Breakfast
  • Main Dishes
  • Instant Pot
  • Shop My Kitchen
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • All Recipes
    • Meal Prep
    • Breakfast
    • Main Dishes
    • Instant Pot
    • Shop My Kitchen
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    You are here: Home / Recipes / Airfryer / Air Fryer Tater Tots

    Air Fryer Tater Tots

    Posted: Feb 1, 2021 Last Modified: May 2, 2023 by Carmy · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    Making Air Fryer Tater Tots is the only way I’ll ever make taters again! This method of making tater tots in the air fryer makes them taste deep fried but much healthier. Made straight from frozen, you’ll have the best tots in less than 10 minutes.

    A platter of air fryer tater tots with a side of ketchup.


     

    I’m the girl who always has a bag of frozen tater tots in the freezer at all times. I absolutely love frying a batch up whenever I’m feeling peckish, and I’ve found using the air fryer is, hands down, the best way to make frozen tater tots taste 10/10. I’ve shared on IG a few times of me making my frozen tater tots in my air fryer, and since I get several DMs asking how to cook tater tots in an air fryer, I thought I’d make a post!

    Why You Should Make Tater Tots in the Air Fryer

    • It’s so fast. Do you know how long it takes to cook frozen tater tots in the air fryer? Less than 10 minutes! The packaging on mine says it takes 16-20 minutes in a conventional oven, so it takes literally half the time to cook tater tots in the air fryer.
    • It’s so crispy. It truly tastes like your frozen tater tots have been deep-fried thanks to the air fryer. I even skip using oil for my air fryer, and the tater tots still come out absolutely crispy. I feel so satisfied biting into the crunchy tots.
    • It’s simple to make. You put the frozen tater tots in the air fryer, turn on the air fryer, and shake it once, then you’re done! 
    My Recommendation
    I love my air fryer! This is the one I'm currently using and it crisps everything up perfectly with little-to-no oil.
    Get it Now!
    Close up of air fryer tater tots on a plate.

    What You Need to Make Air Fryer Tater Tots

    • Frozen tater tots — that’s it! (Don’t want to use frozen tater tots? Check out this recipe for homemade veggies tots in the air fryer instead!
    • Optional: oil spray if you prefer, but I actually do not use any oil.
    Frozen tater tots in a plate.

    How to Cook Frozen Tater Tots in an Air Fryer

    Here’s how to cook tater tots in the air fryer in a couple of simple steps.

    • Place your tater tots in the air fryer in a single layer.
    • Turn your air fryer on to 400F and air fry for 8 minutes, shaking the basket at the halfway mark.
    • Check to see if the tater tots are crispy enough for you. If not, lightly spray the tater tots with oil and air fry for another 2 minutes.
    Overhead view of air fried tater tots in an air fryer basket.

    FAQs

    Do I need to preheat my air fryer?

    I use a Philips XXL air fryer which does not require preheating. If your air fryer model requires you to preheat, you should do so for 1-3 minutes.

    Nov 2022 Update: I now use a Corosi air fryer. I do not pre-heat it as well.

    Why not use an oven to make tater tots?

    It’s faster to cook tater tots in the air fryer, there’s no long preheating time for the oven, and the air fryer won’t heat up the whole kitchen as an oven does! To be honest, I store a bunch of sheet pans in my oven, so it’s always a production to get the oven going. So if I can make something in my air fryer, then I’m usually taking the air fryer route. It’s also much crispier, as I mentioned earlier. The tater tots aren’t as crispy when I cook them in the oven. 

    Do I need to season my tater tots?

    It’s up to you! You can put some salt on the tater tots before you air fry them. You can also season the tots with garlic powder, onion powder, cajun powder, taco seasoning, sriracha lime seasoning, paprika powder, lemon pepper, etc. You can do as you wish, but I usually have mine as is.

    What tater tots do I use?

    It’s up to you as well! I know that some people like the healthier organic tater tots, but I just purchase no-name ones. I find that the no-name ones taste better than the branded ones! Just my personal preference. 

    A hand holding up an air fried tater tot.

    What To Serve with Tater Tots

    • Everything But The Bagel Chicken Tenders (Air Fryer and Oven)
    • Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
    • Air Fryer Boneless Pork Chops
    • Frozen Popcorn Shrimp in the Air Fryer
    • Crispy Breaded Air Fryer Pork Chops
    • Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos
    • Air Fryer Sausage Links
    • Air Fryer Corn Dogs (From Frozen)
    Close up of air fryer tater tots on a plate.

    Air Fryer Tater Tots

    Making Air Fryer Tater Tots is the only way I’ll ever make taters again! This method of making tater tots in the air fryer makes them taste deep fried but much healthier. Made straight from frozen, you’ll have the best tots in less than 10 minutes.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Rate this Recipe
    Prep Time: 0 minutes mins
    Cook Time: 8 minutes mins
    Total Time: 8 minutes mins
    Servings: 2 servings

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups frozen tater tots
    • oil spray, optional

    Equipment

    • 5.8QT Air Fryer

    Instructions

    • Place your tater tots in the air fryer in a single layer.
    • Turn your air fryer on to 400F and air fry for 8 minutes, shaking the basket at the halfway mark.
    • Check to see if the tater tots are crispy enough for you. If not, lightly spray the tater tots with oil and air fry for another 2 minutes.
    Tried this recipe?Did you make this recipe? I’m always so happy to hear about it! I’d love to see how it turned out. Tag me at @CarmysHungry on Instagram so I can see it! If you enjoyed the recipe, I’d really appreciate a comment with a 5 star rating! ♥

    Nutrition Per Serving

    Serving: 2servings | Calories: 227kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 548mg | Potassium: 339mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 5IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg
    Author: Carmy
    Course: Side Dish, Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Nutrition Disclaimer

    Other places to connect with me
    @carmyshungry on Instagram
    Facebook
    Shop my Amazon faves
    Email: [email protected]

    Close up of air fryer tater tots on a plate.
    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

    Recipe Rating




    Carmy is a healthy-ish living blogger based in Ontario. Here, you can find healthy-ish recipes including meal prep recipes, Instant Pot recipes, air fryer recipes, and lightened-up family favorites! Follow along for easy, straightforward recipes for any cooking level.

    More about me →

    Popular

    • Plate and meal prep container with rice, korean chicken thighs, cucumbers, carrots, seasoned seaweed, sesame seeds, and green onions.
      Gochujang Chicken Thighs (Grilled or Stovetop)
    • Hibachi Chicken with Fried Rice
    • Crispy skin, delicious flavour, and oh so moist, this Garlic Herb Butter Roasted Chicken in a Dutch Oven is going to have you drooling!
      Garlic Herb Butter Roasted Chicken in a Dutch Oven
    • how to make instant pot poached eggs
      How To Make Instant Pot Poached Eggs

    Sign Up!

    Sign up to stay up to date with new recipes straight to your inbox!

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Work with Me

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates plus a downloadable shopping list and recipes for one week's meal prep (lunches and snacks).

    Recipes

    • All Recipes
    • Meal Preps Recipes
    • Instant Pot Recipes

    Copyright © 2024 Carmy — Easy Healthy-ish Recipes

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




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

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.