Air Fryer Frozen Tater Tots

Air fryer frozen tater tots are the ultimate comfort food made easy! With their golden-brown crunch and fluffy potato centers, these tater tots are a family favorite. Cooking them in the air fryer means you get all the delicious crispiness without the mess of deep frying, and they’re ready in just 15 minutes!

These air fryer tater tots are amazing! So crunchy and delicious and super easy to cook in the air fryer straight from frozen!

Why You’ll Love Air Fryer Frozen Tater Tots

• Super Crispy Texture: The air fryer makes these tater tots perfectly golden and crispy on the outside while keeping the inside soft and fluffy. No greasy residue—just pure crunch in every bite!
• Quick and Easy: From freezer to plate in just 15 minutes! This recipe is ideal for busy weeknights or last-minute snacks.
• Healthier Than Deep Frying: Enjoy all the crunch without the guilt! The air fryer uses minimal to no oil, making these a lighter option.
• Versatile Side Dish or Snack: These tater tots pair with just about anything—burgers, hot dogs, or even as a stand-alone snack with dipping sauces.
• Kid-Friendly and Crowd-Pleasing: Whether it’s for the kids or a party appetizer, everyone loves tater tots, and this method ensures they’re perfectly cooked every time!

I don’t know about you, but I LOVE tater tots! So many of us grew up eating these delicious golden bites of potato and I’ll admit, I’ll sneak a tot (or 10) when I make a batch for my kids. But, I have to say…cooking these frozen tater tots in the air fryer is so much easier and healthier than you think. You still get that deep-fried texture but without all the oils and grease!

Trust me- you’ll never cook frozen tater tots any other way.

Ingredients for Air Fryer Frozen Tater Tots

• Frozen Tater Tots – The star of the recipe! You can use any brand or type, including plain or pre-seasoned.
• Non-Stick Cooking Spray – Helps prevent the tots from sticking to the air fryer basket and ensures an even, crispy coating.

For the exact measurements, see the printable recipe card at the bottom of this article.

Kitchen Tools You Need to Make Air Fryer Frozen Tater Tots

• Air Fryer – The key to achieving perfectly crispy tater tots without deep frying.
• Non-Stick Cooking Spray – Ensures the tater tots don’t stick and promotes even cooking.
• Tongs or Spatula – Handy for removing the cooked tater tots without breaking them.

Air Fryer Frozen Tater Tots

These air fryer frozen tater tots are simply amazing! All you need is one ingredient: tater tots! And, they are ready to eat in just under 15 minutes.

What more can you ask for?

Seasoning Combos For Tater Tots

The best part about tater tots is that they are a blank canvas. You can use all sorts of different seasonings (or leave them as is as many packed tater tots come pre-seasoned) and they taste delicious.

Here are some of my favorite seasonings to sprinkle over the top:

• Salt and pepper
• Italian seasoning
• Cajun seasoning (see my homemade cajun seasoning recipe)
• Taco seasoning (see my homemade taco seasoning recipe)
• Everything Bagel seasoning (see my homemade everything bagel seasoning recipe)

You have plenty of options!

If you don’t yet own an air fryer, click here for the model I recommend. I use my air fryer several times per week and can’t imagine not having it!

How To Cook Frozen Tater Tots In The Air Fryer

Before you start cooking anything, make sure to spray the inside of the air fryer basket with your preferred cooking spray. This helps to make sure the tater tots won’t stick to the bottom of the basket.

Empty out the bag of frozen tater tots (or whatever amount you are wanted to make) into the air fryer basket.

Cook the frozen tater tots in the air fryer at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through the cooking time.

Once you are satisfied with the crispiness of the tater tots, remove them from the air fryer basket and serve them immediately.

Cooking Tip

• If you want your tater tots to be extra crunchy, make sure to not overcrowd the air fryer basket so they can fully cook and get that golden brown color we all love.

What To Serve With Tater Tots

Growing up, my favorite thing to eat with tater tots was a nice juicy hamburger cooked in the air fryer or a juicy hotdog in a bun. My kids love to eat them like this too but they also enjoy them with:

• Crispy Air Fried Chicken Wings
• Juicy Turkey Burger
• Air Fried Chicken Legs

Variations and Substitutions

• Seasoned Tots: Try tossing the tater tots with your favorite seasoning before air frying. Options like Cajun spice, garlic powder, or smoked paprika add a delicious twist.
• Cheesy Tater Tots: Sprinkle shredded cheese over the tots in the last 2 minutes of cooking. Cheddar, mozzarella, or pepper jack are great choices for a gooey finish.
• Loaded Tater Tots: After cooking, top the tots with crumbled bacon, chopped green onions, sour cream, and shredded cheese for a loaded-tot platter that’s perfect for parties.
• Spicy Kick: Add a drizzle of hot sauce or sriracha after cooking for a spicy snack. You can also toss them in buffalo sauce for a bold flavor.
• Healthier Option: Opt for reduced-fat or organic tater tots for a lighter version of this recipe.
• Sweet Potato Tots: Substitute traditional tater tots with frozen sweet potato tots for a slightly sweeter and more nutrient-packed option.

Storage and Reheating

• Storage: Place any leftover tater tots in an airtight container and refrigerate them for up to 3 days.
• Reheating in the Air Fryer: To bring back their crispy texture, reheat the tater tots in the air fryer at 375°F for 3-5 minutes.
• Reheating in the Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F and spread the tots on a baking sheet in a single layer. Heat for about 10 minutes, flipping halfway through.
• Microwave Option: While not ideal for crispiness, you can microwave the tater tots for 1-2 minutes. They’ll soften but still taste great.
• Freezing Cooked Tater Tots: If you want to freeze leftovers, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for 1 hour. Transfer to a freezer-safe bag and store for up to 3 months. Reheat directly from frozen in the air fryer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use any brand of frozen tater tots for this recipe?

Yes, you can use any brand of frozen tater tots, including pre-seasoned or plain. Just adjust the cooking time slightly if they are larger or smaller than average.

Do I need to thaw the tater tots before air frying?

No, there’s no need to thaw the tater tots. They cook best directly from frozen, resulting in a crispy exterior and fluffy interior.

What if my tater tots come out soggy?

If your tater tots aren’t crispy, it could be due to overcrowding the air fryer basket. Make sure to spread them out in a single layer and give them enough space for the air to circulate.

Can I make this recipe without non-stick spray?

While non-stick spray helps prevent sticking, you can skip it if your air fryer basket is non-stick. However, using it ensures an even golden-brown crust.

Can I cook a smaller portion of tater tots?

Absolutely! You can cook as few or as many tater tots as you need. Just adjust the cooking time slightly for smaller batches and check for crispiness.

How do I make them extra crispy?

To achieve extra crispiness, cook the tater tots for an additional 2-3 minutes in the air fryer. Avoid stacking them in the basket, as this can lead to uneven cooking.

More Air Fryer Recipes

If you loved this air fried tater tots recipe, check out some of my other air fryer recipes!

These are a few of the recipes I make frequently:

• Air Fryer Frozen Breaded Shrimp
• Roasted Mushrooms In The Air Fryer
• Air Fryer Bacon
• Corn In The Cob In The Air Fryer
• Air Fryer Portobello Pizza

See also:

• Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
• Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
• Air Fryer Bacon