15 Tater Tot Recipes That Bring All the Comfort

Tater tots aren’t just a freezer snack; they’re a building block for all kinds of bold, crispy, loaded dishes. This list rounds up casseroles, croquettes, nachos, and even homemade versions that start from scratch. Some are built for the oven, others use the slow cooker or air fryer, but everyone leans into that golden crunch and soft center combo that makes tots so easy to use. You’ll find ideas topped with cheese, stuffed with meat, wrapped in bacon, or layered into full meals that don’t need a side. Whether you’re after something hearty, snackable, or just a better way to use a bag of frozen tots, there’s more than enough here to cover it.

Easy Big Mac Tater Tot Casserole

A casserole dish filled with tater tots, ground beef, diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, onions, and pickles, with a serving spoon on the side. — Easy Big Mac Tater Tot Casserole. Photo credit: Mama’s on a Budget.

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This bake stacks up everything you’d find in a drive-thru burger—cheesy beef, pickles, sauce—beneath a layer of crispy tots. It’s rich, salty, and completely over the top. The sauce soaks into the meat while the top gets golden. Serve with shredded lettuce if you want to go all in.
Get the Recipe: Easy Big Mac Tater Tot Casserole

Shepards Pie With Tater Tots

A plate of shepherds pie topped with melted cheese, showing layers of ground meat, peas, and carrots. Near the plate are a fork, garlic, onion, and a striped napkin. — Shepards Pie With Tater Tots. Photo credit: Mama’s on a Budget.

Instead of mashed potatoes, this twist uses crispy tater tots to top a savory ground meat and vegetable filling. The tots bake golden while the base stays tender and saucy. It’s cozy and full of flavor with less work than the original. A good one-pan meal that makes leftovers easy.
Get the Recipe: Shepards Pie With Tater Tots

Slow Cooker Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

Cheesy potato casserole topped with crispy bacon and chopped green onions in a black dish. — Slow Cooker Chicken Tater Tot Casserole. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Chicken, cheese, and cream-based sauce cook low and slow under a blanket of frozen tots. The slow cooker softens the inside while the top crisps up at the end. Everything melts together into a rich, comforting bake. Set it in the morning and come back to dinner ready.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

Extra Crispy Tater Tots Croquettes

Extra Crispy Keto Tater Tots Croquettes inside white bowl. — Extra Crispy Tater Tots Croquettes. Photo credit: Low Carb – No Carb.

These are tater tots taken to the next level, hand-shaped, double-fried, and packed with flavor. The outside is shatter-crisp while the inside stays smooth. Add cheese, herbs, or diced ham for more bite. They’re ideal for snacking or party trays.
Get the Recipe: Extra Crispy Tater Tots Croquettes

Homemade Tater Tots

Grated potatoes get seasoned, shaped, and baked or fried until golden. They’re crisp on the outside and soft in the middle, with a flavor you won’t get from frozen. Make a big batch and freeze the extras. These taste good plain or loaded up.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Tater Tots

Loaded Tater Tots Recipe

Tots get baked until crispy and then piled high with cheese, bacon, green onions, and whatever sauce you like. Every bite hits with crunch, salt, and melted layers. Serve with ranch or spicy dip on the side. These go fast at any get-together.
Get the Recipe: Loaded Tater Tots Recipe

Tater Tot Hotdish

A Midwest classic with beef, cream of mushroom soup, veggies, and a top layer of tots. It bakes all in one pan until bubbling and golden. The flavors are simple but comforting. This one feeds a table with no complaints.
Get the Recipe: Tater Tot Hotdish

Vegetarian Tater Tot Casserole

A white baking dish filled with tater tot casserole, topped with golden tater tots and sprinkled with chopped herbs, sits on a pink cloth. — Vegetarian Tater Tot Casserole. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Meaty flavor without the meat, this version uses mushrooms, lentils, or plant-based crumbles. The creamy base keeps it rich while the tater tots bring texture. Add corn, peas, or beans to make it heartier. A solid comfort dish that skips the meat.
Get the Recipe: Vegetarian Tater Tot Casserole

Tater Tot Nachos

A plate of loaded nachos topped with diced tomatoes, olives, jalapeños, avocado, cilantro, sour cream, and served with lime wedges. — Tater Tot Nachos. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Crispy tots take the place of tortilla chips and get loaded with all the usual toppings. Cheese, salsa, sour cream, and more melt into the pile. Serve them right from the tray while everything’s hot. A fun twist that disappears fast.
Get the Recipe: Tater Tot Nachos

Pie Iron Cheesy Tater Tots

A close-up of a pie iron being opened over a grill, revealing melted cheese, diced tomatoes, and tater tots inside. — Pie Iron Cheesy Tater Tots. Photo credit: Xoxo Bella.

These cook over a fire using a pie iron, with tots layered between cheese and grilled until crisp. The result is melty, smoky, and perfectly browned. A campfire favorite that’s easy to prep. Good for breakfast, lunch, or snack time.
Get the Recipe: Pie Iron Cheesy Tater Tots

Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

A rectangular casserole dish filled with tater tot hotdish, topped with evenly arranged golden tater tots and sprinkled with herbs. — Chicken Tater Tot Casserole. Photo credit: Xoxo Bella.

Shredded or diced chicken baked into a creamy, cheesy base with tots on top. It’s simple, hearty, and built for busy nights. Add broccoli or peas for a little balance. Bake until bubbling and the top is golden.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

Totchos Loaded Tater Tot Nachos

A tray of loaded tater tots topped with cheese sauce, diced tomatoes, jalapeño slices, bacon bits, and chopped green onions. — Totchos Loaded Tater Tot Nachos. Photo credit: xoxo Bella.

A heavier, bolder take on nachos, with tots instead of chips and all the toppings you can fit. Think melted cheese, sour cream, ground meat, jalapeños, and more. Serve in a big dish or portion out like sliders. They hit hard and go fast.
Get the Recipe: Totchos Loaded Tater Tot Nachos

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Tater Tots

A platter of golden-brown, breaded nuggets garnished with herbs and coarse salt, served with a bowl of creamy dipping sauce on the side. — Air Fryer Sweet Potato Tater Tots. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

Sweet potatoes shaped into tots and air-fried until browned and crisp. They’ve got a natural sweetness with just enough crunch. Season with salt, garlic powder, or cinnamon depending on the vibe. A lighter swap that still tastes good.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Sweet Potato Tater Tots

Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots

A plate of bacon wrapped potatoes. — Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots. Photo credit: Xoxo Bella.

Each tot gets wrapped in a strip of bacon and baked until crispy and golden. The outside crackles while the inside stays soft. Dip in ranch, BBQ, or spicy mayo. These never make it to leftovers.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots

Taco Tater Tot Casserole

A serving of tater tot casserole with melted cheese and ground meat, topped with chopped green onions, being lifted from a baking dish. — Taco Tater Tot Casserole. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Seasoned ground beef, cheese, and veggies bake under a golden layer of tater tots. The taco flavor runs through the filling while the top stays crispy. Add jalapeños or sour cream before serving. It’s easy to customize and made to feed a crowd.
Get the Recipe: Taco Tater Tot Casserole