Craving something crispy, crunchy, and delicious? These homemade air fryer tater tots will hit the spot every time! With simple ingredients and an air fryer, you can create golden, perfectly seasoned tater tots in no time. These tots are not only healthier than their deep-fried counterparts but taste just as delicious (if not better!).
Ingredients List for Air Fryer Tater Tots
The great thing about this recipe is that it requires minimal ingredients, most of which you probably already have in your pantry.
Ingredients:
- 4 medium potatoes, peeled
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Cooking spray
These basic ingredients come together to create crispy tater tots that are savory, flavorful, and perfect for dipping.
Required Kitchen Tools
To make air fryer tater tots, here are the tools you’ll need for easy preparation:
- Pot for Parboiling : A pot to quickly parboil the potatoes, which helps in achieving a perfectly crispy tater tot outer layer.
- Box Grater : You’ll need a handy box grater for shredding the partially cooked potatoes.
- Mixing Bowl : A large bowl to combine your grated potatoes and seasonings.
- Towels or Paper Towels : To remove moisture from the grated potatoes, ensuring they fry up crisp.
- Air Fryer : The star tool of this recipe, your air fryer will help you achieve restaurant-quality results without the excess oil.
Once you have those tools ready, making tater tots in your air fryer is a breeze!
Preparing Your Potatoes for Air Frying
The key to perfectly crispy tater tots lies in the initial steps of prepping the potatoes. Here’s how to ensure you set yourself up for tater tot success!
Step 1: Parboiling the Potatoes
To begin, you’ll need to parboil the potatoes. Parboiling means partially cooking the potatoes, which helps them cook evenly and makes them easier to grate.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Once the water is boiling, add your peeled potatoes and allow them to cook for about 6-7 minutes .
- You’re not looking to fully cook the potatoes at this stage—just soften the outer layer. The potatoes should still feel firm but have a slight give when pierced with a fork.
Step 2: Grating the Potatoes
After the potatoes are partially cooked, carefully remove them from the pot and allow them to cool for a few minutes until they’re safe to handle.
- Use a box grater to grate the potatoes. Be sure to grate them finely, so they can easily be formed into the classic tater tot shape.
Step 3: Removing Excess Moisture
This step is crucial to achieving that crispy texture. Excess moisture in the grated potatoes will result in soggy tater tots—something we definitely do not want!
- Place the grated potatoes in a clean towel or paper towels and squeeze out as much moisture as possible. This step will help remove any unwanted water and improve the crispiness of the final product.
Now that your potatoes are prepared, it’s time to mix them with seasoning and get them ready for the air fryer.
Mixing and Shaping the Tater Tots
With your parboiled, grated potatoes ready and moisture removed, it’s time to add some seasoning and shape them into tots.
Step 4: Combining the Ingredients
In a mixing bowl , combine the following:
- Grated potatoes
- 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour (this will help bind the mixture)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder (for that savory, garlicky flavor)
- 1 teaspoon onion powder (adds a bit of depth to the seasoning)
- Salt and pepper to taste (adjust depending on your flavor preference)
Using your hands or a spatula, mix everything together until well combined, making sure the flour and seasonings are evenly distributed throughout the grated potatoes.
Step 5: Shaping the Tots
Now it’s time to shape the tater tots!
- Take a small portion of the potato mixture (about a tablespoon) and form it into a cylinder shape . You can adjust the size of the tater tots according to your preference, but keeping them small helps ensure they’re crispy on the outside and cooked well on the inside.
- Repeat this process until you’ve used all the potato mixture.
At this point, you’ll have a tray full of freshly shaped tater tots, ready for the air fryer!
Air Frying the Tater Tots
Now that your tater tots are shaped, it’s time to get them nice and crispy in the air fryer.
Step 6: Preheat Your Air Fryer
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F . Preheating ensures the tots start cooking immediately and helps develop that golden, crispy outside layer we all love.
Step 7: Prepare the Tater Tots for Frying
Place your shaped tater tots on a baking sheet or flat surface:
- Lightly spray the tater tots with cooking spray . This helps them crisp up nicely in the air fryer without needing excess oil. Make sure to coat all sides, but don’t overdo it.
- Once sprayed, transfer the tots into the air fryer basket. It’s important to arrange them in a single layer , so leave a little space between each tot to allow even air circulation.
Step 8: Air Fry Your Tater Tots
Now it’s time to cook! Here’s how to air fry them to perfection:
- Air fry the tater tots at 400°F for 20-25 minutes , shaking the basket once or twice during cooking to ensure all sides are evenly crispy. The tots should be golden brown , with crispy edges while still tender inside.
Step 9: Let Them Cool Slightly
Once your tater tots are perfectly golden and crispy, carefully remove them from the air fryer. Allow them to cool slightly for a few minutes so they don’t burn your mouth when you take that first crunchy bite!
Serving Your Delicious Air Fryer Tater Tots
These air fryer tater tots are best served fresh and hot. You can enjoy them as a snack on their own, or pair them with your favorite dipping sauces like ketchup, ranch, or spicy mayo.
Storage Tips:
If you have any leftovers (though that’s doubtful!), you can store them in an airtight container and reheat them in the air fryer at 350°F for 5-6 minutes to bring back some of that crispy texture.
Conclusion
Making your own air fryer tater tots at home is not only easy but also way healthier than the deep-fried version you’d typically find at restaurants or from the frozen section of the grocery store. With just a few simple ingredients and the magic of your air fryer, you can create deliciously crispy tater tots that are just as satisfying—if not more!—than store-bought varieties.
From parboiling and grating the potatoes, to mixing in the perfect balance of seasonings, and finally air frying them to golden perfection, this recipe ensures that every tater tot has that wonderful balance of crunch on the outside and softness on the inside. Plus, the beauty of homemade tater tots is the ability to tweak the seasoning or even experiment with dips and sauces to suit your taste buds.
Whether it’s game day, a quick snack, or a side to your weeknight meal, these homemade air fryer tater tots are sure to impress. Best of all, the cleanup is a breeze compared to traditional frying!
So, pull out your air fryer, try out this recipe, and enjoy a healthier, delicious version of this beloved snack. You’ll never turn back to frozen tots again!