Homemade Tater Tots Recipe
This homemade tater tots recipe makes all store bought tots seem sad. Perfectly seasoned shredded potatoes get formed into barrels and fried to perfection for a side dish everyone in the family will love for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!
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My boys are big potato lovers.
Baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, french fries, hash browns, and of course, tater tots!
They’ve never met a spud they didn’t like.
But tater tots may be a favorite.
They all liked them when they were little and still want them to this day.
And who could blame them?
They pair well with savory breakfasts like scrambled eggs or lunch and dinner items like chicken nuggets, burgers, or even chili.
These homemade tater tots are a favorite of kids and adults alike.
They are yummier than the store bought version and you can season them any way you’d like!
Ingredients
To make these you’ll need:
- Potatoes– Peeled russet potatoes
- Flour– All purpose
- Spices– Garlic powder, salt, onion powder, paprika, and fresh parsley
- Oil– For frying
How to Make
Making homemade tater tots isn’t as hard as you may think!
To do it, peel the potatoes and put them in a large pot.
Fill the pot with water until it is covering them and bring the potatoes to a boil for 8 to 10 minutes or just until the potatoes are partially cooked.
Then, drain the potatoes and let them cool until you can easily handle them.
Once the potatoes are cool enough to work with, shred them using a food processor with a shredding attachment or a box grater.
Add the shredded potatoes to a larger bowl and mix well with the flour, garlic powder, salt, onion powder, and paprika.
Shape the potato mixtures into into small cylinders to form the tots.
Place them on a piece of parchment paper until ready to cook
Then, heat a heavy bottom pot with oil to 350F.
Fry the tots in batches of 5-8 pieces, depending on the size of the pot.
Let them cook for 5 minutes or until golden brown.
Then remove the tots with a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel lined plate.
Repeat until all tots have been cooked.
Serve immediately with a sprinkle of parsley if desired.
Enjoy!
Oven Directions
Want to skip frying them?
That’s fine!
Bake them instead.
To do it, just parboil the potatoes and assemble the tots as directed.
Then spread the tots out on a sheet pan lined with foil and sprayed with nonstick spray.
Bake at 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes, flipping the tots once and spraying with non stick spray again half way through.
Serve and enjoy!
Dipping Suggestions
You can dip these in pretty much anything you like.
Some of our favorite dipping sauces for tater tots include:
- Ketchup
- Smoked Ketchup
- Sour cream
- Smoked Cilantro Lime Crema
- Big Mac Sauce Recipe
- Alabama White Barbecue Sauce
- Smoked Salsa
Storing Leftovers
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 3 days.
For best reheating, warm them in the toaster oven or under the broiler until warm and crispy.
Can I freeze homemade tater tots?
Yes!
Cook them as instructed and let them cool completely.
Then put the cooled tots in a freezer safe ziplocking bag and freeze for up to a month or so.
Cook frozen tots in a 425 degree oven until warmed through.
Tips and Tricks
- Make sure not to overcrowd the skillet when you are frying the tots. The tots won’t get as crispy and may sort of stick together if they are touching.
- Use these in any casserole you would use tater tots in!
- Serve them loaded with chili and cheese on top for a hearty meal that’s a real treat.
Recipes with Tater Tots
Homemade tater tots always hit the spot whether as a side for breakfast, lunch or dinner or in your favorite casserole.
Make them and enjoy!
Looking for recipes that use tater tots?
Try these:
If you’ve tried this HOMEMADE TATER TOTS RECIPE, or any other recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!
Homemade Tater Tots Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lbs russet potatoes 4-5 medium, peeled
- 2 tablespoons flour
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- Oil for frying
- Fresh minced parsley for garnish optional
Instructions
- Place the peeled potatoes in a large pot and cover with water. Bring the water to a boil and cook for 8-10 minutes, or until the potatoes are partially cooked2 lbs russet potatoes
- Drain the potatoes then allow to cool until easily handled.
- Shred the potatoes using a food processor with a shredding attachment or a box grater, then add to a larger bowl along with the flour, garlic powder, salt, onion powder, and paprika and mix well2 tablespoons flour, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon paprika
- Squeeze the potato into small cylinders to form the tots, place on a piece of parchment paper until ready to cook
- Heat a heavy bottom pot with oil to 350F. Add the tots and fry in batches of 5-8 pieces, depending on the size of the pot. Cook for 5 minutes or until golden brown then remove and place on a paper towel lined plate. Repeat until all tots have been cooked.Oil for frying
- Serve immediately with a sprinkle of parsley if desired.Fresh minced parsley for garnish
Notes
- Make sure not to overcrowd the skillet when you are frying the tots. The tots won't get as crispy and may sort of stick together if they are touching.
- Use these in any casserole you would use tater tots in!
- Serve them loaded with chili and cheese on top for a hearty meal that's a real treat.
Nutrition
This post may contain affiliate links. As an amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See my full Disclosure Policy for details. As always, all opinions are my own.
