Create mouthwatering homemade tater tots with our easy recipe. Enjoy crispy golden and delicious tater tots that are perfect for snacking or as a side dish.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds (about 4 large) russet potatoes
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1 cup grated cheddar cheese (optional)
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- Cooking oil for frying (vegetable oil or canola oil)
Instructions
1/ Peel and rinse the potatoes then grate them using a box grater or a food processor with a grating attachment.
2/ Place the grated potatoes in a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth. Squeeze out as much liquid as possible to prevent the tater tots from being too watery. You want the potatoes to be as dry as you can get them.
3/ In a large mixing bowl, combine the grated potatoes, salt, black pepper garlic powder onion powder, and paprika. If you’d like to make cheesy tater tots mix in the grated cheddar cheese at this point.
4/ Sprinkle the flour over the potato mixture and toss everything together until the flour is evenly distributed and helps bind the ingredients.
5/ Take a small handful of the potato mixture and shape it into a cylinder or small oval forming tater tots. You can make them as big or small as you like but keep them relatively uniform in size for even cooking.
6/ Heat about 2 inches of cooking oil in a deep skillet or Dutch oven to 350°F (175°C). Use a thermometer for monitoring the temperature.
7/ Carefully add the tater tots to the hot oil in batches being sure not to overcrowd the pan. Fry them until they are golden brown and crispy, about 3-4 minutes per side.
8/ Using a slotted spoon, transfer the cooked tater tots to a plate lined with paper towels to drain the excess oil. Sprinkle them with a bit of salt immediately after removing them from the oil.
9/ Continue this process with the remaining tater tots until they are all cooked.
Serving Homemade Tater Tots
Serve your homemade tater tots hot with your favorite dipping sauces like ketchup mustard or even a creamy ranch dressing.
Enjoy a very delicious homemade tater tots with friends and family.
Tips and Tricks for Making Homemade Tater Tots
Choose the Right Potatoes: Use russet potatoes for the best results. They have a high starch content which helps create a crispy exterior.
Grate and Drain: After grating the potatoes, make sure to squeeze out as much moisture as possible using a kitchen towel or cheesecloth. Dry potatoes will result in a crispier texture.
Season Well: Don’t be shy with your seasonings. Tater tots can be enhanced with spices like salt pepper garlic powder onion powder and paprika. Be sure to mix them thoroughly into the grated potatoes.
Consider Adding Cheese: Adding grated cheddar cheese to the mixture can create cheesy tater tots. It’s a great addition for extra flavor.
Use Flour for Binding: A bit of all purpose flour helps hold the tater tots together. It also contributes to a crispier texture.
Uniform Shapes: Try to shape your tater tots into consistent sizes to ensure even cooking. This can be done by hand, making small cylinders or ovals.
Maintain Oil Temperature: When frying, keep an eye on the oil temperature. A consistent temperature around 350°F (175°C) will result in crispy tater tots.
Don’t Overcrowd the Pan: Fry tater tots in batches, ensuring there’s enough space in the pan for them to cook evenly. Overcrowding can lead to uneven browning.
Drain Excess Oil: After frying, transfer the tater tots to a paper towel-lined plate to remove excess oil. This helps keep them crispy.
Serve Hot: Tater tots are at their best when served immediately.
Dipping Sauces: Pair your homemade tater tots with your favorite dipping sauces such as ketchup mustard mayonnaise or ranch dressing for added flavor.
Experiment: Feel free to get creative with your tater tots. You can add some new ingredients like diced bacon scallions or jalapeños for unique variations.
Common Mistakes To Avoid To Make Homemade Tater Tots
Some Common Mistakes to Avoid When Making Homemade tater tots
Not Draining the Potatoes: Failing to squeeze excess moisture from the grated potatoes can result in soggy tater tots. Make sure to get the potatoes as dry as possible.
Skipping Seasoning: Potatoes on their own can be bland. Don’t forget to season your tater tot mixture with salt, pepper, and other spices for flavor.
Overcrowding the Pan: Trying to fry too many tater tots at once can cause them to stick together and cook unevenly. Fry in batches for the best results.
Inconsistent Sizing: Irregularly shaped tater tots can lead to inconsistent cooking times. Aim for uniform sizes for even frying.
Neglecting Oil Temperature: Not maintaining the correct oil temperature can result in greasy or undercooked tater tots. Use thermometer to monitor the oil.
Using the Wrong Potato Variety: Potatoes with a low starch content, such as waxy potatoes may not yield the desired texture. Stick with russet potatoes for the best tater tots.
Not Using Enough Flour: Insufficient flour can lead to tater tots falling apart during frying. Make sure to incorporate enough flour for binding.
Skipping the Cheese: If you want to make cheesy tater tots don’t forget to mix in the grated cheese. It adds a delightful flavor and texture.
Rushing the Process: Tater tots require time and attention. Don’t rush through the steps take your time to get the best results.
Not Testing the Oil: Before frying all your tater tots it’s a good idea to test one as a “sample” to ensure the oil temperature is correct and that the tots hold together.
Reusing Oil: Using oil that has been reused too many times can result in off flavors and poor frying results. Start with fresh, clean oil.
Forgetting to Drain Excess Oil: After frying be sure to place the tater tots on paper towels to remove any excess oil, which can make them greasy.
You can enjoy perfectly crispy and flavorful homemade tater tots.
Nutrition Facts
The approximate nutrition facts for homemade tater tots, per serving (about 6 tater tots).
- Calories: 160-180 kcal
- Fat: 8-10 grams
- Saturated Fat: 1-2 grams
- Cholesterol: 10-15 mg
- Sodium: 250-300 mg
- Carbohydrates: 20-25 grams
- Dietary Fiber: 2-3 grams
- Sugars: 1-2 grams
- Protein: 2-3 grams
Please note that these values are approximate and can vary depending on the specific recipe and how the tater tots are prepared. The inclusion of cheese or other ingredients will also affect the nutrition facts. If you require more precise nutrition information, it’s recommended to calculate the values based on the exact ingredients and quantities used in your recipe.
