Leave those frozen tater tots behind! These Homemade Tater Tots are so easy to make and get crispy in the air fryer without the use of any excess oil! These crispy morels and healthy AND delicious!
Tater tots are a joy in my life (and probably yours too if you're here!) However, it's just too easy to eat the whole darn bag and 9 measly tots (the usual suggested serving size) is just not enough!
These oil free tater tots are a healthy choice and will leave you feeling so satisfied and happy. Air frying tater tots gives that golden brown and crispy exterior we all know and love while still leaving the center soft and delightful.
Enjoy them dipped into some healthy spicy mayo or creamy dill dressing or as a side dish to some vegan turkey burgers !
These air fried tater tots are vegan, gluten free, nut free, oil free (optional) and whole food plant based!
What you'll need
Homemade tater tots are made from simple ingredients that you probably already have on hand:
- potatoes, cooked and cooled (Russet, Idaho or Yukon Gold work best)
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- nutritional yeast
- parsley optional
- sea salt
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Pre-Cook Potatoes
My favorite method (and the easiest) is to prep a whole bunch of potatoes in my Instant Pot! You can find the easy to follow list of cooking times here!
If you do not have an instant pot, simply scrub your potatoes very clean and then add them to a pot or steamer basket with 2-3 inches of water. Cover and cook over medium-high heat for 12-20 minutes until fork tender. Time will vary based on the size of the potatoes.
Let the cooked potatoes cool until able to handle by hand and then continue with the recipe!
How to make homemade tater tots
To make these easy tater tots follow these super easy steps!
Using a box grater, grate the cooked and cooled potatoes using the largest hole.
Add grated potatoes and all seasonings to a large bowl and gently mix until spices coat potatoes.
Use your hands to form potato mixture into tots, about 1-2 tablespoons is good, depending on your size preference
Air fry in a single layer at 380°F for 16-20 minutes, lightly shaking basket halfway through, until tots are golden brown and crispy.
That's it!! Enjoy with ketchup or your favorite dip along side a yummy bahn mi burger or vegan cheesesteak!
Storage
After cooled, the tater tots can be stored in a sealed container or freezer bag and refrigerated for 3 days or frozen for 2 months.
To reheat, simply toss the frozen or refrigerated tots back in the air fryer and cook at 380°F until they are hot and crispy again.
Top tip
To save some time, keep a batch of cooked potatoes prepped in the fridge so you can grab a few whenever those tater tot craving hits! Learn how to cook whole potatoes in the instant pot here to save even more time and effort!
FAQ
The air fryer is great for these because they let you get that crispy exterior without the use of oil. However, if you do not have an air fryer you can bake these (with convection would be best) at 400°F for 15-20 minutes, mixing halfway through.
Air Fried Tater tots work best with a starchy potato like Russet, Idaho or Yukon Gold.
I do not peel my potatoes for this recipe, though you can if that's your preference. Remove any large peels that do not get grated well and continue on with the recipe.
Did you make this recipe? Please leave a comment and ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below! Take a picture and tag me on Instagram @samcookskindness !
Recipe
Easy Homemade Tater Tots (Air Fryer)
Equipment
- Air fryer
- box grater
Ingredients
- 4 medium potatoes, cooked and cooled* (Russet, Idaho or Yukon Gold work best)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley optional
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- oil spray optional*
Instructions
- Using a box grater, grate the cooked and cooled potatoes using the largest hole. Add grated potatoes and all seasonings to a large bowl and gently mix until spices coat potatoes. Taste and adjust salt as needed.
- Lightly spray the basket of your air fryer with oil, only if needed.
- Using your hands grab 1-2 tablespoons of potato mixture and squeeze into a tater tot shape. Place in the air fryer and repeat, keeping the tots in a single layer until basket is full. (You make need to cook these in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.)
- Air fry at 380°F for 16-20 minutes, lightly shaking basket halfway through, until tots are golden brown and crispy.
Notes
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Valery says
This is such a great recipe, and I love love love any opportunity to use my air fryer! My food is so much crispier and healthier when it comes from the air fryer. Can’t wait to try out this recipe!
Sam says
Thanks for the feedback Valery! I hope you love them!
Kelsey says
My kids love tater tots but I can’t ever justify buying them because of how bad they are! What a fantastic alternative. Making tonight! Thank you!
Sam says
Right?! That was my exact thought too! Hope you enjoyed them!!!
April says
We love tator tots and these were so easy and delicious!
Sam says
Thanks April!! So glad you had a good experience!
Morgan says
These look so good & so much better for you than the processed stuff. Def trying these out - thanks!
Sam says
Absolutely! We love tots in my house so this was a perfect swap instead of us devouring a whole frozen bag! 😅
Sophie says
Your recipe is so tasty, I can't get enough of it! The air fryer It's definitely one of my favorite way to make food.
Sam says
Mine too, I use my air fryer everyday! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Poppy says
I made these and I really enjoyed them! The airfryer made them so crisp on the outside! Loved them
Patty says
I made these today and I loved them! I love tots but I don't love how high in fat they are. These were crispy and fun and surprisingly easy to make with leftover potatoes. Whenever I cook potatoes from now on I'll make sure I make some extra so I can make these the next day haha!