Comforting and savory, these Loaded Tater Tots are perfect for parties, game day, or a filling snack any time! You'll love the crispy potatoes topped with bacon, creamy and cheesy queso, and a drizzle of ranch dressing.
Finish it off with fresh scallions for a pop of color and flavor and you've got the perfect dish! This recipe is easy to make for an irresistibly delicious, crowd-pleasing appetizer.
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🩵 About This Recipe
Looking for your next game day appetizer or a fun centerpiece for a party spread? These loaded tots are super easy to make and have the best savory flavors!
Featuring crispy bacon, golden brown tater tots, and a creamy combo of ranch and queso, these are guaranteed to be gone in minutes. You can even serve them as a special breakfast or brunch dish!
And if you love potato dishes, make my Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole, my Cowboy Casserole, or this Bacon and Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole.
🧂 Gather Your Ingredients
- tater tots - nothing fancy needed here! Just grab a bag of your favorite frozen tots.
- bacon - adds a salty, crispy crunch that contrasts with the tots.
- scallions - fresh scallions are the perfect garnish and add a great pop of color.
- ranch dressing - brings a creamy, tangy flavor that balances the saltiness.
- queso - provides a rich cheesy flavor and a subtle kick of heat.
🔪 Let's Make Loaded Tater Tots!
(Or click here to jump right to the recipe card with measurements!)
Arrange Tots
Spread out the tater tots in a single layer on a baking sheet.
Cook Bacon and Tots
Lay out bacon on a separate baking sheet, then add both bacon and tater tots to the oven.
Chop Bacon
Allow the bacon to cool slightly and chop into small pieces. Slice the scallions as well.
Plate Tater Tots
Transfer the baked tater tots to a serving tray or basket.
Assemble
Top tater tots with queso, bacon, ranch dressing, and scallions, then serve!
💡 Expert Tips and Tricks
- For best results, give the tater tots a bit of space between them so they cook evenly.
- Save time on prep by using pre-cooked bacon crumbles or by quickly zapping your bacon in the microwave.
- Another way to save time is to choose pre-sliced scallions or slice them the night before.
❔ FAQs
Cheese, cheese, and more cheese! Aside from the savory bacon and flavorful sauces, if you're looking to upgrade a simple tray of frozen tots, just sprinkle with your favorite cheeses.
If you want your tots extra crispy, you can cook them at a slightly higher temperature or for slightly longer than the package directions. I don't recommend doing both at the same time, as you can easily burn them this way. Another trick is to very lightly spritz them with some oil before baking.
If the tots are overcrowded on the pan or had a lot of freezer burn or other moisture present, they may turn out a bit on the mushy side.
If you enjoy loaded potatoes, check out this recipe for a Loaded Baked Potato Casserole. It's a perfect way to easily serve loaded baked potatoes for a crowd!
Or check out this ahi tuna nachos recipe for another great appetizer idea!
📝 Substitutions and Variations
- Give your loaded tots a Tex-Mex twist with some sour cream, guacamole, and your favorite salsa.
- Make this tater tot appetizer vegetarian by using black beans instead of the bacon.
- Like things spicy? Add slices of jalapeno, red pepper flakes, or a drizzle of hot sauce.
- Use other sauces like buffalo sauce or barbecue sauce to change up the flavor profile.
Kristin's Kitchen Tip
Turn leftovers of your loaded tots into a breakfast scramble by frying them up with some eggs, bell peppers, and more cheesy goodness!
🥡 Storage and Reheating
Allow your loaded tots to cool, then store in the fridge in an airtight container for 2 to 3 days. Because they have the sauce on them already, they'll probably get a little soggy as they sit, but they'll still taste great!
Reheat in the oven for the most crispiness, or heat smaller portions in the microwave for a faster result.
Keep It Handy
Don't have time for this loaded tater tots recipe right now? Click on or tap the heart icon on the BOTTOM RIGHT of the screen to save it for later!
🍴 What To Serve With This Dish
Serve these loaded tots alongside a Homemade Queso Dip, serve with this easy Ranch Dressing, or top them with a Homemade Ranch Seasoning! They also pair well with a wide variety of other appetizers, like wings, mozzarella sticks, or pretzels with beer cheese.
😋 More Appetizer Recipes You'll Love
- Baked Brie with Honey - Elegant and impressive, this 5-ingredient appetizer will make you feel like you're at a fancy restaurant!
- Easy Baked Calamari - Seafood fans will love this crispy homemade calamari.
- Black Bean Veggie Dip - This healthy and flavorful dip is perfect to pair with all your favorite dippers.
- Cream Cheese Cranberry Dip - For a unique combination of sweet and savory, try this homemade dip from Cocktails and Appetizers!
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Tater Tots with Cheese
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📋 Recipe Card
Loaded Tater Tots
Ingredients
- 32 ounces frozen tater tots
- 8 slices bacon
- 2 scallions
- 1 cup queso
- ½ cup ranch dressing
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Spread the tater tots in a single layer on a baking sheet.32 ounces frozen tater tots
- Arrange the bacon slices in a single layer on the rack on a baking sheet. This setup allows the bacon to cook evenly.8 slices bacon
- Place both baking sheets in the oven. The bacon will likely need 15-20 minutes and the tater tots 25-30 minutes. Start checking the bacon around 12 minutes to ensure it doesn't overcook. Remove the bacon once it's crispy and let it cool slightly.
- Slice the scallions and chop the bacon.2 scallions
- While the tater tots and bacon are in the oven, warm up the queso in a microwave-safe bowl or on the stovetop until it's heated through and pourable, about 2-3 minutes.1 cup queso
- Once the tater tots are baked, transfer them to a large serving dish.
- Evenly drizzle the warm queso over the crispy tater tots, then sprinkle the chopped bacon, drizzle the ranch dressing, and garnish with the scallions.½ cup ranch dressing
- Finish with a light sprinkle of salt and pepper. Serve immediately.Salt and pepper to taste
Notes
- Save time by using pre-cooked bacon or microwave-ready bacon. Just heat and crumble.
- Buy pre-chopped scallions or chop them a day ahead to save prep time.
- You may want to line the baking sheets with parchment or foil for easy cleanup, especially for the bacon.
- Add sour cream, guacamole, or salsa for a Tex-Mex twist.
- Skip the bacon and use black beans or plant-based bacon crumbles for a vegetarian version.
- Add sliced jalapeños, a drizzle of hot sauce, or sprinkle on crushed red pepper flakes for a little heat.
- Try a drizzle of barbecue sauce or buffalo sauce instead of ranch for a flavor twist.
- Store leftover loaded tater tots in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Additional serving suggestions:
- Serve as a game-day or party appetizer alongside extra dipping sauces like ranch, blue cheese, or spicy queso.
- Place the plain tater tots on a platter and set up a DIY topping station for guests to customize.
- Reheat in the oven or an air fryer at 375°F until crispy, about 10 minutes. Microwaving is also an option but not recommended because the result will be soggy.
- Freezing is not recommended unless you have cooked, plain tater tots. These can be frozen. Then thaw the tots overnight in the refrigerator, reheat them, and proceed with loading them up with toppings.
Ideas for using leftovers:
- Reheat leftovers and pile them onto a plate. Add extra toppings like jalapeños, salsa, or shredded lettuce to create a loaded nachos-style dish.
- Chop leftover tots and mix with scrambled eggs, diced peppers, and extra cheese for a hearty breakfast skillet.
- Layer reheated tater tots with leftover toppings, plus some steamed broccoli or roasted veggies, for a quick meal.
- Press leftover tots into a waffle maker for crispy tater tot waffles. Top with ranch, scallions, or other additional toppings.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.
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Deb says
We loved this!! The tots were so crispy and it was a great snack for game night!
Kristin King says
So glad to hear that! Thanks!
Kristin King says
We love love LOVE tater tots and this is the perfect snack for hungry teenagers or to serve at parties. For us, they're even better than nachos!