Tater Tot Nachos

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Tater Tot Nachos (Totchos) are made with crispy golden tater tots, topped with seasoned beef, scoops of refried beans, corn, black beans, salsa and melty cheese. Add your favorite toppings and dig in!

Nachos are one of those appetizers everyone loves! The best part is there are so many ways to make them your own! You have got to try Irish nachos made with potatoes, air fryer nachos, or even dessert nachos!

Overhead shot of pan of tater tot nachos.

Reasons You’ll Love This Totchos Recipe

  • It’s a Crowd Favorite: Nachos are great for any occasion, and everyone will be excited when you pull these Totchos out of the oven!
  • Easy to Make: Just a handful of simple ingredients are needed for this hearty, mouthwatering snack!
  • Super Versatile: You can easily customize these with your favorite protein, cheese and toppings!

What are Totchos?

These Totchos (or Tater Tot Nachos) will take your nacho game to the next level! First, replace traditional tortilla chips with toasty tater tots to make these nachos extra satisfying. Then, load them up with all your favorite Mexican toppings and plenty of melty cheese. Finally, they’re perfect for parties, the big game, and even hearty enough to enjoy as a filling meal.

Ingredients Needed For Tater Tot Nachos

This totchos recipe uses simple ingredients that are easy to find! Grab the tater tots and all of your favorite toppings! Check out the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact measurements.

  • Tater Tots: You’ll need 2 pounds of frozen tater tots.
  • Ground Beef: For beefy goodness.
  • Taco Seasoning: You can make homemade taco seasoning or buy a packet from the store to season the beef.
overhead shot of labeled tater tot nacho ingredients.

Toppings

  • Refried Beans: Smooth and creamy beans that provide a rich and savory element to the nachos.
  • Corn: For little bits of sweetness and extra texture.
  • Black Beans: Adds a hearty and earthy flavor.
  • Salsa: Brings extra flavor and a bit of sauciness.
  • Cheese: The combination of sharp cheddar cheese and Monterey jack cheese melts into a gooey and cheesy topping.
  • Extra toppings: Once the nachos are baked, add some freshness with Pico de Gallo, sour cream, cilantro, avocado and/or jalapeños.
Overhead shot of topping ingredients labeled.

How to Make Tater Tot Nachos

This is one of those new recipes that couldn’t be easier! Just start by baking the tater tots, then cook the meat, assemble all the ingredients, and let everything cook together. The result? Out-of-this-world delicious!

  1. Prep: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit, then line a sheet pan with parchment paper and Spread the frozen tater tots in a single layer in the pan.
  2. Bake: Place the tater tots in the oven for 10 minutes. Remove, toss them, and then continue baking for another 10 minutes until golden brown.
  3. Brown the Beef: While the tater tots are in the oven, heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add the ground beef. Cook the beef until it is evenly browned.
  4. Season Meat: Drain the excess grease from the ground beef, add taco seasoning, and stir to combine.
  5. Assemble Nachos: Once the tater tots are out of the oven, set the oven to broil. Top the tater tots with cooked beef, scoops of refried beans, corn, black beans, salsa, cheddar, and Monterey Jack cheese.
  6. Broil: Put the topped tots back in the oven and broil for about 5 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
  7. Add Toppings: Take the tater tot nachos out of the oven and top with desired toppings!
Overhead shot of ground beef being cooked in a skillet with taco seasoning.
Brown and season the beef.
overhead shot of prepped pan full of tater tots, seasoned ground beef, and dollops of refried beans.
Layer on the tater tots, beef, and refried beans.
Overhead shot of prepared pan with added black beans and corn.
Sprinkle of the bean and corn.
Overhead shot of prepared pan of tater tot nachos with shredded cheese over the top.
Add the cheese and bake.

Tips and Variations

  • Customize: You can customize these nachos any way you like. Use a spicy or mild salsa or add any number of toppings. The important thing is to get the tater tots crispy, then top them and melt the cheese. 
  • Protein options: You can substitute ground beef with pulled pork, shredded chicken, ground turkey, or steak. Alternatively, you can omit the meat altogether for a vegetarian option.
  • Cheese: For best results, shred your cheese fresh from a block. Unlike pre-shredded cheese, which has a coating that prevents it from melting very well. You could also add some nacho cheese sauce or add a kick of heat with pepper jack cheese!
  • Topping options: Other topping ideas include bacon, green onions, black olives, guacamole, jalapenos, as well as red onion and tomato.

Close up side shot of a spoon full of tater tot nachos being scooped out of the pan.

Storing Tater Tot Nacho Leftovers

Nachos are one of my favorite snacks! I love having leftovers. Here is how to keep and reheat them!

  • Refrigerate: Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days. 
  • Reheat: To reheat the nachos, Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, arrange the nachos on a baking sheet, and reheat for 5-10 minutes until crispy. Once they are done cooking, add fresh toppings (optional).
  • Air Fryer: You can also reheat them in an air fryer. Heat the air fryer to 360 degrees Fahrenheit, place totchos in the bottom of the basket, and set the timer for 5 minutes.

Angle shot of someone dipping a tater tot into the sour cream on that is drizzled on top of the pan of totchos.

More Delicious Appetizers

Bring on the appetizers! Whether you’re gearing up for game day, hosting a party, or having a fun gathering, these snacks and starters are sure to wow everyone!

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  • Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Spread the frozen tater tots in an even layer on the pan.

  • Bake the tater tots for 10 minutes. Toss the tater tots and continue baking for another 10 minutes.

  • While the tater tots are in the oven, heat a skillet over medium high heat, then add the ground beef. Cook the meat until it is evenly browned.

  • Drain the excess grease from the ground beef, then add in the taco seasoning and stir to combine.

  • Once the tater tots come out of the oven, set the oven to broil. Top the tater tots with the cooked beef, scoops of refried beans, corn, black beans, salsa, cheddar and monterey jack cheese.

  • Put the topped tots back into the oven and broil about 5 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

  • Take the tater tot nachos out of the oven and top with desired toppings!

Calories: 505kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 17gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 1150mgPotassium: 645mgFiber: 7gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 406IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 182mgIron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Published by Staff Reporter