These homemade tater tots air fryer style are one of my favorite snacks and side dishes to make from scratch. They come out crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and taste so much better than anything from the freezer aisle. Once I started making tater tots from scratch, I found it hard to go back to store-bought versions.
Not only are they quick to make, but they also offer an unbeatable taste that's nothing short of addictive. If you're looking for another easy potato recipe, try my Crispy Air Fryer Baby Potatoes Recipe too.
Jump to:
Video Tutorial
Try These Homemade Air Fryer Tater Tots
If you're craving something crispy and comforting with extra fiber and potassium, these homemade air fryer tater tots are always a great choice. I love serving them as a snack with dipping sauces, but they also make an amazing side dish for burgers, grilled chicken, or breakfast eggs.
Why You'll Love It
- Made completely from scratch: I love knowing exactly what's going into these tater tots, and they taste so much fresher and fluffier inside than frozen ones.
- Perfect texture: The outside gets crispy while the inside stays soft and fluffy.
- Easy to customize: You can adjust the seasonings according to your taste.
- Air fryer friendly: You get that crispy finish without deep frying with lots of oil.
- Make Ahead Friendly: You can make these ahead by simply freezing them in a freezer bag before they are cooked, and taking out a batch whenever you feel like a quick snack.
Ingredients
- Potatoes: These give you the fluffy center that makes tater tots so irresistible. I prefer using Russet potatoes (floury potatoes) over Yukon Gold potatoes, because the Yukon Gold potatoes tend to be a bit on the waxy side.
- Potato starch: This helps bind everything together and makes the tater tots so crispy on the outside.
- Garlic and onion powder: I love using these because they add plenty of flavor and don’t overpower the taste of the potatoes.
- Cooking spray: A light coating helps get the golden brown finish on the outside.
How to Make Homemade Air Fryer Tater Tots
1. Peel the potatoes, place them in a large pot, cover with water, and add a pinch of salt. Boil the potatoes for 8 minutes.
2. Drain the water and let the potatoes cool completely. Then grate them using a box grater into a large bowl.
3. Add potato starch, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder to the shredded potato mixture. Mix thoroughly to evenly distribute all the ingredients. Let it sit for 10 minutes to allow the starch to absorb excess moisture.
4. Scoop up a tablespoon of the potato mixture and then shape the potato mixture into small oval or round tater tots, similar to traditional tater tots.
Tip: You can also divide the potato mixture into four parts, roll each part into a log, and then divide each log into six pieces.
5. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
6. Lightly coat the air fryer basket with vegetable oil and place the formed tater tots in a single layer. Spray lightly with cooking spray.
TIP: You can use parchment paper or a baking sheet in the bottom of the air fryer, just be sure to place in in such a way that it cannot blow around.
7. Air fry for 12–15 minutes until golden and crispy.
8. Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.
Recipe Tips
- I always let the potatoes cool completely before grating them. This makes them much easier to handle and helps create a better texture.
- If the grated potatoes are a bit wet, pat them gently with a paper towel before mixing. This gives you an even crispier end result.
- Try not to overcrowd the basket. The air needs room to circulate around the tots so they crisp evenly.
- About halfway through, I give one a gentle squeeze. If it feels soft, add more time.
- Smaller tater tots might need less time, while larger ones might need a bit more. Keep an eye on them!
- I also like shaping all the tater tots to a similar size so they cook evenly.
What Can You Serve With This?
- Ketchup
- Ranch dressing
- Spicy aioli
- Grilled chicken
- Burgers
- Fish
FAQs
Yes, I often shape the tots and keep them covered in the refrigerator until I'm ready to cook them.
Absolutely! Just place the frozen tater tots in the air fryer and adjust the cooking time by adding a few more minutes. There's no need to thaw them first.
While both methods give delicious results, I find that the air fryer makes tater tots crispier in a shorter amount of time compared to the oven. It also uses less oil, making it a slightly healthier option.
Recipe
Homemade Tater Tots Air Fryer
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Small saucepan
- Two large bowls
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Vegetable peeler
- Grater
- Kitchen tongs
- Serving dish
Ingredients
- 21 ounce potatoes
- 1 ½ tablespoon potato starch or cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried onion
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Peel the potatoes, place them in a saucepan, cover with water, and add a pinch of salt. Boil the potatoes for 8 minutes.
- Drain the water and let the potatoes cool completely. Then grate them using a box grater.
- Add potato starch, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder to the grated potatoes. Mix thoroughly to evenly distribute all the ingredients. Let it sit for 10 minutes to allow the starch to absorb excess moisture.
- Shape the potato mixture into small oval or round tater tots, similar to traditional tater tots.Tip: You can also divide the potato mixture into four parts, roll each part into a log, and then divide each log into six pieces.
- Preheat the air fryer (mine’s the Instant Vortex Plus XL) to 400ºF (200ºC).
- Lightly coat the air fryer basket with vegetable oil, and place your tater tots in a single layer, making sure not to overcrowd them. Give the surface of the potatoes a quick spritz with cooking oil spray, as this will add extra golden crispiness to the tater tots.
- Air fry them for 12-15 minutes until they achieve a golden hue.
- Once the tater tots turn golden and crispy, remove them from the air fryer and serve them hot. They can be served as a side dish with meat or fish or as a standalone snack with your favorite dipping sauces.
Notes
Cooking Time and Temperature
Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 12–15 minutes.Taste & Texture
These tater tots are crispy and golden on the outside with a fluffy, tender potato center. Every bite has plenty of savory flavor and satisfying crunch.Storage, Freezing & Reheating
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked or uncooked tater tots for up to 2 months.
- Reheat: Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 3–5 minutes until hot and crispy.
Serving Recommendations
I love serving these tater tots with burgers, grilled chicken, or alongside breakfast eggs. They're also fantastic as a snack with a variety of dipping sauces.Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- Add cayenne pepper or chili flakes for extra heat.
- Mix in grated cheese for cheesy tater tots.
- Try sweet potatoes or even zucchini instead of regular potatoes.
- Use cornstarch if you don't have potato starch.
- Add chopped fresh herbs for extra flavor.
- Use egg replacers and dairy-free cheese for a vegan version.
Proper Storage Tips
- Let the tots cool completely before storing.
- Store in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
- Reheat in the air fryer for the best texture.
- Avoid reheating in the microwave if possible.
Pro Tips
- Pat excess moisture away with a paper towel if needed.
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket.
- Keep the tater tots similar in size for even cooking.
- Give the basket a gentle shake halfway through cooking.
- Use just a light spray of oil for the crispiest finish.
Video
You can find the video in the post above. If you don't see a video, please check your browser settings.
Leave a Reply