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Ore Ida Crispy Air Fryer Tater Tots

Air fryer tater tots are the bomb! Add cheese to the top and they’re a crunchy snack or side dish your family will ask for over and over again. Make in your Cosori or Ninja Foodi for crispy bites of goodness.

Air Fryer Tater Tots

Ready for some crispy air fryer tater tots??!! Smothered with cheese and a drizzle of ketchup, they’re a great easy air fryer recipe. Let me show you how to make these in your fancy kitchen gadget.  This post has been sponsored by Albertsons. (originally published 4/19, affiliate links present)

Frozen Tater Tots in Air Fryer

I bet you remember these babies from your childhood. Whether they were served alone as a quick snack, or a side dish with meatloaf they are just so yummy. Everyone loves them.

THIS is the new way to cook them though that is WAY better than in the oven y’all. NO more need during the hot summertime to heat up your entire house to enjoy these. Not only does an enclosed hot air machine cook quicker but they are better, like at a restaurant crunchy.

FIRST – You should sign up for my free newsletter so you get new posts emailed to you twice a week and never miss out on anything! If you love air fryer recipes too, here are some resources to start with:

cosori review

Ninja Foodi Tater Tots

You may have used these to make our ground beef tater tot recipe that is kinda’ like a casserole with cheese and everything. That one is a bit heavy to make it often, but plain alongside protein for dinner we like to pair these for dinner quite a bit.

Ok so where to find these babies. In the freezer section of course! Occasionally you can find seasoned, these are plain. When shopping see if it is that time of year where you collect these fun game pieces you see here. Or you can play MONOPOLY online! If you have the Albertsons app like I do, it will remind you that there’s still time to play!

Here’s a peek at our game board. I’m pretty close to getting $100 in cash or a $50 grocery gift card. Cross your fingers for me. 😉

online monopoly game

Ore Ida Tater Tots Air Fryer

If you do get a chance to grab some of these at the store you’re in for a treat. Not only will you have a killer after school snack, but let them play this game too.

  • It is free, so pick up one of these at your local store if you don’t already have one.
  • The more you spend on participating products, the more game pieces you’ll collect. As you can see, we have quite a few…..
How long does it take to cook tater tots in an air fryer?

If making the entire frozen bag: Total of 15 minutes. Half bag: Total of 10 minutes. or so.

You will want to shake the air fryer basket every 5 minutes for best results. Cook until as crunchy as you’d like!

Can I cook frozen tater tots in air fryer?

YES, this is what we’re talking about today. I have never let them defrost first and I wouldn’t recommend that at all. If you do the end result won’t be as crispy as you’d like them.

How do you cook frozen tater tots?

In the oven you just spread them out on a sheet pan and bake. Directions for that is on the bag. If you use your hot air machine you’ll have better results though! Just 15 min. to perfection is what you’re looking at here. It is always best to keep in a single layer so they get really crunchy but you can air fry the whole bag at once.

Air Fryer Tater Tots 2

Air fryer frozen tater tots

It’s easier than you think and there’s NO need to heat up your oven to do so. Handy tip to have when the summertime hits and you aren’t about to heat up your house! 😉

Time needed: 15 minutes

Ninja air fryer tater tots

  1. Preheat

    Always preheat your machine for optimal results. Set to 400 for 5 minutes.

  2. Cook

    Once it’s hot, dump frozen taters in the basket without letting them overlap. This will likely require you to make the whole bag in 2 batches.

    Set to 10 minutes for 1/2 the bag and shake every 5 minutes. Increase time if you want them crispier. Remove, and add another batch.

There are tons of different brands who make these too. I personally love these because they created them originally and the outside is crispier than others I have tried.

air fryer frozen tater tots

Do you need to preheat your air fryer?

It is not a complete game changer if you forget. The biggest difference is for one it will take a bit longer since you have to take in the time to heat to temp. Another is that it may not get your foods as crunchy. If you think about it as it heats your food will defrost, get softer, then crisp.

Waiting 5 minutes for it to come to the temperature you want it is best to get the outer texture you ultimately desire. Period.

  • Preheating is important to get them nice and crispy.
  • It only takes 5 minutes for this step.
  • You can cook them without preheating but they won’t be quite as crispy.
    • It’s worth it, so just do it.

Frozen tater tots in air fryer

Different brands have various configurations, this is ours with an air fryer lid that closes on the top. It is the Ninja Foodi brand but we have used our AirWave and Cosori to make these too. The shape of the bin is generally different, the biggest difference is how much you can fit basically.

how long to cook frozen tater tots in air fryer

Tater Tots in Air Fryer

Tips to making the crispiest tater tots in air fryer are here. You never want this food to get soft at all, that is a no go in our world and likely yours as well.

  1. Preheat your air fryer for 5 minutes at 400 degrees.
  2. Once preheated spray the inside of your basket with non stick spray.
  3. Do not overlap them during the cooking process.
    1. This usually requires you to cook 1/2 a bag at a time.
  4. Use oven mitts to gently toss them in your basket midway through the cooking process.
    1. Using a spoon or spatula to flip them usually breaks them apart a bit.
    2. Flip them in the basket as you see chefs flipping an egg in a pan, but a bit more gentle.
  5. Eat them immediately when done for the crispiest tater tot ever!

Of course you usually want ketchup for sure but other dips are fun as well. If you have kids let them have a few on their plate for a “fun meal” = which means it will taste better. 😉

frozen tater tots air fryer

Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Tater Tots

Here is 1/2 a bag done and ready to enjoy!

What if you want cheesy tater tots?

  • Cook as directed in the recipe card below.
  • Then sprinkle some shredded Kraft Mozzarella Cheese on top.
  • Add 2 more minutes at 400 degrees.
  • Remove and enjoy immediately for stringy cheesy tater tots.

Remember to drizzle some Heinz Tomato Ketchup on top for the ultimate snack.

cheesy tater tots

How to Make Air Fryer Tater Tots

  1. Ore-Ida Tater Tots – found in the freezer section
  2. Shredded Kraft Mozzarella Cheese – you’ll find this near the lunchmeat
  3. Heinz Tomato Ketchup – in the aisle with other condiments 

When you don’t have time to make homemade french fries these are great!  Air fryer pickles are great too served with tots and this fry sauce recipe!

We have frozen french fries air fryer and frozen chicken strips in air fryer instructions here too!

No convection oven needed, just your air fryer! Be sure when you check out make sure to grab your game board and game pieces too!! What have you won so far??

Frozen French Fries Air Fryer

Want to see a few of my favorite things that I am totally obsessed with?? Take a peek and see how many you might already have…twinsies!

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***** If you LOVED this recipe give it 5 Stars below and let everyone know what you thought about it. 😉

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5 from 7 votes

Air Fryer Tater Tots

Ninja Foodi Air fryer tater tots are the bomb! Add cheese to the top and they're a crunchy snack or side dish your family will ask again.
Course Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine American
Keyword air fryer, baked potatoes, side dish, snack, tater tots
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 331kcal
Author The Typical Mom

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees for 5 minutes.
  • Spray your air fryer basket with non stick spray and pour in your frozen tater tots.
  • If making 1/2 a bag set to 10 minutes and flip after 5 minutes.
    If making the entire bag set to 15 minutes and flip after every 5 minutes, so 3 times during the process.
  • Add additional minutes for extra extra crispiness. 
    If you want to add cheese sprinkle some on top and set for an additional 2 minutes at 400 degrees.
  • Remove, sprinkle on sale, drizzle with ketchup and enjoy immediately for crispiest results.

Video

Nutrition Facts
Air Fryer Tater Tots
Amount Per Serving (3 oz)
Calories 331 Calories from Fat 135
% Daily Value*
Fat 15g23%
Saturated Fat 4g25%
Cholesterol 11mg4%
Sodium 916mg40%
Potassium 474mg14%
Carbohydrates 43g14%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 6g12%
Vitamin A 195IU4%
Vitamin C 12.1mg15%
Calcium 94mg9%
Iron 0.9mg5%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Tater Tots
Recipe Rating




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Beth

Wednesday 5th of October 2022

I moved to Idaho 12 years ago and I've loved having the option of Fries or Tots at most fast-food restaurants. It's a staple here.

The Typical Mom

Wednesday 5th of October 2022

totally

Debbie

Wednesday 5th of October 2022

Don’t spray the basket spray the food. Non stick spray can damage the finish on your basket.

The Typical Mom

Wednesday 5th of October 2022

Well.....we do it on a daily basis and other than just a bit of discoloration over at least a year it is worth it to not get food to stick for us

Taylor

Thursday 14th of April 2022

I'll never make tater tots any other way after trying this recipe! Super easy and perfectly crispy and delicious.

Brandy

Wednesday 13th of April 2022

Love tater tots and these cooked up so nice and quickly in the air fryer. Definitely going to be my go-to way of making them from now on!

Shaunda Hall

Thursday 16th of December 2021

I have an instant pot vortex plus is there a difference in the recipe

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