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.

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. 😉

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 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 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! 😉

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.

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.

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. 😉

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.

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!

• You can let your kids cook air fryer grilled cheese themselves for lunch too.
• Or make this Crockpot tater tot casserole for dinner.

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??