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Tasty Loaded Tater Tot Appetizers Recipe - Crispy, Cheesy, Crowd-Pleasing Bites

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 (32-ounce) bag frozen tater tots (regular or extra-crispy)
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a blend)
  • 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled (or 3/4 cup pre-cooked bacon bits)
  • 1/2 cup sour cream (or Greek yogurt)
  • 1/3 cup sliced green onions (scallions)
  • 1/4 cup pickled jalapeños (optional, for heat)
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional, but tasty)
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • Cooking oil spray (for the baking sheet)
  • Optional extras: diced tomatoes, cooked ground beef or chorizo, black olives, hot sauce, ranch dressing, avocado, or cilantro

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven. Set your oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly spray with cooking oil. A hot oven ensures crispier tots.
  2. Spread the tater tots in a single layer. Don’t overcrowd. Give them space so they crisp instead of steaming. If using two trays, rotate halfway through baking.
  3. Season the tots. Sprinkle with garlic powder, smoked paprika, a pinch of salt, and a few cracks of pepper. Toss gently to coat.
  4. Bake until crisp. Bake for 22–28 minutes, flipping once, until deeply golden and crunchy. Extra-crispy tots hold up better under toppings.
  5. Cook the bacon. While the tots bake, cook bacon until crispy. Drain, then crumble. Short on time? Use pre-cooked bacon bits, but choose a good-quality kind.
  6. Layer on the cheese. Once the tots are crisp, pull the tray out and sprinkle evenly with shredded cheese. Return to the oven for 2–4 minutes until melted and bubbly.
  7. Add hot toppings. Scatter the crumbled bacon and jalapeños over the melty cheese so they warm slightly.
  8. Finish with cool toppings. Dollop sour cream (or drizzle thinned sour cream), then add green onions and any extras like diced tomatoes or avocado. A quick drizzle of hot sauce or ranch is great here.
  9. Serve immediately. Move the loaded tots to a serving platter or serve right from the tray. They’re best hot and crisp.