Cheesy Tater Tots Recipe with a crunchy outer shell and a tender center is the perfect appetizer for your next gathering. Tailgating, Super Bowl parties, and a holiday gathering are all perfect times to make these homemade cheesy tater tots.
Also known as Tater Kegs, these homemade tater tots are kid friendly and best dipped in ranch dressing. Make ahead of time and freeze for easy deep frying for your guests when needed.
The breadcrumb coating gives these tater tots a golden-brown exterior when fried correctly. Learn my easy step by step instructions to make this yummy tater tots recipe with cheese that will become your family’s favorite.
My potato tots are made with shredded cheese and boiled potatoes, breadcrumbs, flour, eggs, some seasonings and then deep fried in your favorite oil. This tater tots recipe is best prepared ahead of time and then frozen for at least one hour before you fry them.
Tater Kegs Recipe
These delicious cheesy tots are surprisingly easy to make! Kids love this fun and tasty potato side dish.
Want to add a little bit of a kick to your tater kegs? Try adding a variety of different shredded cheese such as cheddar cheese, sharp cheddar cheese, or pepper jack to provide a melted cheese delicious yummy inside. Or add in finely chopped green onion, crumbled bacon, seasoning salt, or even jalapenos.
Looking for a healthier potato tots’ version? Try this Weight Watcher Potato Tots.
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What are a Tater Kegs?
Tater kegs are giant homemade tater tots that come in a variety of different flavors.
My daughter came home after eating out with friends and she said, “Mom, we have to learn how to make tater kegs!”. Trying to figure out what tater kegs were, I discovered that they were large homemade loaded tater tots.
Tater Kegs come in a variety of different flavors, so stay tuned for my upcoming homemade tater keg flavors.
What is a Tater Tot?
A tater tot is crispy, bite-sized pieces of shredded potatoes that are formed in a cylinder and then deep fried.
Loaded tater tots are usually served as a side dish but have grown in popularity over the years to create main dishes such as tater tots’ casserole.
Tools for Making This Cheesy Tater Tots Recipe
Large Stock Pot, Box Grater, Sheet Pan, Deep Fryer, or deep fry set-up, digital thermometer, and a metal slotted spoon.
How to Make Tater Tots
Gather the ingredients to make your tater tots. Peel the potatoes, place in a large stockpot and cover with cold water.
Bring the potatoes to a boil over medium heat and cook for about 20 minutes. The potatoes should be tender but not falling apart.
Drain the water from the pan and let the potatoes cool. This step can be done the day before to help save time.
Use a box grater or a food processor to shred all the cold potatoes.
In a large bowl combine the shredded potato and cheddar cheese, salt, and pepper.
If you want to jazz up your loaded tater tots, add some minced green onions, jalapeños, hot sauce or seasoning of your choice. Form each tater tots into one-to-two-inch balls or kegs shapes with the potato mixture.
How to Make Tater Tots Extra Crispy
Prepare your dredging station which is going to consist of a bowl of beaten eggs, a bowl of all purpose flour, and a bowl of breadcrumbs.
To make the extra crispy breading on your cheesy tots, start by rolling in the flour, dipping in the beaten egg, and then tossing in breadcrumbs to form an even layer around the potato filling.
Place each tater tot in a single layer on a lined baking sheet and freeze for at least one hour. This can all be done ahead of time and frozen for up to 2 months before deep frying.
What Oil to Use for Deep Frying
Everyone has their favorite deep-frying oil. My family has used peanut oil for many years. There are no peanut allergies in our family so that is not a concern for us.
Vegetable oil, clear frying oil, and canola oil all make great deep-frying options as well.
Blackstone Griddle Deep Fried Cheesy Tater Tots
To deep fry on a Blackstone Griddle, place a pan or disposable foil pan on top of the flat top. Fill the pan with about 2 inches of frying oil. Make sure to leave enough room in the pan for expansion and boiling.
Cover with a dome lid to help heat up the oil. Use a digital thermometer to keep track of the oil temp.
Turn the burners of the Blackstone Griddle on high. Bring the oil temperature to 375°F.
When the oil comes close to 375°F, pull the loaded tater tot balls from the freezer.
Make sure not to over crowd the oil, and work in batches, carefully place several of the cheesy tots in the deep fryer. At 375°F, fry the loaded tater tots for 4 – 5 minutes until the outsides are a deep golden-brown color.
Make sure to keep the oil temp as close to 375°F as possible by adjusting the burners and using a dome lid to cover the oil.
Use a metal slotted spoon and scoop each tater tot out of the oil when they are done. Place the fully cooked cheesy tater tots on to a paper towel lined plate or baking sheet.
If desired, sprinkle with seasoning salt or cheese and serve with as an appetizer or side dish. Dip the cheesy tater tots in ranch dressing or sour cream.
Deep Frying Options
Other deep-frying options that you can do are using a deep fryer or a pot of oil on the stove. Just make sure to control the temperature with a digital thermometer to keep the oil temperature around 375°F.
More Appetizer Recipes
Are you looking for more appetizer recipes to eat with your potato kegs? Try these cheese and bacon hasselback potatoes, pulled pork grilled cheese sandwiches, chicken quesadillas, and cabbage pierogies.
Tater Tots Recipe – FAQ
Yes, use a large pot with oil for deep-frying on the stove. Follow the above frying directions to correctly make these easy cheesy tots’ recipe.
Several options can be used for frying the tater tots. I like to use peanut oil. Other options of oil are frying oil, canola oil, and vegetable oil.
No, this cheesy tater tots recipe cannot be made in the microwave. But you can warm up already deep-fried tater kegs.
Air Fryer Tater Tots
The air fryer is perfect for warming up this already cooked cheesy tater tots recipe. Place the cooked tater tots in a single layer in the basket. Set the temp to 400° and the timer for about 5 minutes.
Cheesy Tater Tots Recipe
Click below for the full recipe and the nutrition information.
Cheese Tater Tots
Cheesy Tater Tots Recipe with a crunchy outer shell and a tender center is the perfect appetizer for your next gathering. Tailgating, Super Bowl parties, and a holiday gathering are all perfect times to make these homemade cheesy tater tots.
Ingredients
- Potatoes, Peeled & Cooked - 8 Medium 2 lbs (875 g)
- Cheese, Shredded 1 1/2 cups (6 oz) (168 g)
- Salt, Table 1 teaspoon (0.3 oz) (7 g)
- Pepper, Ground 1/4 teaspoon (0.1 oz) (1 g)
- Flour, All Purpose 1/2 cup (2.25 oz) (64 g)
- Eggs, Beaten 2 each
- Breadcrumbs, Plain 1 1/2 cup (7.1 oz) (201 g)
- Oil for Frying
Instructions
- Gather the ingredients to make your cheesy tater tots.
- Peel the potatoes, place in a large stockpot and cover with cold water. Bring the potatoes to a boil over medium heat and boil for about 20 minutes. The potatoes should be tender but not falling apart. Drain the water from the potatoes and let them cool. This step can be done the day before to help save time.
- Shred all the cold potatoes with a box grater or food processor.
- In a large bowl combine the shredded cheddar cheese and potatoes, salt, and pepper.
- Form each cheesy tater tots into one-to-two-inch balls or kegs shapes with the potato mixture.
- Prepare your dredging station which is going to consist of a bowl of all purpose flour, a bowl of beaten eggs, and a bowl of breadcrumbs.
- Start by rolling in the flour, dipping in the beaten egg, and then tossing in breadcrumbs to form an even layer around the potato filling.
- Place each cheesy tater tot in a single layer on a lined baking sheet and freeze for at least one hour.
- Blackstone Griddle Deep Fried Cheesy Tater Tots
To fry on a Blackstone Griddle, place a pan or disposable foil pan on top of the griddle. - Fill the pan with about 1.5 to 2 inches of frying oil. Make sure to leave enough room in the pan for boiling and expansion.
- Cover the pan with a dome lid to help heat up the oil.
- Use a digital thermometer to keep track of the oil temperature. Turn the burners of the Blackstone Griddle on high to medium-high.. Bring the oil temperature to 375°F.
- When the oil comes close to 375°F, pull the cheesy tater tot balls from the freezer.
- Make sure not to over crowd the oil, and work in batches, place several of the cheesy tater tots in the deep fryer.
- Fry the loaded tater tots for 4 – 5 minutes until the outsides are a deep golden-brown color.
- Keep the oil temperature as close to 375°F as possible by adjusting the burners and using a dome lid to cover the oil.
- With a metal slotted spoon and scoop each tater tot out of the oil when they are done.
- Place the fully cooked tater tots on a paper towel lined plate or baking sheet.
- Serve hot.
- Dip the homemade tater tots in ranch dressing or sour cream.
Notes
- If you want to jazz up your loaded tater tots, add some minced green onions, jalapeños, hot sauce or seasoning of your choice.
- My family has used peanut oil for many years. There are no peanut allergies in our family so that is not a concern for us. Vegetable oil, clear frying oil, and canola oil all make great deep-frying options as well.
- Tater kegs are giant homemade cheesy tater tots that come in a variety of different flavors.
- Other deep-frying options that you can do are a pot of oil on the stove or using a deep fryer.
- Reheat already deep fried tater tots in an air fryer or the microwave.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links. Click on the highlighted text in a post to explore a product. If you purchase through one of them, I will receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). I ONLY EVER ENDORSE PRODUCTS THAT I TRULY LOVE. Thank you for your support!
-
Chef Craft FBA_12951, Slotted Skimmer, Stainless Steel -
Member's Mark Peanut Oil, 35 Pound
-
Blackstone 36" Cooking Station 4 Burner Propane Fuelled Restaurant Grade Professional 36 Inch Outdoor Flat Top Gas Griddle with Built in Cutting Board, Garbage Holder and Side Shelf (1825), Black
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Rachael Ray Brights Nonstick Stock Pot/Stockpot with Lid - 6 Quart, Gray
Nutrition Information
Yield
20Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 442Total Fat 6gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 3gCholesterol 27mgSodium 313mgCarbohydrates 86gFiber 9gSugar 5gProtein 14g
Note: For exact nutritional information, consult your dietitian. All nutritional information is simply a guideline.
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If you enjoy this recipe, you may enjoy the following: Cheese and Bacon Hasselback Potatoes
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