By Laurel Perry
Published Aug 14, 2024
Tater tots are a perfect food, and these loaded tater tots are a perfect appetizer! A gooey, melty blanket of cheese and seasoned ground beef over crispy, crunchy tater tots is so delicious! Once I loaded them up with my favorite toppings, these totchos quickly became my new go-to game day app!
Nachos supreme is one of my favorite appetizers of all time, but these loaded tater tots are claiming the ranks quickly. These totchos are the perfect balance of crispy, creamy, cheesy, and beefy goodness. I love that I can bake up a whole tray and let everyone go crazy with toppings. So yummy!
What’s in This Loaded Tater Tots Recipe?
- Tater Tots: I used frozen tater tots to make this recipe super easy, but homemade tater tots make these totchos insanely good if you have the time!
- Taco Seasoning : Adds classic taco flavoring to the tots and the beef. If you are gluten-free, make sure to double-check that the taco seasoning you buy doesn’t have any wheat (or make your own!)
- Ground Beef: I like to use 90% lean ground beef so there’s not so much fat, but 80 or 85% will also work; just be sure to drain off any excess fat.
- Onion : I like the neutral flavor of white onion, but any kind will work.
- Garlic: Creates a savory base of flavor for the meat.
- Cheese: Colby jack is my favorite cheese for these totchos, but any melting cheese will work. Mozzarella, Provolone, cheddar, or Mexican blend are all great choices!
Tips for Success
- If you prefer, you can follow the air fryer instructions to cook the tots (they should be listed on the package). Just don’t forget to preheat your oven to melt the cheese!
- Shredding cheese from a block will give you the best melt.
- For extra gooey totchos, I like to swap out the shredded cheese for my favorite nacho cheese sauce !
How to Store and Reheat
While I highly recommend enjoying these loaded tots straight out of the oven, they will keep well for about 1 day in the refrigerator before becoming too soggy. Gently reheat in a 350°F oven until the cheese has melted and the meat is warmed through.
Serving Suggestions
I love to customize my loaded tater tots with pico de gallo , sour cream, guacamole , fresh herbs, and diced jalapeño peppers! Other great totcho toppings include refried beans , black beans, corn kernels, salsa verde , or diced tomatoes.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 32 ounces frozen tater tots (1 bag)
- ▢ 2 tablespoons taco seasoning divided
- ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ▢ 1 pound 90% lean ground beef
- ▢ ½ white onion diced
- ▢ 1 clove garlic minced
- ▢ 8 ounces freshly shredded Colby jack cheese
Optional Toppings
- ▢ Pico de gallo
- ▢ Sour cream
- ▢ Guacamole
- ▢ Sliced green onions
- ▢ Chopped fresh cilantro
- ▢ Diced jalapeño peppers
Video
Instructions
- Toss the tater tots with 1 tablespoon of the taco seasoning and bake them according to the package directions. Add a few minutes if needed to get them extra crispy. If not at 400°F, turn the oven to 400°F once the tots are done. 32 ounces frozen tater tots, 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- While the tots bake, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add in the ground beef, onion, garlic, and the remaining 1 tablespoon of taco seasoning. Cook, breaking the beef up with a spoon, until the beef is no longer pink and the onion is translucent. 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 pound 90% lean ground beef, ½ white onion, 1 clove garlic
- Once the tots are cooked, scatter the beef mixture over the top.
- Top with shredded cheese and bake until the cheese is melted, about 7-10 minutes. 8 ounces freshly shredded Colby jack cheese
- Remove from the oven and add your desired toppings before serving. Pico de gallo, Sour cream, Guacamole, Sliced green onions, Diced jalapeño peppers, Chopped fresh cilantro
Becky’s Tips
- Nutritional information does not include optional toppings.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Loaded Tater Tots Step by Step
Bake the Tots: Toss 32 ounces (1 bag) of frozen tater tots with 1 tablespoon of taco seasoning and bake them according to the package directions. Add a few minutes if needed to get them extra crispy. If not at 400°F, turn the oven to 400°F once the tots are done.
Cook the Beef: While the tots bake, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add in 1 pound of 90% lean ground beef, ½ of a diced white onion, 1 minced clove of garlic, and the remaining 1 tablespoon of taco seasoning. Cook, breaking the beef up with a spoon, until the beef is no longer pink and the onion is translucent.
Scatter the Beef: Once the tots are cooked, scatter the beef mixture over the top.
Bake the Totchos: Top with 8 ounces of freshly shredded Colby jack cheese and bake until the cheese is melted, about 7-10 minutes.
Top and Serve: Remove from the oven and add your desired toppings before serving.
More Game Day Faves
Baked Chicken Wings
White Queso Recipe
Easy Tortilla Pinwheels
Birria Tacos Recipe
Mexican Street Corn Dip
Velveeta Queso Recipe (Rotel Dip)
Baked Chicken Tacos Recipe
Cheeseburger Sliders (Baked Sliders Recipe)
Loaded Tater Tots Recipe (Totchos)
Ingredients
- 32 ounces frozen tater tots (1 bag)
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning divided
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound 90% lean ground beef
- ½ white onion diced
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 8 ounces freshly shredded Colby jack cheese
Optional Toppings
- Pico de gallo
- Sour cream
- Guacamole
- Sliced green onions
- Chopped fresh cilantro
- Diced jalapeño peppers
Instructions
- Toss the tater tots with 1 tablespoon of the taco seasoning and bake them according to the package directions. Add a few minutes if needed to get them extra crispy. If not at 400°F, turn the oven to 400°F once the tots are done. 32 ounces frozen tater tots, 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- While the tots bake, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add in the ground beef, onion, garlic, and the remaining 1 tablespoon of taco seasoning. Cook, breaking the beef up with a spoon, until the beef is no longer pink and the onion is translucent. 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 pound 90% lean ground beef, ½ white onion, 1 clove garlic
- Once the tots are cooked, scatter the beef mixture over the top.
- Top with shredded cheese and bake until the cheese is melted, about 7-10 minutes. 8 ounces freshly shredded Colby jack cheese
- Remove from the oven and add your desired toppings before serving. Pico de gallo, Sour cream, Guacamole, Sliced green onions, Diced jalapeño peppers, Chopped fresh cilantro
Video
Notes
- Nutritional information does not include optional toppings.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
