Air Fryer Tater Tots
Air Fryer Tater Tots are the absolute best way to make frozen tater tots at home. The air fryer cooks them up much crispier than in the oven, and they’re super easy to make and customize.
I’m really, really picky when it comes to potatoes! When I’m making things like hash browns, french fries, and potato tots, I only like them if they have a nice crispy outside and a tender inside.
Until I got my air fryer, I almost never made these foods at home. However, after some trial and error with my air fryer, I’ve found my favorite way to make the ultimate crispy tater tots.
In our recipe, we’ve listed a traditional method, for when you’re making a larger batch, and a perfectionist method for when you’re after the perfect crispy tot and don’t want to bother with shaking the basket.
Wondering what to serve with your tater tots? In the morning, enjoy tots with Breakfast Egg and Cheese Sandwiches or Ham and Cheese Quiche. For lunch and dinner, make a batch of tots with Chili Dogs or Pulled Pork Sandwiches.
Ingredients you need to make Air Fryer Tater Tots
Air fryer potato tots are really easy to make and take just three things:
- Frozen tater tots: The amount of tots needed depends entirely on how many people you’re feeding and how crispy you like your tots. In our testing, we could fit half of a 32 ounce bag in a single layer using the traditional method. (You can use more if you’re less picky about the crispiness.)
- Nonstick spray: Lightly spraying the tops of the tater tots allows them to crisp up a bit and to help the seasoning to stick.
- Seasoning blend: Use your favorite! We like Potato Slayer, Lawry’s Seasoned Salt, or Red Robin’s, depending on what we’re serving with the tots.
Like with our other air fryer recipes, we recommend cooking these at least 10 degrees warmer and 1 to 2 minutes longer than indicated on the package directions.
Tested in Three Brands
✅ These instructions were tested in the Instant Vortex, Cosori TurboBlaze, and Instant Pot Pro Crisp. This recipe will require a little tweaking depending on the brand you use.
For basket-style air fryers
Some basket-style air fryers, like the Instant Vortex, limit their cooking temperature to 400°F or less. Others, like the Cosori, can go up to 450°F.
For potato tots, I think you definitely get more crispy goodness in a shorter time if you’re cooking your tots at 410°F. This is especially true if you’re making a big batch using the traditional method below. However, the tots cooked at 400°F turned out just fine with an extra minute or two of cook time.
For pressure cooker/air fryer combos
We tested the tater tots in the air fryer basket that comes with the Pro Crisp. Because the basket isn’t perforated on the sides, the air doesn’t circulate as evenly, so the tots on the top cook crispier than the tots on the bottom.
If you’re looking for perfection, I’d just cook them on top. If you don’t mind a few less-crispy-but-still-crispy tots, go ahead, you can make a single layer of tots on the bottom and another single layer of tots on the top.
How to Make Frozen Tater Tots in an Air Fryer
The key to ultra crispy tots is using the little baking tray. I’m obsessed with it, and it’s my secret for maximum crispiness in all of our air fryer recipes. However, when I’m cooking for a larger crowd, I’ll make the tots straight in the basket.
Use whichever method works best for you!
Regardless of your method, make sure to preheat your air fryer before you start cooking.
Traditional Method for Air Fryer Tater Tots
If your air fryer came with an air flow rack that allows air to circulate under the basket, make sure it is in place before you preheat the cooking rack.
Once your air fryer is preheated, add as many tater tots as you’d like to the basket. (If you have a single layer, they’ll be more crispy than if you have tots on top of each other.) Spray the tops of the tater tots with nonstick spray, then sprinkle with a generous amount of seasoning.
Return the basket to the air fryer to cook. Midway through (about 7 minutes), give the tots a good toss to help them crisp up a little more evenly. Shake gently, though, because as the tots cook they become more prone to breaking.
Continue cooking until they reach your desired level of crispiness. The total cook time should be around 12 to 15 minutes.
Ultra Crispy Method for Air Fryer Tater Tots
When your air fryer is almost preheated, prepare your cooking rack with as many tater tots as will fit in a single layer. (For us, that was a little less than half of a 32 ounce bag.) Spray the tots with nonstick spray, then sprinkle with a generous amount of seasoning.
Once the air fryer reaches temperature, lower the rack into the air fryer. Air fry until golden brown, about 10–12 minutes. (I’ve found that when you’re using the tray, there’s no need to toss midway through.)
Keep an eye on them as they’re approaching the end of the cook time. When they’ve reached your desired crispiness, use the retriever tongs to remove the rack from the air fryer.
After air frying, if needed, sprinkle with a little more seasoning, to taste.
Frequently Asked Questions about Making Potato Tots in an Air Fryer
Absolutely! If you skip the spray, the tots may not brown as much during cooking and the seasoning may not stick to it as easily. But I forget it all the time and it doesn’t make much difference.
I prefer to add it before cooking and then adding more after cooking if needed. But you can do whatever works for you.
I try to cook just as much as I think I’ll eat because they never reheat as well as they cook up the first time. However, if you have some you want to reheat, I like to set the cooking temperature to 200F and cook until the tots are warmed through.
MORE Air Fryer Recipes
These tater tots are part of our growing Air Fryer recipe collection. Try one of these easy favorites next:
Do you LOVE this recipe?
Leave us a review below to tell us why!
How to Make Frozen Tater Tots in the Air Fryer
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots use as many as needed
- Nonstick cooking spray if desired
- Generous shake of seasoning blend we used Potato Slayer, Lowry’s Seasoned Salt, or Red Robin’s
Instructions
Traditional Method (cooking directly in the basket)
- If your air fryer came with an air flow rack that fits in the basket, make sure it is in place before you start. Select Air Fry and preheat your pressure cooker to 410°F (or 400°F if that’s your air fryer’s max temperature.)
- Lay the potato tots in a single layer in your air fryer basket. Spray the tops with nonstick spray, if desired, then sprinkle with a generous amount of seasoning. Return the basket to the air fryer.
- After about 7 minutes, remove the basket and give the potato tots a good toss to ensure they crisp evenly. Return the basket and cook for another 5 to 8 minutes, checking at regular intervals until the tots reach your desired doneness. Remove from the air fryer and serve hot.
Ultra Crispy, No Toss Method (using a tray)
- If your air fryer came with an air flow rack, remove it before you start to preheat. Select Air Fry and preheat your pressure cooker to 400°F.
- As the air fryer is nearing temperature, place your tater tots in a single layer in a dehydrator cooking rack. Spray the tots with nonstick spray, if desired, then sprinkle with a generous amount of seasoning.
- When your air fryer is preheated, use the retriever tongs to lower the rack into the air fryer. Air fry until golden brown, about 10 to 12 minutes. Watch them close near the end of the cook time to ensure they don’t overcook.
- When the potato tots have reached your desired crispiness, use the retriever tongs to remove the rack from the air fryer. Remove from the air fryer and serve hot.
Nutrition
FOR MORE FROM PRESSURE COOKING TODAY
🥘 Browse our collection of the best pressure cooker / Instant Pot recipes.
💬 Follow Pressure Cooking Today on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.
👥 Join our Electric Pressure Cooker Facebook Group. Our positive community of pressure cooking fans use all brands of electric pressure cookers, so it’s a great resource if you have questions about your particular brand.
