These Loaded Tater Tots are the ultimate game-day appetizer or fun family dinner, essentially swapping out tortilla chips for crispy potato puffs to create “Totchos.” Piled high with seasoned ground beef, melted Colby Jack cheese, and all your favorite taco toppings, this dish is pure comfort food.
With a crunchy, golden base and a savory, cheesy topping, this easy sheet pan meal is ready to satisfy serious cravings.
Recipe Details
- Flavor Profile: This dish features the classic savory taste of taco-spiced beef and onions, enriched by buttery potatoes and mild, creamy melted cheese.
- Texture: You get the perfect crunch from the extra-crispy tater tots contrasting with the tender ground beef and gooey cheese pull.
- Time: 5 minutes prep, 45 minutes cook time (mostly hands-off baking).
- Difficulty: Easy. It involves browning meat and baking.
What You’ll Need
To make this recipe, you will need a large baking sheet for the tots and a large skillet to cook the beef topping. The ingredients rely on frozen tater tots for convenience, lean ground beef for protein, and a handful of fresh aromatics and cheese to bring it all together.
Ingredient Notes
- Frozen Tater Tots – You need a standard 32-ounce bag. Baking them until they are very crispy is the secret to a base that holds up to the toppings without getting soggy.
- Taco Seasoning – This seasons both the potatoes and the meat. You will divide the amount between the two components for maximum flavor.
- Lean Ground Beef – Using 90% lean beef is recommended so you don’t have excessive grease dripping onto the potatoes.
- Colby Jack Cheese – Freshly shredded cheese melts significantly better than pre-shredded bagged cheese. Colby Jack offers a perfect balance of flavor and meltability.
- Onion & Garlic – Fresh diced onion and minced garlic create a savory base for the meat mixture.
- Toppings – The recipe finishes with fresh options like pico de gallo, sour cream, guacamole, and jalapeños to cut through the richness.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Protein Swap – You can easily substitute ground turkey or ground chicken for the beef.
- Cheese – Pepper Jack cheese adds a nice kick if you prefer spice, or sharp Cheddar works for a bolder flavor.
- Vegetables – Feel free to sauté bell peppers or corn along with the onion and beef mixture.
How to Make Loaded Tater Tots
- Bake the Tots: Toss the frozen 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 the oven is not at 400°F, turn the oven to 400°F once the tots are done.
- Cook the Beef: While the tots bake, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add in the ground beef, diced onion, minced 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.
- Assemble: Once the tots are cooked and crispy, remove them from the oven. Scatter the cooked beef mixture evenly over the top of the tots.
- Melt Cheese: Top the beef and tots with the shredded Colby jack cheese. Bake until the cheese is melted, about 7-10 minutes.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and add your desired toppings (pico de gallo, sour cream, guacamole, sliced green onions, diced jalapeño peppers, chopped fresh cilantro) before serving.
Pro Tip: Don’t rush the initial bake of the tater tots. Making them “extra crispy” creates a sturdy barrier against the moist beef and cheese toppings, ensuring your loaded tots stay crunchy rather than turning into mush.
Recipe Tips
- Shred Your Own Cheese: Block cheese melts into a smoother, gooier layer than pre-shredded cheese, which is often coated in anti-caking agents.
- Drain Excess Fat: Even with lean beef, if there is excess liquid in the skillet after browning, drain it before spooning the meat over the potatoes to keep the dish crisp.
- Serve Immediately: This dish is best eaten right out of the oven while the cheese is hot and the potatoes are crisp.
FAQs
- Can I make this in a skillet? Yes, if you have a large cast-iron skillet, you can bake the tots in it, then top with the cooked beef and cheese and return it to the oven.
- Is this gluten-free? Tater tots and corn-based taco seasonings are usually gluten-free, but always check the specific packaging to be sure.
- How do I reheat leftovers? To maintain crispiness, reheat leftovers in an air fryer or oven at 350°F for 5-8 minutes. The microwave will make them soft.
Serving Suggestions
- Dip Station: Set out bowls of salsa, queso, and ranch for extra dipping.
- Main Dish: This is hearty enough to be a meal on its own, perhaps with a side salad to lighten it up.
- Party Platter: Serve right on the sheet pan for easy sharing during a game or movie night.
Make This Recipe in Advance
- Prep: You can cook the beef mixture ahead of time and store it in the fridge. When ready to eat, bake the tots fresh, reheat the beef slightly, assemble, and melt the cheese.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Loaded Tater Tots
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 6 Servings 1x
Description
These Loaded Tater Tots are the ultimate game-day appetizer or fun family dinner, essentially swapping out tortilla chips for crispy potato puffs to create “Totchos.” Piled high with seasoned ground beef, melted Colby Jack cheese, and all your favorite taco toppings, this dish is pure comfort food. With a crunchy, golden base and a savory, cheesy topping, this easy sheet pan meal is ready to satisfy serious cravings.
Ingredients
The Base
- 32 ounces frozen tater tots (1 standard bag)
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning, divided (1 tbsp for tots, 1 tbsp for beef)
- 8 ounces freshly shredded Colby Jack cheese
Beef Mixture
- 1 pound 90% lean ground beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 white onion, diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
Toppings (Customize as desired)
- Pico de gallo or Salsa
- Sour cream
- Guacamole
- Sliced green onions
- Diced jalapeño peppers (fresh or pickled)
- Chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
Bake the Tots
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) (or temperature directed on the package). Toss the frozen tater tots with 1 tablespoon of the taco seasoning. Spread them in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Bake according to package directions, adding 3-5 extra minutes to ensure they are extra crispy.
Cook the Beef
While the tots bake, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef, diced onion, minced garlic, and the remaining 1 tablespoon of taco seasoning.
Brown & Drain
Cook, breaking up the beef with a spoon, until the meat is no longer pink and the onions are translucent (about 6-8 minutes). If there is excess grease, drain it from the pan.
Assemble
Once the tots are golden and crunchy, remove the baking sheet from the oven. Evenly scatter the cooked beef mixture over the top of the hot tots.
Melt Cheese
Sprinkle the shredded Colby Jack cheese generously over the beef and potatoes.
Final Bake
Return the baking sheet to the oven for 7–10 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted and bubbly.
Serve
Remove from the oven. Immediately pile on your cold toppings (pico de gallo, sour cream, guacamole, jalapeños, onions, cilantro) and serve hot right off the pan.
Notes
Crisp is King: Don’t rush the initial bake of the tater tots. Making them “extra crispy” creates a sturdy barrier against the moist beef and cheese toppings, ensuring your loaded tots stay crunchy rather than turning into mush.
Shred Your Own: For the best “cheese pull,” grate your own block of Colby Jack. Pre-shredded bagged cheese contains anti-caking agents that prevent it from melting smoothly.
Cast Iron Option: If you have a large 12-inch cast-iron skillet, you can bake the tots directly in it, top with the beef and cheese, and return the whole skillet to the oven for a rustic presentation.
Reheating: Leftovers are best reheated in an air fryer or oven at 350°F to crisp the potatoes back up. Microwaving will result in soft, soggy tots.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Appetizer / Dinner
- Method: Sheet Pan / Baking
- Cuisine: American / Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Serving (approx. 1/6 of pan)
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 950mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: loaded tater tots, totchos recipe, sheet pan nachos, game day appetizers, taco tater tots, ground beef recipes, easy family dinner
