Tater tots are a beloved American snack made of deep-fried grated potatoes. Their crispy outside and fluffy interior make them an ideal vehicle for tasty toppings and dips. But with so many options, what are the best things to put on tater tots? Here we’ll explore various meats, cheeses, veggies, sauces, and more to take your tater tots from boring to gourmet.
Meat Toppings
Adding protein can make tater tots a hearty meal. Here are some savory meat options to consider:
Bacon
Crispy, salty bacon is a no-brainer topping for tater tots. The contrast of the soft potato and crunchy bacon makes for a dynamic texture. Chop up cooked bacon and sprinkle liberally over your tots.
Ground Beef
Cook some ground beef with taco seasoning and layer over baked tater tots for a loaded twist. Add chopped tomatoes, onions, cheese and sour cream to make it a complete meal.
Pulled Pork
Tender pulled pork barbecue is delicious on tater tots. The smoky, sweet pork pairs perfectly with the starchiness of the tots. Just top with pulled pork, barbecue sauce and pickles.
Chili
What’s better than chili cheese fries? Chili cheese tater tots! Cook up a pot of beef or turkey chili and ladle it over hot tater tots. Then sprinkle with shredded cheddar or pepper jack cheese.
Sausage
Cook breakfast sausage patties or links until browned, chop and sprinkle over tater tots for a savory bite. Italian sausage, chorizo or andouille would also be tasty options.
Cheese Toppings
Melty cheese takes tater tots to the next level. Here are some cheesy ideas:
Cheddar
Sharp cheddar is a classic choice to sprinkle over baked tater tots. It provides a tangy, rich flavor and melts beautifully.
Nacho Cheese
For next-level nacho tots, cover with nacho cheese sauce and add jalapeños, salsa and sour cream.
Pimento Cheese
A Southern twist is to top tater tots with homemade pimento cheese spread. The creamy, spicy cheese is highly addictive.
Blue Cheese
Crumble pungent blue cheese over tots for a sophisticated flavor. Pairs well with Buffalo chicken or hot sauce.
Goat Cheese
Tangy, herbal goat cheese crumbled over tater tots is a gourmet touch. Add caramelized onions for sweetness.
Vegetable Toppings
Adding veggies boosts the nutrition of tater tots and provides color and crunch.
Onion and Bell Pepper
For a veggie taco twist, saute onions and bell peppers until softened. Season with cumin, chili powder and garlic. Top tater tots with the veggie mixture and add avocado, salsa and cilantro.
Roasted Sweet Potato
Roast sweet potato wedges tossed in olive oil, cumin and chili powder. Layer over tater tots for a sweet and savory combo.
Steamed Broccoli
For a lighter option, top baked tater tots with steamed broccoli florets. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and lemon juice.
Sauteed Spinach
Saute spinach with garlic and lemon until wilted. Season with red pepper flakes and top tater tots for an iron boost.
Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Chop rehydrated sun-dried tomatoes and sprinkle over tater tots before baking. Provides a tangy, umami flavor.
Sauces and Dips
Saucy toppings like chili and cheese have been covered, but here are more dippable ideas:
Ranch
Cool and creamy ranch dressing is the quintessential dip for potatoes. Use homemade or store-bought.
BBQ Sauce
Sweet and smoky barbecue sauce adds finger-lickin’ flavor to tater tots. KC-style, Texas-style, hickory – take your pick!
Buffalo Sauce
For spicy Buffalo tots, coat in hot sauce and serve with blue cheese dressing. The cool dip balances the heat.
Mustard
Yellow mustard’s tangy zip pairs nicely with tater tots. Dip or drizzle over the top. Honey mustard is also tasty.
Horseradish Sauce
For an eye-watering kick, make a creamy horseradish sauce by mixing mayo, sour cream or Greek yogurt with prepared horseradish.
Salsa
Chunky tomato salsa, especially homemade, makes a fresh-tasting, flavorful tater tot topper. Add sliced jalapeños if you like more heat.
Guacamole
Creamy, cooling guacamole provides a nice contrast to hot crispy tater tots. Dip or spoon over the top.
Queso
No Tex-Mex meal is complete without queso! Dip tater tots in spicy cheese dip for a southwestern twist.
Sweet Toppings
If you have a sweet tooth, try these unexpected sugary toppings on tater tots:
Cinnamon Sugar
Coat hot tater tots in butter or oil, then roll in a 50/50 mixture of cinnamon and sugar. Tastes like a churro!
Whipped Cream
Top warm cinnamon sugar tots with dollops of sweet whipped cream and a dusting of nutmeg.
Chocolate Sauce
Smother tots with hot fudge or caramel sauce, ice cream and chopped nuts for homemade sundaes.
Berries
Fresh raspberries, blueberries or strawberries sprinkled over tots creates a lovely sweet-tart combo.
Bananas
For dessert bananas foster tots, top with sliced bananas and drizzle with buttery brown sugar glaze.
Nutella
Everyone loves chocolate-hazelnut spread! Drizzle nutty, chocolaty Nutella over warm tater tots.
Most Popular Tater Tot Toppings
To summarize the most beloved toppings for tater tots based on popularity, here is a ranking:
| Rank | Topping |
|---|---|
| 1 | Chili and Cheese |
| 2 | Bacon |
| 3 | Sour Cream |
| 4 | Ranch Dressing |
| 5 | Barbecue Sauce |
| 6 | Cheddar Cheese |
| 7 | Salsa |
| 8 | Guacamole |
| 9 | Nacho Cheese |
| 10 | Chives |
Conclusion
Tater tots are the perfect blank canvas for creative toppings. You can keep it classic with cheese, bacon and sour cream or go more adventurous with nachos, tacos or even dessert. The crispy tot texture pairs well with an endless variety of flavors. So don’t be afraid to experiment to create your own signature loaded tater tots!