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Air Fryer Tater Tots

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Frozen tater tots cooked in the air fryer at 400°F until golden and crispy, with a fluffy interior. Ready in about 20 minutes with minimal prep and no oil bath required.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 bag (about 16–20 oz) frozen tater tots
  • Oil spray — avocado, olive, or canola (optional but recommended)
  • Salt, to taste
  • Optional seasonings: garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, seasoned salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3–5 minutes before adding any tots.
  2. Pour frozen tater tots into the basket and spread into a single layer. Do not pile or stack — cook in batches if needed.
  3. Lightly mist the tots with oil spray (optional). Do not drizzle liquid oil.
  4. Air fry at 400°F for 10–15 minutes, shaking the basket firmly every 4–5 minutes to ensure even browning on all sides. Start checking at 10 minutes; tots should be deep golden brown with crunchy ridges.
  5. Transfer to a bowl, season immediately with salt or desired seasonings while hot, and serve within 5 minutes for peak crispiness.

Notes

Shake the basket at least 2–3 times during cooking for uniform crispiness.

Do not thaw tots before cooking — frozen tots go straight into the preheated basket.

For extra-crispy tots, cook the full 15 minutes or add 1–2 extra minutes beyond package directions.

For large quantities, cook in two batches and keep the first batch warm in a 250°F oven on a wire rack.

If tots are consistently underdone, your air fryer may run cool — increase set temperature by 10–15°F and use golden-brown color as your doneness indicator.

Find it online: https://airfrycentral.com/air-fryer-tater-tots/