Loaded tater tots are the ultimate crowd-pleaser! This easy recipe starts with toasty tater tots topped with creamy ranch dressing, melted cheese, and crispy bacon, then baked to perfection. It’s a fun appetizer for game day or a casual side dish that everyone will love.
What's great about this recipe
- Easy and Quick to Make: This recipe uses simple, convenient ingredients like frozen tater tots, cheese, and ranch dressing, and it's a breeze to prepare.
- Perfect for Sharing: Loaded tater tots are a fun, crowd-pleasing dish that’s ideal for game days, parties, or casual family dinners.
- Customizable Ingredients: Swap out the cheese, eliminate the bacon to make it vegetarian, try different seasonings, or add your favorite toppings to make this dish your own.
- Comfort Food Favorite: Crispy tots, gooey melted cheese, and savory bacon come together to create the ultimate comfort dish everyone will love.
Ingredients
- Tater tots – Use frozen tater tots for this simple recipe and cook them according to the package directions.
- Cheese – We use Colby Jack (an American marble cheese), but other great options include shredded cheddar, Monterey Jack, Colby, or American (white or yellow). Choose your favorite cheese as long as it melts well.
- Bacon – Home-cooked bacon is best for this recipe. With only a handful of ingredients, we want each one to shine.
- Seasoning and condiments – Ranch dressing adds extra flavor to the potatoes and pairs perfectly with the cheese and bacon. A little salt and black pepper are used to season the tots after baking.
- Garnish – Green onions add a pop of color and an extra layer of flavor. Chives or parsley can be substituted.
- See the recipe card for ingredient quantities and preparation.
How to make loaded tater tots
Cook the bacon until crispy (see recipe tips and notes 1) for instructions for cooking bacon in the microwave, oven, or skillet, if needed). Then, chop them into small pieces to make bacon bits.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup. Arrange the tater tots in a single layer without overlapping, and cook according to the package instructions until golden and crispy.
- Remove the potatoes from the oven and sprinkle with a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Heat the oven to 350°F.
- Layer half of the cooked tots in a small baking dish (about 1-quart capacity), arranging them close together without mounding.
- Drizzle with half of the ranch dressing.
- Sprinkle on half of the cheese.
- Add half of the bacon.
- Repeat the layering process with the remaining tots, ranch dressing, cheese, and bacon.
- Bake, uncovered, for 3-5 minutes or until the cheese melts.
- Top with sliced green onions and serve.
Substitutions and variations
- Cheese Options: Swap Colby Jack for your favorite melting cheese, such as cheddar, Monterey Jack, Colby, American (white or yellow), mozzarella, pepper jack, or gouda, for a different flavor profile.
- Make It Vegetarian: Omit the bacon and add diced roasted vegetables (like mushrooms, peppers), or plant-based bacon alternatives for a vegetarian-friendly option.
- Add Some Heat: Sprinkle on diced jalapeños, a drizzle of hot sauce, or a dash of cayenne pepper for a spicy twist.
- Garnish Alternatives: Try topping with diced tomatoes, avocado, or a dollop of sour cream for additional textures and flavors.
Storing and reheating instructions
- Storing: Place leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Freezing is not recommended as the texture of the tater tots may not hold up well.
- Reheating: For the best results, place the tots on a baking sheet, cover loosely with foil (do not wrap tightly), and bake at 350°F for 10-15 minutes or until heated through. Alternatively, microwave in short intervals until hot.
- Food Safety: Ensure leftovers are reheated to an internal temperature of at least 165°F for safe consumption. For more information on food storage and safety guidelines visit U.S. Department of Agriculture and foodsafety.gov.
Recipe tips and notes
- Cooking Bacon: Here are three quick methods:
- Oven: Preheat to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and arrange bacon slices without overlapping. Bake for 20-25 minutes until crispy.
- Microwave: Line a microwave-safe plate with 2 paper towels. Place bacon slices on top, cover with 2 more paper towels, and microwave on high for 3-4 minutes. Check and continue cooking in 1-2 minute intervals until crispy.
- Skillet/Stovetop: Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat, flipping occasionally, until crisp.
- Once cooled, crumble or chop the bacon.
- Shred Your Own Cheese: Pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that can affect melting. For the best results, grate your own cheese.
- Prep Ahead: Cook the bacon and shred the cheese in advance to save time when assembling the dish.
This loaded tater tots casserole makes a simple and fun potato side dish that’s perfect for shaking up your dinner routine. Looking for another deliciously different potato recipe? Try these baked potato slices. They're also a hit as appetizers for football watching or movie night. Need more easy appetizer ideas to pair with your cheesy tots? Serve up some sticky chicken wings or crowd-pleasing crescent roll pigs in a blanket.
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📖 Recipe
Loaded Tater Tots
Loaded tater tots are the ultimate crowd-pleaser! This easy recipe starts with toasty tater tots topped with creamy ranch dressing, melted cheese, and crispy bacon, then baked to perfection. It’s a fun appetizer for game day or a casual side dish that everyone will love.
Ingredients
- 4-5 Slices Crispy Cooked Bacon chopped (see notes 1)
- 18-20 ounces Frozen Tater Tots cooked to package directions
- Pinch Salt
- Pinch Black Pepper
- 1-2 tablespoons Ranch Dressing adjust to taste
- 3-4 ounces Shredded Colby Jack Cheese hand shredded off the block is recommended (see notes 2 & 3)
- 1-2 teaspoons Green Onions for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the bacon until crispy (see cook’s notes 1 for instructions for cooking bacon in the microwave, oven, or skillet, if needed). Then, chop them into small pieces to make bacon bits.
- Line a baking sheet (we used a quarter sheet pan) with parchment paper for easy clean up, if desired. Arrange the tater tots on the pan in a single layer, without overlapping. Cook them using the package instructions until they are golden and crispy.
- Remove the potato tots from the oven and sprinkle them with a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Heat the oven to 350°F.
- Layer half the cooked tater tots in a small baking dish (about 1 quart capacity). Place them close together without mounding.
- Drizzle half of the ranch sauce over them.
- Sprinkle with half of the cheese.
- Then add half the bacon.
- Repeat another layer with the remaining potatoes, ranch dressing, shredded cheese, and bacon.
- Bake the loaded tater tots, uncovered, for 3-5 minutes or until the cheese melts.
- Top tater tots with the sliced green onions and serve.
Notes
-
Cooking Bacon: Here are three quick methods:
-
Oven: Preheat to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and arrange bacon slices without overlapping. Bake for 20-25 minutes until crispy.
-
Microwave: Line a microwave-safe plate with 2 paper towels. Place bacon slices on top, cover with 2 more paper towels, and microwave on high for 3-4 minutes. Check and continue cooking in 1-2 minute intervals until crispy.
-
Skillet/Stovetop: Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat, flipping occasionally, until crisp.
-
Once cooled, crumble or chop the bacon.
-
- We use Colby jack (an American marble cheese) but other good options include shredded cheddar, Monterey jack, Colby, and American (white or yellow). Use your favorite cheese as long as it melts well.
- Shred your own cheese if possible because it will melt better. It’s not a deal-breaker in this easy recipe, so if you need to, use pre-shredded for convenience.
Nutrition
Calories: 456kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 13gFat: 29gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 39mgSodium: 1116mgPotassium: 463mgFiber: 3gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 304IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 218mgIron: 1mg
The nutritional information above is computer generated and is only an estimate. There is no guarantee that it is accurate. This data is provided as a courtesy for informational purposes only.
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