Totchos Tater Tot Nachos - The Kitchen Girl (2024)

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Totchos tater tot nachos are crispy baked tater tots piled with Mexican toppings for the ultimate game day party food. Customize this fun totchos recipe to make it all your own!

What are totchos?

Totchos are nachos made with tater tots – and hats offto the frozen potatoes we love to hate because of their trashy reputation. We all know how irresistable they are, which is why they're the perfect substitute for tortilla chips in this totchos recipe. Are they good enough for steak nachos? Oh yes, you better believe it!

Ingredient notes

Use my totchos recipe and this ingredient list as a reference for your own customization. There are endless combinations. Check out other topping recommendations below.

• tater tots - I recommend using unseasoned tater tots for this recipe so you can leave them plain or add seasoning. Also, the crispier you bake them, the better they are for totchos!
• taco seasoning - Use store bought packets or make super easy taco seasoning. Fajita seasoning would work great too!
• shredded cheddar cheese - Or Mexican cheese blend.
• beans - Use black beans, pintos, or refried beans. Use canned beans for convenience or use scratch-cooked beans for better quality and savings.
• bacon - You can cook bacon or use bacon crumbles.
• salsa - Use this pico recipe, restaurant style salsa, or picante sauce for this recipe.
• avocado or guacamole -Nothing better than the rich taste of avocado on nachos!
• sour cream + lime juice = lime crema and belongs on all things TexMex.
• cilantro and jalapeno - Nothing like fresh cilantro and jalapeno to give totchos a touch of authentic Mexican flavor.
• green onions - I use the green part as a garnish for totchos. Chives can be used instead.

How to make Totchos

Just like any nachos, totchos are easy to make and fun to eat. If you know how to make tater tots, you'll crush tater tot nachos!

Toss tater tots with taco seasoning and bake according to package instructions. Remove tots from the oven and transfer to an oven-safe serving dish. Add non-produce ingredients such as cheddar cheese, bacon, and beans. Bake 3-5 minutes to melt the cheese.

Return tots to the oven for 3-5 minutes to melt the cheese. Remove and scatter toppings such as salsa, guacamole, sour cream, jalapeno, and cilantro.

Serve totchos and watch them disappear!

Make-ahead tips

If you're serving totchos at a party and want to get ahead of the game, you can prepare ingredients a few days in advance, then refrigerate separately until assembly.

• shred cheddar cheese with a box grater or food processor – or use pre-shredded cheese
• cook bacon via stove or air fryer – or use packaged crumbled bacon
• make lime crema by mixing sour cream and fresh lime juice
• make refried beans or whole cooked beans – or use canned beans for convenience
• make salsa and guacamole – or go with store bought

Recipe tips

There's no need to thaw tater tots before baking. But you will want a fully preheated oven. Just coat tots in taco seasoning and bake until crispy.

Make tater tots extra crispy to prevent them becoming soggy once the toppings are added. This way, the crispness will last longer and be more enjoyable.

When using refried beans for this recipe, I recommend warming the beans just before assembly because they'll be creamier and easier to distribute.

When using fresh or pickled jalapenos, I recommend making them clearly visible so they can be easily removed by guests averse to spicy foods.

I use only the tops of green onions to garnish totchos because they're milder than the white stem and they deliver great flavor and color.

Recipe variations

Make this totchos recipe vegetarian by simply leaving bacon out. Feel free to replace it with larger quantity of another ingredient such as beans, salsa, or guacamole.

If you don't have salsa, use fresh tomatoes instead. They add so much freshness and color to totchos, and they pair well with cilantro and jalapeño.

Other totcho topping ideas

• Add a few scoops of pulled pork or make the best taco meat recipe to add a savory, meaty, irresistible twist to totchos.
• Cooked brown rice or chiptole brown rice can be added for volume and nutrients.
• Kick up the heat with pickled jalapenos or pickled red onions.
• Black bean corn salsa, peach salsa, or mango salsa can be added in place of beans and salsa for another level of flavor and variety.

📖 Recipe