Air Fryer Homemade Tater Tots

These homemade air fryer tater tots are crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and so much better than anything you’ll find in the frozen aisle.

The recipe is really simple. You just need potatoes, a couple of basic seasonings, and a little flour to help everything hold together.

The air fryer does most of the heavy lifting here. It gets them perfectly golden and crunchy without deep frying, so you use way less oil.

They take a little bit of hands-on time to shape, but it’s easy work and totally worth it. You’ll end up with about 30 to 35 tots from one batch.

Serve them up with ketchup, ranch, or whatever dipping sauce you like. They make a great snack or side dish for pretty much any meal.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Way Better Than Frozen – Homemade tater tots taste incredibly fresh and crispy compared to anything you pull out of a freezer bag.

Uses Way Less Oil Than Deep Frying – A light spray of cooking oil is all you need so these tots are significantly lighter than traditional fried versions.

Perfectly Crispy Every Time – The air fryer gets these tots golden and crunchy on every side without deep frying in oil.

Ingredients

• 2 lb Russet Potatoes, peeled
• 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1/2 tsp Onion Powder
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
• 2 tbsp All-Purpose Flour
• Cooking Spray

How To Make

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the peeled whole potatoes and boil for 6 to 8 minutes. The potatoes should be just barely fork tender on the outside but still firm in the center. Drain and let them cool for 10 minutes.

Step 2

Using the large holes of a box grater, shred the parcooked potatoes into a large bowl. Add the garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and flour. Gently toss everything together until the seasonings and flour are evenly distributed.

Step 3

Take about 1 tablespoon of the potato mixture and press it firmly together in your hands, shaping it into a small cylinder or barrel shape. Pack it tightly so it holds together. Repeat with the remaining mixture to make about 30 to 35 tots.

Step 4

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 2 minutes.

Step 5

Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Place the tater tots in a single layer with a little space between each one. Spray the tops generously with cooking spray.

Step 6

Air fry for 12 to 15 minutes, shaking the basket gently every 5 minutes, until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy on all sides.

Step 7

Serve the tater tots hot with ketchup, ranch dressing, or your favorite dipping sauce.

Tips

Don’t Overcook the Potatoes

This is the most important step in the whole recipe. You want the potatoes parcooked, not fully cooked. That means 6 to 8 minutes max in the boiling water.

If you boil them too long, they’ll turn mushy when you try to grate them. You’ll end up with a sticky paste instead of nice shredded pieces that hold their shape.

Test them by poking a fork into the thickest part. It should go in slightly on the outer edge but still feel firm and resistant in the center. If the fork slides all the way through easily, you’ve gone too far.

Squeeze Out Excess Moisture

After you grate the potatoes, you might notice they feel a bit wet. If that’s the case, use a clean kitchen towel or paper towels to gently press out some of the moisture before adding the seasonings and flour.

Too much moisture is what causes tater tots to fall apart in the air fryer or come out soft instead of crispy. Getting rid of that extra water makes a big difference in how well they hold together and how golden they get.

Pack the Tots Tightly

When you’re shaping the tots, really press and squeeze the potato mixture together firmly. Don’t just loosely roll them into shape. They need to be packed tight enough that they don’t crumble when you pick them up.

A good test is to hold a finished tot between two fingers and give it a gentle squeeze. It should feel solid and compact, not like it’s about to break apart. If it feels loose, press it together more.

Related Recipes

• Air Fryer Cheesy Hash Brown Patties
• Air Fryer Crispy Smashed Potatoes
• Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Potato Wedges
• Air Fryer Loaded Chili Cheese Fries
• Air Fryer Loaded Potato Skins

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need to parboil the potatoes first instead of using them raw?

Parboiling the potatoes for those 6 to 8 minutes is what gives you that classic creamy inside that store-bought tater tots have. If you skip this step and use raw potatoes, the inside will be dry and crunchy instead of soft and fluffy.

The key is to not overcook them during this step. You want the outside just barely tender so the potatoes hold together when you grate them, but the center should still be firm. If they get too soft, the mixture will turn mushy and the tots will fall apart in the air fryer.