Oven Fried Tater Tots
These Oven Fried Tater Tots are the perfect side dish for sandwiches, burgers, chicken strips and more! They are loaded with flavor and are better than any restaurant version!
Oven fried tater tots are one of my favorite go-to quick and easy side dishes. They come out extra crispy, golden brown, and full of flavor thanks to one simple trick — bacon grease. You don’t need a deep fryer or any fancy tools to make these tots taste like they came straight from the diner.
This easy side goes with everything from burgers and hot dogs to sloppy joes or grilled sandwiches. Plus you only need three ingredients and zero prep time. Let’s make them.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Crispy and golden without deep frying
- Just 3 ingredients for the best flavor
- Pairs perfectly with weeknight dinners or game day food
Ingredients for Oven Fried Tater Tots Recipe
- Frozen tater tots
- Bacon grease
- Season salt
How to Make Oven Fried Tater Tots
- Preheat the oven to 450°F. A hot oven helps the tots get that crispy edge right from the start.
- Optional: Line a rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy cleanup.
- Add frozen tater tots in a single layer. Make sure they aren’t overcrowded so they crisp up instead of steaming.
- Drizzle bacon grease over the tater tots. Toss to coat.
- Sprinkle with season salt.
- Bake for 30 minutes – Turn the tots halfway through to get both sides golden and crispy.
- Serve hot with ketchup or your favorite dipping sauce.
Favorite Dipping Sauces
Recipe Tips and Variations
- Don’t thaw the tater tots before baking. They go straight from freezer to oven.
- Bacon grease gives these the best flavor, but you can use olive oil or vegetable oil if needed.
- Try different seasonings like garlic powder, Cajun spice, or everything bagel seasoning for a twist.
- Make it a meal by topping with shredded cheese, sour cream, and green onions for loaded tots or add brisket for Totchos!
If crispy oven tater tots are always a hit at your table too, leave a comment and let me know. Don’t forget to save this recipe for next time.
Oven Fried Tater Tots
Ingredients
- 24 ounces tater tots frozen
- ¼ cup bacon grease or olive oil
- 1 tablespoon seasoned salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Add tater tots to a baking sheet. Pour bacon grease over the tater tots. Sprinkle with season salt. Toss the tater tots with your hands or a spatula until evenly coated in bacon grease.
- Bake for 15 minutes and remove from oven.
- Turn tater tots over and return to oven for 10- 15 minutes or until crispy and brown.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
More Delicious Tater Tots You’ll Love
- If you like to air fry, try these Air Fryer Tater Tots, they are so crispy and delicious.
- Barbecue Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots are the perfect 3-ingredient appetizer!
- Chicken Tater Tot Casserole is a hearty dinner that the whoel family will love.
Nice and easy and I agree with you about the bacon grease.
can tater
this isn’t the recipe, it’s the instructions on the packet with a substitution. It doesn’t actually tell me how to MAKE the tater tots. Deceptive.
Hi Hariett,
It isn’t meant to be deceptive. I have made homemade tater tots from mashed potatoes, you can get that recipe here: https://28-gloryq1.store/loaded-tater-tots/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
~ Milisa
Article states “OVEN FRIED TATER TOTS”. This is oven fried tater tots. Get a clue and learn how to better search what you are looking for. “OVEN FRIED TATER TOTS from scratch or home made” would be a start. Time to get a clue, Les.
Imagine not knowing how to use Google.. lol!
Good God almighty! Lady, get a freaking grip! Deceptive??? Because you can’t read?? So you give this food blogger 1 star because of YOUR idiocy? Learn how to do a proper Google search. This is top three of the most ridiculous “reviews” I’ve ever read. Imagine spending time out of your day to write this. What a freaking joke.
Your a classic Karen. Nasty is all you are.
Everyone in the review section is extremely rude – it’s a shame.
Yes it may be ONE additional thing that isn’t on the back of the tater tot bag – but it could be useful to someone…
Get a grip, y’all… it was posted for everyone to see… so everyone is entitled to their own opinion of said recipe.
I would also like to say I have tried actual recipes from this creator ( that aren’t just one ingredient added & back of bag directions), and, they are delicious.
Give her a shot for christ sake. 🤦♀️
Don’t let this ONE post stop you from trying her other recipes.
Do better, and have the day you deserve!
Hi Amanda,
I am so glad you are enjoying the recipes and you are so right, everyone should be kind! Appreciate you so much!
~ Milisa
Of course!
I read the reviews and was blown away at how rude people can be! As if this world isn’t difficult enough!!
I wish you luck on your recipe posts, and also, don’t ever be discouraged because of people like that!
Unhappy people tend to try to make happy people unhappy!!
💛
I’m one of the dumber readers, but also tend to overthink things. Therefore, I would have loved a short (fast forward type) video to eliminate all doubts on how to do this well. 😀
Hi Anne,
I will have to add that to my list! Thanks for stopping by.
~ Milisa
Hi. For mother’s Day contribution with family will make your recipe for tater tots. I won’t have that much bacon grease, can I add melted unsalted butter to bacon grease? I’m planning on doubling your recipe. Thank you!
Hi Cindy,
I would use vegetable oil or olive oil instead of butter. I hope you enjoy them!
~ Milisa
This was FABULOUS! I keep bacon fat in my fridge had never thought of using it for this. Also, I have a salt and pepper spice mix is make from a recipe in Dukes Chowderhouse cookbook. The combo between the bacon fat and the spices was out of this world. Thanks for your tip!
Hi Missy,
So glad you enjoyed them! It’s my favorite way to make them.
~ Milisa