Air-fryer Tater Tots

Make oil-free healthy tiny crispy tater tots in the air-fryer in just 10 minutes. These vegan appetizers are perfect to serve at any party. No doubt these are absolute crowd-pleasers.

Tater tots are always my favorite appetizers. I can’t resist having the tiny tots, especially when we are on party mode. After all, I’m a potato lover ;). I love all vegetables, but potatoes have some special place in my heart. My taste buds love them.

Though potatoes have a bad reputation of being “unhealthy food” but research also says potatoes are not unhealthy until they are deep-fried. When deep-fried the carbohydrate increases and it becomes unhealthy. At the same time boiled or steamed potatoes have less carb and more fiber and protein along with other veggies.

So trust me you can have a bowl full of these tiny tater tots or even my potato wedges, both air-fried, are perfect to satisfy the potato craving in a healthy way.

What is tater tot?

Traditionally tater tots are grated potatoes shaped into small cylinders and deep-fried. So this makes the tots crispy. Tater is a name for potatoes and tater tots is a registered trademark of Ore-Ida but also used as a generic name for such potato bites.

Why air-fryer tater tots are healthy?

Tater tots are generally deep-fried and hence naturally give you a lot of bad fat along with its delicious taste. But here the tater tots have some crisp, taste and at the same time, these are oil-free. Yes completely oil-free. And oil-free potato is healthier too with protein and fiber.

Health Benefits of Potatoes

Do you know potatoes are healthy too!! Read my vegan potato recipes collection where I have mentioned the health benefits of potatoes.

Potatoes are carbohydrate-rich starchy vegetables. But the carbohydrate is released more when it comes in contact with direct oil in a lot. But when we use other methods of cooking potatoes like boiling, steaming, this is less carbohydrate and more other healthy vitamins, minerals, micro nutrients along with protein and fibers.

The skin has more vitamins and minerals stored in it as compared to the fleshy part. So whenever possible, try to retain the skin of it.

What tater tots I can use to air-fry?

You can make the whole homemade tater tots from scratch or take out some frozen potato bites and put them in your air-fryer for said time and temperature. And you are done with your healthy potato snacks.

Air-fryer Tater Tots

You can make your tater tots from scratch and that is easy also. Or just air-fry the frozen tots for a quick result.

Homemade Tater Tots (from scratch)

Making the homemade tots in just 3 steps. Then you can freeze them in a freezer-friendly pouch for 2 – 3 months. But they don’t last so long. 😉

Step – 1 – Par boil potatoes (cooked up to 80 – 90%). Cooled down completely.

Step – 2 – Grate them using a cheese grater and add seasoning.

Step – 3 – Grease your palm and shape the grated potatoes into tiny cylinders.

Keep in freezer-friendly bag for 1 hr. Next remove and follow air-frying steps with frozen tater tots.

Frozen Tater Tots

Take out the air-fryer basket. Place the tater tots inside the basket. Careful not to overcrowd it. Place it in and set the temperature to 400F and for 8 minutes. In the midway (after 4 min) just remove the basket and shake it. Cook for rest 4 minutes.

Some Tips

The time may vary depending on the size of the air-fryer. Smaller ones may take more time than the bigger air-fryers. (My air-fryer is 5qt capacity).

So you can adjust the time setting depending on the size of your air-fryer. Again when you are cooking in batches, your second batch may need lesser time as it’s already pre-heated. Adjust time.

Recipe Card for Air-Fryer Tater Tots

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