Description
Loaded Tater Tots are a delicious and indulgent appetizer or snack featuring crispy baked tater tots topped with a creamy cheddar cheese sauce, crispy crumbled bacon, sour cream, and fresh green onions. This easy-to-make recipe combines savory, creamy, and crunchy elements for a perfect crowd-pleaser that can be served as a hearty snack or side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Tater Tots
- 1 bag tater tots (frozen, approx. 32 oz)
Bacon Topping
- 6 slices bacon (cooked and crumbled)
Cheese Sauce
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 cup 2% milk
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese (grated)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Cayenne pepper, to taste
Garnish
- Sour cream (for serving)
- Green onions (chopped, for serving)
Instructions
- Bake the Tater Tots: Preheat your oven and bake the frozen tater tots according to the package instructions on a sheet pan until they are golden brown and crispy.
- Cook and Crumble Bacon: While the tater tots bake, cook the bacon slices in a skillet until they reach your desired level of crispness. Allow them to cool slightly, then crumble into small pieces.
- Prepare the Cheese Sauce: In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the unsalted butter. Sprinkle in the all-purpose flour and cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly, until the mixture turns slightly golden.
- Thicken the Sauce: Gradually whisk in the milk, continuing to stir until the sauce thickens, which should take about 4 minutes. Make sure there are no lumps and the sauce has a smooth texture.
- Add Cheese and Seasonings: Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the grated sharp cheddar cheese, adding it a quarter cup at a time and mixing thoroughly after each addition. Add salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste. Adjust the seasoning as needed.
- Assemble the Loaded Tater Tots: Place the baked tater tots on a serving plate. Top evenly with the creamy cheese sauce, then sprinkle the crumbled bacon over the top. Add dollops of sour cream and finish with a sprinkling of chopped green onions. Serve immediately while hot and enjoy!
Notes
- For extra spice, increase the amount of cayenne pepper or add hot sauce to the cheese sauce.
- You can substitute sharp cheddar with your favorite melting cheese like Monterey Jack or Colby.
- For a lighter version, use reduced-fat cheese and milk, and bake bacon alternatives like turkey bacon.
- Make sure to bake tater tots until fully crisp for the best texture contrast with the creamy sauce.
- Prepare bacon and cheese sauce ahead to reduce assembly time if serving a crowd.
