Description
Loaded Tater Tots, often called Totchos, are a delicious twist on classic tater tots, topped with seasoned ground beef, melted Colby jack cheese, and fresh Mexican-inspired toppings like pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream, jalapeños, green onions, and cilantro. Perfect for sharing as a hearty appetizer or a fun main dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Tater Tots
- 32 ounces frozen tater tots (1 bag)
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Beef Mixture
- 1 pound 90% lean ground beef
- ½ white onion, diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
Toppings
- 8 ounces freshly shredded Colby jack cheese
- Pico de gallo, as desired
- Sour cream, as desired
- Guacamole, as desired
- Sliced green onions, as desired
- Chopped fresh cilantro, as desired
- Diced jalapeño peppers, as desired
Instructions
- Prepare and bake tater tots: Toss the frozen tater tots with 1 tablespoon of the taco seasoning to evenly coat them. Spread the tots out on a baking sheet and bake according to the package directions. If they need extra crispiness, add a few more minutes to the cooking time. Once the tots are cooked, ensure your oven is at 400°F to melt the cheese later.
- Cook the beef mixture: While the tots bake, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef, diced white onion, minced garlic, and the remaining 1 tablespoon of taco seasoning. Cook, breaking the beef up with a spoon, until the ground beef is no longer pink and the onion is translucent, about 6-8 minutes.
- Assemble the loaded tots: Once the tots are done baking, scatter the cooked beef mixture evenly over the top of the tots on the baking sheet.
- Top with cheese and bake: Sprinkle the shredded Colby jack cheese over the beef and tots. Place the baking sheet back into the oven at 400°F and bake for 7-10 minutes or until the cheese has fully melted and is bubbly.
- Add toppings and serve: Remove the loaded tots from the oven and add your desired fresh toppings like pico de gallo, sour cream, guacamole, sliced green onions, cilantro, and diced jalapeño peppers. Serve immediately while hot and enjoy.
Notes
- You can substitute Colby jack cheese with cheddar or Monterey Jack for different flavor profiles.
- Adjust the spice level by altering the amount of jalapeños or using a milder/extra spicy taco seasoning blend.
- For a vegetarian version, swap ground beef with plant-based crumbles or seasoned beans.
- To make the tots crispier, spread them in a single layer with some space between each tot before baking.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated in the oven for best texture retention.
