Description
This homemade Air Fryer Cheesy Tater Tots recipe combines tender russet potatoes with sharp cheddar cheese, seasoned with salt and pepper, then lightly bound with flour and air fried to a crispy golden perfection. Enjoy a crunchy, cheesy snack or side dish that’s healthier and made from scratch.
Ingredients
Potato Mixture
- 4 medium russet potatoes, washed
- 1½ cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Boil Potatoes: Place the washed russet potatoes in a pot of cold salted water. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer the potatoes for 10-15 minutes until they are firm but a fork can pierce easily. Drain the water and let the potatoes cool for about 15 minutes until cool to the touch.
- Grate Potatoes: Once cooled, grate the potatoes using a coarse grater and place them into a large bowl.
- Mix Ingredients: Add the grated sharp cheddar cheese, all-purpose flour, kosher salt, and black pepper to the grated potatoes. Mix everything well until evenly combined.
- Form Tater Tots: Scoop about 1 tablespoon of the mixture and shape it into a cylindrical tater tot. Place the formed tots onto a sheet of parchment paper. Repeat until all the mixture is used.
- Preheat Air Fryer: Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray and preheat the air fryer to 380°F (193°C).
- Arrange and Cook: Place the tater tots in a single layer in the air fryer basket. You may need to cook in batches depending on the basket size.
- Air Fry Tater Tots: Spray the tops of the tots with cooking spray, then cook for 10 minutes at 380°F. After 10 minutes, flip the tots, spray again, and air fry for an additional 5 minutes until golden and crispy.
- Serve: Remove the tater tots from the air fryer and serve immediately while hot and crunchy.
Notes
- Make sure potatoes are cooled enough to handle before grating to avoid burns.
- The flour acts as a binder; do not skip for best results.
- Use sharp cheddar cheese for a strong flavor and good meltability.
- Spraying with cooking oil helps achieve extra crispiness.
- Cooking time may vary slightly based on air fryer model and size of tots; adjust accordingly.
- This recipe is best served immediately for optimal crispiness.
