National Tater Tots Day: 4 Recipes to Celebrate these Delicious Snacks and 2 Alternatives!

Tater tots, a beloved American snack, originated in the early 1950s. They were invented by the founders of the Ore-Ida company, F. Nephi Grigg and Golden Grigg, as a clever solution to utilize leftover potato shavings from their French fry production. The idea was simple but ingenious: they chopped up the excess potatoes, added flour and seasoning, then extruded the mixture through a machine to form the iconic small, cylindrical shapes. After being deep-fried, these little potato bites quickly gained popularity. Initially introduced as a convenient and affordable frozen product, tater tots became a staple in American households and school cafeterias, epitomizing post-war innovation in food processing and mass marketing.

The widespread appeal of tater tots lies in their versatility and the comfort-food joy they bring. Their crispy exterior and fluffy interior make them irresistible on their own, but they also serve as a blank canvas for culinary creativity. Tater tots can be found in a variety of dishes, from casual snacks like loaded tots topped with cheese and bacon to more sophisticated fare such as tater tot casseroles or even used as a crunchy topping in salads. Their ability to blend with diverse flavors and ingredients has made them a favorite in kitchens across America. This versatility ensures that tater tots continue to be celebrated not just as a nostalgic snack, but as a dynamic component in modern cooking.

In honor of National Tater Totts Day, we have collected a list of 4 recipes revolving around tater tots, plus two delicious alternatives that you can try alongside these famous snacks!

1. Homemade Tater Tots: the effortless recipe for a kid-friendly appetizer

Tater tots are a delicious, tasty side dish that both kids and adults love. This easy homemade tater tots recipe is a million times more flavorful than the frozen ones, and can even be made so they're gluten-free.

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2. Totchos: the ultimate recipe for delicious tater tot nachos

Totchos are a tasty appetizer similar to nachos but without tortilla chips. They're made from crispy tater tots sprinkled with cheese, meat and spicy queso sauce.

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3. Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole: a mouthwatering recipe for a classic comfort dish

Cheeseburger tater tot casserole is a cozy, comforting, hearty dinner that hits all the right spots. It's a simple dish and is the beefy version of the ever-popular tater tot casserole. Made with juicy hamburger meat mixed with ketchup and mustard, and layered with onions, cheese, and tater tops, this easy-to-make casserole has all the same flavors as a classic cheeseburger, with an irresistible crunchy tater tot topping.

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4. Tater Tot Casserole: the tasty, simple casserole recipe

Tater tot casserole is an easy and delicious recipe to enjoy a great comfort food that everyone will love. Also known as potato croquette in the United Kingdom, tater tots are crispy, small cylindrical-shaped grated potatoes – the term tater actually stands for "potato" in American slang.

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The Alternatives

5. Chicken Tots: you’ll fall in love with this recipe ready in no time

Easy, quick and delicious, the perfect recipe to make the chicken.

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6. Zucchini Tots: the healthy recipe for an easy, low-carb vegetarian side dish

Zucchini tots are a healthy, vegetarian appetizer or side dish perfect summer. Low-carb and tasty, they're crunchy on the outside, tender on the inside.

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