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Totchos tater tot nachos are crispy baked tater tots piled with Mexican toppings for the ultimate game day party food. Customize this fun totchos recipe to make it all your own!
What are totchos?
Totchos are nachos made with tater tots – and hats off to the frozen potatoes we love to hate because of their trashy reputation. We all know how irresistible they are, so they're the perfect substitute for tortilla chips in this totchos recipe. Are they good enough for steak nachos? Oh yes, you better believe it!
Ingredient notes
Use my totchos recipe and this ingredient list as a reference for your own customization. There are endless combinations. Check out other topping recommendations below.
- tater tots - I recommend using unseasoned tater tots for this recipe so you can leave them plain or add seasoning. Also, the crispier you bake them, the better they are for totchos!
- taco seasoning - Use store bought packets or make super easy taco seasoning. Fajita seasoning would work great too!
- shredded cheddar cheese - Or Mexican cheese blend.
- beans - Use black beans, pintos, or refried beans. Use canned beans for convenience or use scratch-cooked beans for better quality and savings.
- bacon - You can cook bacon or use bacon crumbles.
- salsa - Use this pico recipe, restaurant style salsa, or picante sauce for this recipe.
- avocado or guacamole - Nothing better than the rich taste of avocado on nachos!
- sour cream + lime juice = lime crema and belongs on all things TexMex.
- cilantro and jalapeno - Nothing like fresh cilantro and jalapeno to give totchos a touch of authentic Mexican flavor.
- green onions - I use the green part as a garnish for totchos. Chives can be used instead.
How to make Totchos
Like any nachos, totchos are easy to make and fun to eat. If you know how to make tater tots, you'll crush tater tot nachos!
Toss tater tots with taco seasoning and bake according to package instructions. Remove tots from the oven and transfer to an oven-safe serving dish. Add non-produce ingredients such as cheddar cheese, bacon, and beans. Bake 3-5 minutes to melt the cheese.
Return tots to the oven for 3-5 minutes to melt the cheese. Remove and scatter toppings such as salsa, guacamole, sour cream, jalapeno, and cilantro.
Serve totchos and watch them disappear!
Make-ahead tips
If you're serving totchos at a party and want to get ahead of the game, you can prepare ingredients a few days in advance and then refrigerate them separately until assembly.
- shred cheddar cheese with a box grater or food processor – or use pre-shredded cheese
- cook bacon via stove or air fryer – or use packaged crumbled bacon
- make lime crema by mixing sour cream and fresh lime juice
- make refried beans or whole cooked beans – or use canned beans for convenience
- make salsa and guacamole – or go with store-bought guac
Recipe tips
- There's no need to thaw tater tots before baking. But you will want a fully preheated oven. Just coat tots in taco seasoning and bake until crispy.
- Make tater tots extra crispy to prevent them from becoming soggy once the toppings are added. This way, the crispness will last longer and be more enjoyable.
- When using refried beans for this recipe, I recommend warming the beans just before assembly because they'll be creamier and easier to distribute.
- When using fresh or pickled jalapenos, I recommend making them clearly visible so they can be easily removed by guests averse to spicy foods.
- I use only the tops of green onions to garnish totchos because they're milder than the white stem and deliver great flavor and color.
Recipe variations
Make this totchos recipe vegetarian by simply leaving bacon out. Feel free to replace it with a larger quantity of another ingredient, such as beans, salsa, or guacamole.
If you don't have salsa, use fresh tomatoes instead. They add so much freshness and color to totchos, and they pair well with cilantro and jalapeño.
Other totcho topping ideas
- Add a few scoops of pulled pork or make the best taco meat recipe to add a savory, meaty, irresistible twist to totchos.
- Cooked brown rice or chiptole brown rice can be added for volume and nutrients.
- Kick up the heat with pickled jalapenos or pickled red onions.
- Black bean corn salsa, peach salsa, or mango salsa can be added in place of beans and salsa for another level of flavor and variety.
📖 Recipe
Totchos
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Video
When scaling the recipe 2x or 3x, the gray ingredient note stays the same. Adjust quantities accordingly.
Ingredients
- 8 cups Frozen Tater Tots, or 2 pounds
- 1 tablespoon Taco Seasoning, or ½ (1-ounce) packet
- 1 (15 ounce can) Black Beans (or refried beans), rinsed and drained
- 4 ounces Cheddar Cheese, shredded (about 1 cup)
- ½ cup Bacon, crumbled (about 6 slices)
- ¼ cup Sour Cream
- ½ Lime, juiced
- ½ Avocado (diced), or ½ cup guacamole
- ¼ cup Salsa, or cherry tomatoes
- ¼ cup Cilantro, chopped
- 1 Jalapeno Pepper, seeded and sliced
- 1 Green onion, sliced
Instructions
- Toss TATER TOTS with TACO SEASONING, then bake according to package instructions. Note: Bake tater tots extra crispy to prevent becoming soggy.
- Transfer baked tots to an oven-safe serving platter. Scatter BEANS, CHEDDAR CHEESE, and half of the BACON over the surface.
- Bake a few minutes, or until cheddar is melted.
- In a small mixing bowl, make lime crema by whisking SOUR CREAM and LIME JUICE together.
- Remove totchos from the oven and scatter fresh toppings to serve: SALSA, AVOCADO, remaining BACON, LIME CREMA, CILANTRO, JALAPENO, and GREEN ONION.
- Serve and devour!
Equipment
- small mixing bowl
- oven-safe serving platter
- serving utensil
Gayle says
My guests LOVED the tochos, exclaiming, “it’s a real keeper!” My husband wouldn’t let me throw away that which was left because he loved it so much! I will make this often!
Traci says
Yayy! I'm so glad you found your way to my recipe and went for it! Totchos are very crowd-friendly. Thanks for sharing your experience 🙂 Enjoy!
Jeff says
It's been way too long since I've made this totchos recipe. It's one of my favorite KG recipes of all time and I'm about to make it happen. If I make these tater tot nachos with your taco meat recipe, I may never go back to the regular kind LOL.
Traci says
Thank you and yes! I 100% vote you make these - with the taco meat 🙂 Enjoy!!!
Peg says
Ahhmazing!!
The Kitchen Girl says
Why thank you Peg We LOVE this one too!
Toni says
I loved it! So easy to make and packed full of flavors!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Toni! So glad to hear it 🙂
Rebecca says
I love tots, and these totchos look amazing! the toppings make them for sure
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks, Rebecca...it's ALL about those toppings 🙂
Lisa says
A rose by any other name would smell as sweet! Love this twist on nachos especially for Game Day!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks, Lisa! Yes, guaranteed empty platter, for sure 🙂
Bintu says
Now these I have got to try - these totchos look absolutely incredible. Would definitely go down a treat in my house.
Traci Antonovich says
Haha nice! So glad you can enjoy these, Bintu 🙂 Thanks!
Kelly Anthony says
These tater tot nachos will make the perfect cheat meal or a quick dinner when I don't have anything planned.
Traci Antonovich says
Yes! Been there on more than one occasion 😉 So glad you can enjoy these...thanks!
Jayne says
Tater Tot's and Nachos! Fabulous. Great timing for the Super Bowl. My guests are going to love this.
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks, Jayne...yep, just made these for the playoffs over the weekend 🙂 Gonna make them again for the super bowl...enjoy!!
Julie says
Awesome recipe! With the exclusion of the jalapeños...I'm a wimp!
Thanks for sharing!
Traci Antonovich says
Haha thanks! And no prob on the jalapenos, Julie...they come right off and the totchos are not spicy otherwise 🙂
Sara Welch says
What a savory recipe! Adding this to my dinner line up for the week; looks too good to pass up!
Traci Antonovich says
Perfect, Sara! So glad you can enjoy these 🙂
Suzy says
Where have these been all of my life! 🙂 So easy and so tasty! Love the jalapenos!
Traci Antonovich says
Haha yes, thank you...and I feel the same way about those jalapenos too! 🙂