Crispy Totchos (Tater Tot Nachos!)

Impress everyone with this totchos recipe! Tater tot nachos are endless fun, crispy, and loaded with all the best toppings.

Looking for fun party food or a tasty appetizer dinner? I have one word for you: totchos! These tater tot nachos are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, which makes them perfect for loading with nacho toppings.

This totchos recipe is my favorite way to make them, topped with black beans, corn, pico, guacamole, sour cream, and lots of cheese. Here are my tricks to making your own pan of tater tot nachos. I’ll warn you, though…you may not want to share!

What are totchos?

Tater tot nachos, also known as totchos, are nachos where tater tots stand in for the tortilla chips. Mix up the toppings while the tots bake, and you’ve got a hearty appetizer or even dinner. It’s unclear who invented tachos, but they’ve captured the popular imagination, and you can now find them on restaurant and bar menus.

I first tasted totchos years ago at a restaurant in Montana. Around a table with my family and mugs of microbrew, we all experienced the magic of totchos. Their version of the crispy fried potatoes was topped with black beans, avocado mash, and a white queso sauce.

Between the “Mmmm’s,” Alex and I caught each other’s eyes. I knew I’d be coming up with a recipe of my own at home.

Ingredient ideas

This totchos recipe is a template. Like with standard nachos, you can load them up with just about anything you like. This list of toppings is the combination of ingredients that I love. You’ll just want a good contrast of dry and gooey ingredients.

In my opinion, the guacamole steals the show and is absolutely required here. Here’s what you’ll need for tater tot nachos:

• Frozen tater tots: Look for a high-quality brand with natural ingredients if possible! My favorite is Alexia, or try homemade tater tots if you’re feeling adventurous.
• Black beans
• Spices: Garlic powder, chili powder, cumin
• Cilantro
• Red onion and green onion
• Jalapeño pepper
• Mexican-style blend shredded cheese
• Pico de gallo
• Corn
• Guacamole
• Sour cream (or Vegan Nacho Cheese or Cashew Cream)

Tips for serving

Totchos is a very simple concept, but there are a few things to note about this recipe:

• Use either 1 pound or 1 ½ pounds. The topping amount should work for up to 1 ½ pounds of tots, so use more if you’re expecting hearty appetites.
• Prep the toppings while the tots bake. You’ll want to serve the tots right away when they’re hot, so use this time to chop and assemble everything.
• When getting creative with toppings, make sure to balance gooey with dry textures. The tots and melted cheese are dry on their own, so be generous with the dollops of guacamole and sour cream to carry the dish. Or, use a queso sauce!

More topping ideas

This totchos recipe is a template for you to get creative! There are lots of other ways to top your tater tot nachos. Here are some additional ideas to get your wheels turning:

• Taco meat or walnut taco meat
• Queso or vegan queso
• Refried beans
• Pickled red onions
• Pickled jalapenos
• Lettuce
• Black olives

Making them vegan

Tater tots are naturally vegan, so it’s easy to make this recipe dairy-free or a vegan recipe! Here’s what to do:

• Omit the cheese
• Use cashew cream or vegan nacho cheese in place of the sour cream. I highly recommend the nacho cheese, as it helps to add back the savory, cheesy flavor. If you don’t have to time to make homemade, Siete Foods also sells a great vegan queso.

More nacho recipes

Are you as big a nacho fan as I am? Try these spins on the classic:

• Go for the Ultimate Nachos Recipe.
• Try The BEST Vegan Nachos.
• Opt for Grillable Loaded Nachos.
• Try Greek Nachos with Cilantro Sauce.

01

Ultimate Nachos Recipe

02

The BEST Vegan Nachos

03

Grillable Loaded Nachos

04

Greek Nachos with Cilantro Sauce

This totchos recipe is…

Vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free, see the notes above.

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