Treat yourself to these mouthwatering Buffalo Tater Tots! These scrumptious Tatchos (Totchos) are quick, easy to make, and impossible to resist. They make the perfect spicy snack or game day appetizer!
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Football season is here. I'm not a huge sports fan, but I'm from the Green Bay area originally, so I have to root for the Packers. Just don't tell anyone from Wisconsin that I care way more about the food than the game itself!
Is there anything better than game day food? It's typically full of carbs, cheesy, and fun to eat. Definitely a guilty pleasure, and these spicy Buffalo Tater Tots (also known as Tatchos or Totchos) totally fit that bill!
In case you're not familiar with tatchos, let me explain. They're simply loaded tots, or nachos made with tater tots. And this recipe has a fun, spicy twist that's perfect for anyone who loves buffalo sauce.
You're going to love this recipe, and your friends and family won't be able to resist it either! I mean, who doesn't love a big bowl of hot, crunchy potatoes? And you know what makes them even better? Lots of delicious toppings!
Serve these loaded tater tot bites for a spicy snack or for any party. They're so easy to make, and there is very little hands on cooking time, which means more time to hang out with your guests!
Ready to get started? You'll find all the details below!
Ingredients
This tater tot appetizer uses basic, easy to find ingredients! Here's what you'll need:
- Tots - You'll need a large bag of frozen tater tots (I like Ore-Ida).
- Sauce - To make the homemade Buffalo Sauce, you'll need butter, garlic, Frank's RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce (it really is the best), and sriracha sauce. Sriracha isn't a traditional ingredient, but it's delicious and adds some extra kick ... feel free to leave it out, if you prefer.
- Toppings - You'll need a crumbly blue cheese and a couple green onions for topping the tots. You could also use ranch dressing if you're not a blue cheese fan.
This Buffalo Tots recipe is naturally vegetarian and nut free. Depending on the brand of tater tots you use, it can also be gluten free (check labels carefully if you have an allergy). And you can even make it vegan with a few substitutions ... check out the Variations section below for tips!
You'll Also Need
You'll need a large baking sheet (these sturdy baking sheets are my favorite) to bake the tots, as well as a small saucepan to make the buffalo sauce.
Totchos (or tatchos) are tater tots that have been loaded with different toppings. The original version had a Mexican twist, and the name is a combination of tater tots + nachos.
How to Make Buffalo Tater Tots (Totchos)
These spicy, loaded tater tots couldn't be easier to make! You'll find a detailed recipe card below, but here's an overview of the steps:
- Bake the tater tots. You'll begin by baking the tater tots until they're golden and crispy.
- Make the sauce. When the tots are almost done cooking, start the homemade sauce. To make it, you'll sauté a little garlic in butter, then stir in the hot sauce. Bring the mixture to a boil, and you're done (easy peasy).
- Top the tots. To serve, place the crispy tater tots on a large plate or platter, then drizzle them with the sauce. Sprinkle the crumbled blue cheese and green onions over the top, then serve. Tip: If you have more than one layer of tots, make sure to drizzle some sauce in between the layers. Try to get a little sauce on every bite.
And that's all there is to it ... your Buffalo Tater Tots are ready to eat!
Variations
This Buffalo Totchos recipe is fun and easy to customize! Here are some ideas to try:
- Ranch - Not a fan of blue cheese? Drizzle the tots with ranch dressing instead ... or use both!
- Feta - You could also replace the blue with crumbled feta cheese.
- Extra Cheesy - Melt some cheddar jack (or a similar cheese) over the baked tater tots before adding the other toppings.
- Milder Sauce - To make the buffalo sauce less spicy, add an extra tablespoon or two of butter, and leave out the sriracha.
- Other Toppings - You can really have fun loading up these tots with different toppings! Try these vegan bacon bits, chopped celery, cherry tomatoes, diced red onions (or pickled onions), or chopped avocado.
- Gluten Free - Make sure to use gluten free tater tots, such as Ore-ida (or one of these other brands of GF tots). And check all the other labels carefully.
- Vegan + Dairy Free - To make this recipe vegan / dairy free, use a plant based butter to make the sauce, and replace the cheese with a vegan ranch dressing.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these yummy Buffalo Tatchos at any party, and they won't last long! They pair perfectly with these Easy Beergarita or Cuba Libre drinks, and they're delicious served alongside other easy appetizers like this Simple Guacamole, Pigs in a Blanket, Dill Dip, Crostini, Hummus and Pita Chips, or this Black Bean and Corn Salsa.
Storage
To keep the crispy texture, make sure to bake the potatoes right before serving. However, you can feel free to make the buffalo sauce a day or two ahead of time. Refrigerate the sauce until you're ready to use it, then reheat before using.
Related Recipes
If you liked these spicy tater tots, then you'll enjoy these other buffalo recipes, too:
- Buffalo Cauliflower Dip
- Buffalo Tofu with Blue Cheese Dip
- Buffalo Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
- Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
Looking for more game day recipes? I've got you covered with this roundup of over 100 Vegetarian Game Day recipes. And I swear, each one looks better than the next!
Buffalo Tater Tots
Ingredients
- 1 (32 ounce / 907 grams) bag frozen tater tots
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 large clove garlic, minced
- ½ cup Frank's RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce
- 1 teaspoon sriracha sauce
- ¼ to ⅓ cup crumbled blue cheese
- 2 large green onions, minced (green parts only)
Instructions
- Bake tater tots according to package directions until crispy and golden brown. (Mine took 30 minutes at 425°F / 218°C.)
- About 5 minutes before the tater tots are done, melt butter in a small sauce pan over medium heat.
- Add garlic and sauté until fragrant, stirring constantly (about 30 seconds).
- Stir in hot sauce and sriracha.
- Bring sauce to a boil, then remove from heat.
- Place tater tots on a platter, then drizzle with buffalo sauce. Sprinkle with blue cheese and green onions.
- Serve immediately. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Wow, these look so good! I've never tried a recipe like this before, so I'm really curious to see what it tastes like =)
They're delish, Diego 🙂 Hope you enjoy the recipe!