These Totchos, also known as tater tot nachos, are crispy, cheesy, and layered with all the classic nacho toppings. They're the ultimate mash-up of two crowdpleasers, perfect for game day, an easy appetizer, or a fast weeknight dinner.
When it comes to snacks and appetizers, I take things very seriously. And these fully loaded Totchos are our family's go-to - a mash-up of two crowd favorites: crispy tater tots are easy, fun, and delicious, piled high with melty cheese and nacho toppings. They're a great 30-minute recipe for game day, feeding a crowd, or just making a casual weeknight dinner the whole family loves.
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Tater tots get baked to ultra-crispy, golden perfection before layering on seasoned beef, melty cheese, and a full toppings bar of fresh ingredients for an easy meal you can throw together quickly. They're a fun twist on the classic where every bite is completely customizable. Be prepared to make a second batch; they tend to disappear fast.
If you like this recipe, try some of our other favorite nacho ideas, like these BBQ Chicken Nachos and these easy Griddle Nachos, too.
What are totchos
Totchos are an incredibly delicious and fun food mash-up combining crispy tater tots and traditional nachos. Golden tater tots replace tortilla chips as the base in the "nachos", before layering on seasoned meat, melty cheese, and classic nacho toppings.
Two comfort foods in one, Totochos are a hearty, popular game-day snack, appetizer, or kid-approved dinner.
Why you'll love this recipe
- Extra Crispy Tots: Using high heat and baked in a single layer, these tots get super golden brown and crispy.
- Fully Customizable: Make this dish however you'd like - swap the protein, go vegetarian, or make it low-carb. Use any and all of the toppings you'd like, too.
- Easy To Make-Ahead for Party-Prep: This is a great recipe to prep in advance, and assemble right before it's time to serve, so the tots stay hot and crispy for a crowd.
- Versatile Dinner or Appetizer: Quick, easy, and flavorful, these can be served anytime - they easily double as a quick weeknight dinner or a game-day appetizer.
ingredients
- Tater Tots: Crispy and golden; use your favorite frozen store-bought brand.
- Ground Beef: We like 80/20 for the best flavor. Drain off any excess grease before layering.
- Taco Seasoning: Zesty, bold, and spiced. Use your favorite blend from the store.
- Cheddar Cheese: Freshly grate your own.
- Guacamole: Either homemade or store-bought works great as a fresh topping. Here's our favorite recipe.
- Sour Cream: Top with cool, tangy dollops.
- Tomatoes: For another fresh topping and pop of color.
How to Video
How to make totchos
1. Bake tots according to package directions at 425°F for 20 minutes.
2. While baking - Brown Ground Beef - add taco seasoning.
3. Pull tots from oven 5 minutes before they are finished, top with ground beef, and shredded cheese.
4. Return to the oven to melt the cheese and finish cooking the tots.
5. Top with desired toppings like guacamole, sour cream, jalapeños, pico, and cilantro.
expert tips
- Prep Fresh Toppings in Advance: Shred the cheese, dice the tomatoes, and get all of your fresh toppings ready while the tots are baking, so you can assemble right after they're out of the oven so they're served hot and fresh.
- Layer Strategically: Sprinkle the cheese right onto the hot tots first, so it gets nice and melty, and helps the other toppings stick well.
- Drain Beef Well: Don't skip draining the beef - excess grease can cause soggy tots.
- Keep Tots Warm: For a party, keep the tots on the warm oven setting (170-200°F), then top just before serving.
- Make Pico and Guacamole Ahead of Time: To save time, make fresh pico de gallo or guacamole up to a few hours ahead so assembly is fast once the tots are baked and hot.
substitutions & variations
- Protein Swaps: Try ground turkey, ground chicken, shredded rotisserie chicken, pulled pork, or a plant-based crumble for a slightly leaner or different flavor profile.
- Vegetarian Totchos: Skip the meat altogether and load up on black beans, corn, and extra veggies.
- Low-Carb Option: Try cauliflower tots in place of traditional potato tots for a lower-carb variety.
- Gluten-Free: Most frozen tater tots are naturally gluten-free, but if this is your preference, be sure to confirm the brand and taco seasoning are certified gluten-free.
- Buffalo Chicken Totchos: Swap the traditional taco seasoning for store-bought buffalo sauce and shredded chicken, then top with ranch or blue cheese.
- Breakfast Totchos: Top the crispy tots with scrambled eggs, breakfast sausage or crumbled bacon, and cheese for a morning version.
- Make Them Spicy: Add diced jalapeños to the beef, use pepper jack cheese, or finish with hot honey and a drizzle of hot sauce for extra heat.
- 10-Minute Homemade Queso: For even more melty cheese flavor, top the totchos with an easy homemade (or store-bought!) queso in addition to the shredded cheese. Our recipe for corn queso is super delicious.
storage
Totchos are best enjoyed fresh, right after baking and assembling, but if you have leftovers, store components separately in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat tots in the oven at 350° until hot and crispy, then add cheese and toppings when ready to serve.
You can prep fresh toppings in advance, and make the guac a few hours ahead of time - store them in airtight containers in the fridge until you're ready to bake the tots and assemble.
what to serve with totchos
Here are some toppings we love to make to serve with the tater tot nachos:
faqs
This can happen if you overcrowd the tots on the pan for their initial bake - they won't get crispy; they'll steam and turn soft. Or, if you add cheese and fresh toppings to the tots before they're crisped up enough, the totchos can have a soggy texture instead of crunchy.
Definitely. The air fryer is a great method. Cook the tots in the air fryer at 400° for 12-15 minutes, then add the cheese and meat until melty. Pull the tots and add the fresh toppings right before serving.
The main difference is that the tater tots are the base for the nachos instead of traditional tortilla chips.
Hold the crispy tater tots on a sheet pan in the oven on the warm setting (200°), and keep the fresh toppings separate, like a toppings bar. When ready to serve, add the cheese and meat to the tots, continue baking until melted, then add the rest of the fresh toppings right before serving.
More Shareable Appetizer Recipes
Recipe
Totchos (tater tot nachos)
Ingredients
- 32 oz Tater Tots
- 1 lb Ground Beef I used 93/7
- 3 tablespoon Taco Seasoning Link to ours
- 2 cups Sharp Cheddar Cheese Grated
- Guacamole optional
- Sour Cream optional
- tomatoes optional
Instructions
- Bake tots according to package directions at 425°F for 20 minutes 32 oz Tater Tots
- While baking - Brown Ground Beef - add in taco seasoning 1 lb Ground Beef 3 tbsp Taco Seasoning
- Pull tots from the oven 5 minutes before they are finished, top with ground beef and shredded cheese 2 cups Sharp Cheddar Cheese
- Return to the oven to melt the cheese and finish cooking the tots
- Top with desired toppings like guacamole, sour cream, jalapeños, pico, and cilantro. Guacamole Sour Cream tomatoes
Video
Notes
- Totchos are best enjoyed fresh, but if you have leftovers, store components separately in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat tots in the oven at 350° until hot and crispy, then add cheese and toppings when ready to serve.
- You can prep fresh toppings in advance, and make the pico and guac a few hours ahead of time - store them in airtight containers in the fridge until you're ready to bake the tots and assemble.
- Prep Fresh Toppings in Advance: Shred the cheese, dice the tomatoes and get all of your fresh toppings ready while the tots are baking, so you can assemble right after they're out of the oven so they're served hot and fresh.
- Layer Strategically: Sprinkle the cheese right onto the hot tots first, so it gets nice and melty, and helps the other toppings stick well.
- Drain Beef Well: Don't skip draining the beef - excess grease can cause soggy tots.
- Keep Tots Warm: For a party, keep the tots on the warm oven setting (170-200°F), then top just before serving.
- Make Pico and Guacamole Ahead of Time: To save time, make fresh pico de gallo or guacamole up to a few hours ahead so assembly is fast once the tots are baked and hot.
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