Cheese-Stuffed Tater Tots

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These cheese-stuffed tater tots are a fun appetizer for a casual get together. Serve with whatever dipping sauce you enjoy.

a pile of cheese stuffed tater tots served with a pink dipping sauce.
Prep Time:
40 mins
Cook Time:
5 mins
Total Time:
45 mins
Servings:
4

These indulgent cheese-stuffed tater tots are simply irresistible.

Cheese-Stuffed Tater Tots Ingredients

These are the ingredients you’ll need to make this cheese-stuffed tater tot recipe: 

  • Eggs: Eggs keep the mixture from drying out and help bind the batter together.  
  • Flour: All-purpose flour helps with browning and gives the tater tots structure. 
  • Seasonings: The cheese-stuffed tater tots are seasoned with salt, black pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.  
  • Frozen hash browns: You’ll need a (thawed) package of frozen hash brown potatoes. 
  • Cheese: Stuff the tater tots with smoked Cheddar or Gouda cheese. 
  • Oil: Fry the homemade cheese-stuffed tater tots in peanut oil. 

How to Make Cheese-Stuffed Tater Tots

You’ll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here’s a brief overview of what you can expect when you make cheese-stuffed tater tots at home: 

  1. Combine the eggs and seasonings in a bowl. 
  2. Add the hash browns to the bowl and toss. 
  3. Divide the hash brown mixture into 32 portions.
  4. Place a portion of the mixture in the palm of your hand, place a cheese cube in the center, and form a tater tot. 
  5. Arrange the shaped tots on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Freeze for 30 minutes.
  6. Fry the tater tots until crispy and golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

Recipe Tip


You can also make these cheese-stuffed tater tots in an air fryer! Here’s how: 

  1. Toss tots with 1 to 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil. 
  2. Air fry in a single layer at 380 degrees F for 15 minutes, turning once. 
  3. Keep cooked tots warm in a 200 degree F (95 degrees C) oven while air frying the rest.

Test Kitchen Tips

This recipe was developed in our test kitchen. Check out some tips and tricks from culinary experts that might make the cooking process easier:

  • Thaw the hash browns in the refrigerator overnight to cut down on prep time. 
  • Serve these stuffed tater tots with homemade spicy aioli (whisk together ⅓ cup mayonnaise and 2 teaspoons adobo sauce from a can of chipotles in adobo). 
  • “You could really use any kind of cheese (like pepper jack or slices of mozzarella string cheese) and any kind of seasoning that you like,” according to recipe developer Juliana Hale. “Of course they’d be good dipped in ranch dressing.

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 4 servings

  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten

  • 2 tablespoons all purpose flour

  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika

  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1 (30-ounce) frozen shredded hash brown potatoes, thawed

  • 4 ounces smoked Cheddar or gouda cheese, cut into 32 cubes

  • 1 quart peanut oil

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients.

    all ingredients to make cheese stuffed tater tots gathered on a kitchen counter.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. Combine eggs, flour, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder in a large bowl.

    eggs, flour, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder combined in a medium bowl.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. Place half of the hash browns in a food processor. Pulse briefly once or twice until most of the shreds are about 1/2-inch long. It’s fine if some of the shreds stay long.

    working in batches thawed frozen hash browns being pulsed in a food processor

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios


  4. Add hash browns to the bowl with egg mixture. Repeat with remaining hash browns. Toss to coat.

    chopped hash browns added to egg and spice mixture.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  5. Divide hash brown mixture in thirty-two 1 1/2-tablespoon portions (a #40 scoop is great for this).

    tater tot mixture being scooped into balls and placed on a parchment lined baking tray.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  6. Working over the sink, place a portion of the mixture in the palm of your hand. Place a cheese cube in the center.

    a cheese cube being placed in the center of a flattened seasoned potato cake.

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  7. Close your hand to press the hash browns mixture around the cheese, pressing and shaping to form a short cylinder, squeezing out excess liquid as you go.

    hand closing potato mixture around cheese cube.

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  8. Place shaped tots on a parchment lined baking sheet.When all tots are shaped, freeze until they hold their shape, 30 minutes.

    unbaked cheese stuffed tater tots placed on a parchment lined baking sheet.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  9. Heat oil in a large heavy saucepan over medium heat to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Fry 4 to 6 tots at a time until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes per batch. Drain on paper towels. Keep fried tots warm in a 200 degree F (95 degrees C) oven while frying the rest. 

    tater tots being fried until golden-brown.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Nutritional Information:

We have determined the nutritional value of oil for frying based on a retention value of 10% after cooking. Amount will vary depending on cooking time and temperature, ingredient density, and specific type of oil used.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

933 Calories
69g Fat
66g Carbs
16g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Calories 933
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 69g 89%
Saturated Fat 15g 76%
Cholesterol 121mg 40%
Sodium 2054mg 89%
Total Carbohydrate 66g 24%
Dietary Fiber 6g 22%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 16g 31%
Vitamin C 11mg 13%
Calcium 259mg 20%
Iron 2mg 11%
Potassium 827mg 18%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.