Crispy Baked Parmesan Tater Tots.
The most perfect Crispy Baked Parmesan Tater Tots. Made simply with shredded frozen potatoes, parmesan cheese, olive oil, herbs, garlic, and plenty of flaky sea salt. Each homemade, oven-baked tater tot is delicious…and even a little healthier too since these are not fried. The secret? Rolling each tot in a little olive oil before baking for a crispy on the outside, soft on the inside tater tot. Once the tots are out of the oven, sprinkle with garlicky parmesan cheese. SO GOOD. Serve these crispy tater tots with plenty of ketchup for dipping. The best appetizer, side dish, or game-day snack!
I’m not sure there’s a recipe that so many of my family members love more than these tots. At least not for most of my brothers. They pretty much lost it when they had heard what I made. Tater tots are everyone’s favorite, and while I’m never big on frozen, pre-packaged food, I can’t argue that a crispy tater is pretty darn delicious.
The story on these tots is pretty simple. My oldest brother, Creighton loves a tater tot more than any other human out there. They probably rank somewhere near the top of his all-time favorites. He’s been suggesting I make homemade tots for the longest time.
I had every intention to make these back in the fall but somehow managed not to get them tested before all the holiday craziness started. And then? I just completely forgot about taters tots…until a few days ago. I was looking at a note on my computer that I literally look at every single day. It has a mini to-do list that I make to remind myself of things. I was reading down my list when my eyes came upon the tots. Suddenly I knew exactly what I was making that day.
It was perfect because I was really looking for a healthier game-day style recipe to share. And suddenly, there were the tots.
With most of my brothers here in Colorado and the Super Bowl in just a couple of weeks, I knew it was the perfect time to finally figure out how to make homemade tater tots.
The one thing that was a must for me? Baking them instead of frying…ok, and making sure to make the recipe is as easy as can be. Because life is busy and no one has time to mess around with overly long, overly complicated recipes.
Let’s make some crispy baked parmesan tater tots!
As I mentioned, these tots are baked, not fried. And for the most part, they are pretty darn easy to make. They took some trial and error, but guys, this recipe is as close to perfect as it gets.
Start with frozen shredded potatoes or hash browns. I love the 365 brand. They come in one-pound bags and cook up so nicely. You’ll want to lightly thaw the potatoes before getting starting. Thawing the potatoes, releases some of the water and makes rolling the potatoes into tots much easier.
Now, this next step is totally optional but will give you a more authentic tater tot. I pulsed my potatoes in the food processor to chop the shreds up even more to replicate a real deal tater tot. If you don’t own a food processor, you can skip this step, but if you do own a food processor I think it’s a step worth taking.
Next, add pretty much everything to a big ole’ bowl and toss it all together. I wanted my tots to be flavorful, but still simple. So I added in parmesan cheese, which not only flavors the tots, but also helps bind them together in the oven and gives them a pretty golden color once baked.
For rolling, I love to use my cookie scoop to easily scoop the potatoes out of the bowl. I pack the potatoes into the scoop, then release the mix into my hand and pack it into a ball. It’s important to pack the potatoes into a ball before shaping them into a cylinder. If you try to make the cylinder right away, the mix will just crumble on you. When you have all the tots formed, generously brush them with olive oil. Using olive oil is key to the crispy exterior of these tots, so I recommend it over a spray.
Alright, and the last thing, bake um up! To get these guys crispy all around I flipped them three times throughout cooking. Two would be enough for sure, and if you’re feeling lazy, just go for two, but if you want a more classic tater tot look, flip three times. Works perfectly.
As soon as the tots come out of the oven, toss them with additional parmesan. Then serve them up with sea salt and lots of ketchup on the side for dipping. I feel like you can’t really do tater tots up without ketchup.
And that’s it. The rolling process takes a little time, but it’s easy, and trust me, the extra effort is worth it. These tots are GOOD. Like really friggin’ good, as my oldest brother would say.
Pretty excited to have this recipe for Sunday night dinners and game day snacks. You can’t beat them and I’m just going to warn you now, these tots are addicting. You’re going to eat the first batch faster than you ever thought possible. Sounds dramatic, but I’m serious.
I’m excited to now have this recipe in my back pocket for upcoming Sunday game days, and holiday parties. They’re a hit with everyone, even the kids!
Looking for other fun snacks/appetizers? Here are a few to try:
Garlic Parmesan Herb Butter Polenta Fries with Lemon Aioli
Spinach and Artichoke Stuffed Soft Pretzels
Everything Ranch Cheese and Pretzel Snack Mix
Lastly, if you make these easy Crispy Baked Parmesan Tater Tots, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Crispy Baked Parmesan Tater Tots
Oven baked and made simply with shredded potatoes, parmesan cheese, olive oil, herbs, garlic + salt...yum!
Ingredients
- 2 (16 ounce) bags frozen potatoes, thawed
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, plus more for coating
- 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 large pinch kosher salt
- 1/2 a clove garlic, grated
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme or oregano leaves
Instructions
-
1. Preheat the oven to 450° F. Grease a baking sheet with olive oil.
2. In a food processor, pulse the potatoes together until finely chopped. If you don't have a food processor, you can skip this step.
3. Add the potatoes to a large bowl. Add the olive oil, 1 cup parmesan, flour, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, and a large pinch of salt. Mix until combined and the mixture is moistened.
4. Scoop 1 tablespoon of the potatoes out of the bowl, pack it together with your hands until it holds a ball, then form into a cylinder and place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining mix. Don't stress about the shape, they don't need to be perfect. Brush/mist each tot with olive oil, be generous. Transfer to the oven and bake 10-12 minutes, slide a spatula underneath the tots, then flip and bake 10 more minutes. Flip once to the uncooked side, bake 10-12 minutes, until golden and crisp.
5. In a small bowl, combine 1-2 tablespoons parmesan, the garlic, and thyme/oregano. Sprinkle the warm tots with the parmesan. Serve tots with lots of ketchup for dipping. ENJOY.
Recipe Notes
To Make Ahead: the tots can be made up to 4 days ahead of time. To warm, just place the tots on a baking sheet and warm in a 400° oven for 10-15 minutes. Serve as directed.
To Freeze: bake the tots as directed through step 4. Allow to cool, then freeze on a baking sheet for 1-2 hours, until frozen. Transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 4 months. To warm, bake the frozen tots at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes, until warmed throughout. You can drizzle the tots in herb butter before or after freezing, it doesn't matter.
Our Favorite Recipes
Fudgy Avocado Brownies with Chocolate Fudge Frosting.
Wow – my kids would love these! I don’t think we can get frozen shredded potatoes in the UK – would it work with freshly grated potatoes or should I freeze in advance?
Hey Nia,
You could totally use fresh potatoes as long as you grate them. I hope you enjoy the recipe. Let me know how it turns out! xTieghan
Hi love your recipes but being in the uk we don’t have frozen shredded potatoes. Could this recipe be made using
Original mashed potatoes please? 🤞🤞
Hey Ann,
You could use fresh potatoes and grate them yourself. I hope you love this recipe. Let me know how they turn out! xTieghan
Hi, Tieghan, will you do a roundup of favorite game day recipes? Trying to make our Super Bowl festive just for the family.
Thank you, these tots look perfect.
Hey Lori,
Here are some faves:
https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/oven-toasted-garlic-herb-cheese-ravioli/
https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/everything-ranch-cheese-and-pretzel-snack-mix/
https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/buffalo-cheddar-soft-pretzel-twist-everything-spice/
https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/buffalo-ranch-chicken-pull-apart-bread/
Let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I love ALLL YOUR RECIPES! I don’t usually comment on recipes, but I have a bajillion potatoes in my basement, could I possibly use non-frozen potatoes? Could this recipe still work? I’ve never worked with frozen potatoes before so I’m not sure how the substitute would work. Thanks so much!
Hey Jessica,
Yes, totally fine to use those, just be sure to grate them. I hope you enjoy the recipe. Let me know how they turn out! xTieghan
Hi
I love all your recipes! These sound amazing for my grandkids. Can you make these with real potatoes? Would you cook and mash or shred them?
Hey Kathy,
Yes, totally fine to do, I would recommend grating them. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Are you using fresh grated Parmesan or the shaker type like Kraft?
Hey Sharon,
I used freshly grated parmesan. I hope you love these, let me know how they turn out! xTieghan
Would love to make these, but kinda asking the same question as some others – if you’re using fresh potatoes, how would you prep? Grated? Any issue with potato liquid? Cooked/uncooked? Boiled and mashed? Don’t believe I’ve ever seen frozen shredded potatoes around here. But I will look out for them! Thanks, KT
Hey Katie,
You will just want to grate the potatoes and drain any liquid and then follow the recipe as is:) I hope you love them! xTieghan
Amazing flavor..Im a tator tot lover as well so im very delighted to have another way to serve them to my family..
Yummy
Hey Sandra,
I am so thrilled that you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for trying it out!! xTieghan
These look so delicious! Can’t wait to try them. Could you use refrigerated shredded potatoes instead of the frozen hash browns? Either way I can’t wait to try these! Thank you for all your wonderful recipes!
Hey Lynne,
Yes, those will work just fine. I hope you enjoy the recipe. Let me know how they turn out! xTieghan
Any chance you could help me with how to make these in an air fryer instead of the oven? Thank you for so many wonderful recipes!
Hey there,
I have not tested this, but I would do 10-12 minutes at 400, then flip and do another 10-12 minutes. Let me know how they turn out! xTieghan
This recipe looks amazing. Have you tried them in an air fryer?
Hey Cheryl,
Thanks so much, I haven’t tested in an air fryer, but I’m sure it would work well. I hope you love the recipe. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Can you clarify the cook time? I don’t quite follow the last flip and bake?
Hey Catie,
You are going to bake 10-12 minutes, then flip, bake another 10 minutes, then flip, and then bake another 10-12 minutes. I hope this helps! xTieghan
Hey there!
We use to be able to buy shredded hash browns but now we can’t! Would the small cubes ones work? Or would you just suggest fresh grated? I find when substituting for fresh in other recipes it takes longer to cook. What do you think? Thanks I just love your recipes ❤️
Nisha
Hey Nisha,
I would just use fresh potatoes and grate them yourself, that will work just fine! I hope you love the recipe. Let me know how they turn out. xTieghan
Hello!
Do you need to remove any moisture from the potatoes? Or just use them as is (grated fresh or thawed)?
Hey Dalia,
You can just use them as is. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Hi, they look amazing. I live in UK and you embrionem fresh potatos could be used, do I need to boil them first or grate raw potatoes??
Hey Iwona,
I would grate your potatoes and then follow the recipe as is. I hope you love them! xTieghan
Can you use regular potatoes not frozen ?
Hey Michelle,
Yes, that will be fine to use, you will just need to grate them first. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Hello! Our three year old daughter loves tots and so do we! How excited I was to see your recipe for a healthier version! Can’t wait to make them! I agree that fresh potatoes would be my preference so I was glad
to see someone else was thinking this too!
Hey there,
I hope you love this recipe, let me know how it turns out! xTieghan
I made these tonight as a side for burger night, and they did not disappoint.
My husband does all the cooking, but occasionally I like to surprise him by attempting to make something, and I ALWAYS use HBH recipes. The directions are so easy to follow, and I love that I can see Tieghan do a walk through on Instagram first, it makes the recipes less intimidating.
If you want a more traditional tater tot (read: bland), I’d reduce the amount of spices.
I used regular potatoes that I shredded, and out them in the strainer for 20 minutes.
Overall great recipe, as always. Thanks Tieghan!
Hey Joanne,
Thanks so much for making the recipe, I am delighted it was enjoyed! Have a great weekend:) xTieghan
Loved these but mine turned out flat. Any advice on keeping them more “tater tot” shape. Thank you!!!
Hey Katie,
Sorry to hear these were flat for you, was there anything you adjusted? I would just continue to form them with your hands until they feel as though they are going to hold. I hope this makes sense! xTieghan
I love the idea of a homemade food that is normally pre-made so I was all about these! I made them this evening and had a ton of fun. They turned out crispy and delicious! I did double the spices and flour for my own personal preference but they turned out wonderfully. My friends couldn’t get enough!
Hey Jayci,
Thanks so much for making the recipe, I am delighted it was enjoyed! Have a great weekend:) xTieghan
These tots were amazing. I’m not a big tater tot person but, I absolutely loved them. Thank you!
Hey Tricia,
I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe. Thanks a lot for giving it a try and happy Sunday! xTieghan
These look so good!! Hoping to make these for the Super Bowl, but trying to go dairy free. Do you think I could sub Nutritional Yeast for the Parmesan? Thank you! 🙂
Hey Kelsey,
Yes, I think that would work well! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I failed with my attempt. Any thoughts on why the little barrels basically collapsed on the tray and looked more like little pancakes. They tasted fine but did not resemble tater tots. I wondered if an egg or egg white would help keep them together?
Hey Janet,
So sorry about this, I really take my time while molding the tots to make sure they are held together and the shape that I want them:) xTieghan
I totally overbaked the first batch and my husband still loved them! Second batch, with the correct baking time, was even better. Making the tots was a little time consuming but entirely worth it. I froze most of them to use for a future dinner.
Hey Meghan,
I am so glad the recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! xTieghan
These tots are delicious! I had to roll a few to get the hang of packing the potatoes into balls so I could shape them, but it was worth the effort! I liked the combo of the parm, garlic and thyme on top. This recipe will be made again! Thanks for your creativity, Tieghan!
Hey Suzi,
I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! xTieghan
If I’m using fresh potatoes would I cook them first or just grate them?
Hey Heather,
No need to cook them first, you can just grate them. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
These are the best tater tots. Easy recipe and feel pretty fancy to jazz up any meal.
Hey Tammy,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe, I am so glad it was enjoyed! Have a great weekend:) xTieghan
Pretty sure I did something wrong because they taste fabulous and nobe of your recipes have ever failed me 😂. I had to use fresh potatoes because i couldn’t find frozen potatoes anywhere in Belize. Maybe that was mas my mistake but taste wose theyre great ❤️
Thanks so much for trying the recipe Maria!! xTieghan
Hi,
After grating fresh potatoes, do I have to cook them or can I just add the other ingredients and bake directly? Sorry, I’m not sure if the frozen potatoes come cooked? Thanks
Hey Andie,
No need to cook the potatoes, you can follow the recipe as is! I hope you love them! xTieghan
Do you have any advice when using fresh potatoes? I tried this recipes and used fresh after not being able to buy frozen in my grocery store. They turned brown immediately after grating and were very wet throughout the process. So the final tots were a disturbingly dark brown and had a strange consistency. Help!
Hey Kyle,
So sorry about this, I used frozen and haven’t tested this with fresh potatoes. xTieghan
I really wanted to love these, but they were really messy to make. The flavor was good, but they did not hold their shape well at all.
Hey Dana,
So sorry you had issues with the tots, let me know if I can help in anyway! xTieghan
Taste was great but the tots stuck to my pan despite a very generous coating of olive oil and then the shape was ruined trying to get them unstuck. Don’t know what I could do to make sure they don’t stick so intensely. Tried parchment paper on a round too but that also didn’t help.
Hey Nicole,
So sorry they stuck for you, not sure what else to suggest besides more olive oil! xTieghan
I made these tonight. They tasted amazing but they totally flattened and looked like potato pancakes instead of tots. What did I do wrong? I followed the directions. I did make them a day ahead and cooked them tonight. Would that matter??? Either way they still taste amazing!! Served them with the crispy quinoa burgers… sooo good !!
Hey Rachel,
I am delighted you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for giving it a try! I really take my time to form them to make sure they are the shape that I want them to be. xTieghan
Huge hit! Adults and children loved! Love tater tots that don’t have the frozen taste!
Thank you!
Hey Amanda,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am thrilled that it was enjoyed! Happy Valentine’s Day❤️ xTieghan
Not gonna sugar coat it- these were an epic fail. Half baked, and Serious Eats make up close to 50% of my weekly entree’s, sides, etc. Absolutely love your blog.
Not sure, but the mistake was proton my end. They didn’t hold together well, but most of all rather bland and uninteresting.
Hey Lee,
So sorry you did not enjoy the recipe, please let me know if I can help in anyway! xTieghan
Obsessed with these! Instead of baking, we used an air fryer (at the insistence of my husband) and they came out incredible.
Hey Ashley,
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad it was enjoyed! Happy Sunday:) xTieghan
This is so delicious!! Going to be a regular in my kitchen for sure!
Hey there,
Thanks a bunch for giving the recipe a try, I am so glad it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Can I make these ahead in the morning and store in fridge until ready to bake for dinner? Also, can I freeze unbaked?
Thanks
Hey Amy,
Yes, both of those options will work well for you. I hope you enjoy the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Hi! Do you think this would work with sweet potatoes? I did see your sweet potato tater tot recipe too but was hoping to have more of the tater tot texture versus it being more mashed. Would it work if I feared sweet potatoes here? Thank you!
Hey Christine,
That should work just fine! I hope you love the recipe, let me know how it turns out! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan! Question on this: do you have an approximate number of tots this makes? I want to make these for Easter and I’m trying to figure out around how many I’ll get. Thanks!!
Hey Beth,
You should get about 35-40 tater tots. I hope you love the recipe and happy Easter! xTieghan
Would grating fresh potatoes and using them work?
Hey there,
Yes, that will work well for you! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Hi! Any suggestions on what bonding agent I could use instead of the cheese to make them dairy free?
Thank you!!!
Hey Kim,
I would recommend using a dairy free cream cheese, most grocery stores should have that option for you. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
These were so yummy! I used fresh potatoes so they were a little more free formed. Will def make again!
Hey Elizabeth,
Awesome! I am so glad this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! xTieghan
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