Name: How to Cook Frozen Tater Tots in an Air Fryer
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 lb frozen tater tots; avocado oil spray; 0.5 tsp salt

Skip the oven, and cook your tots in the air fryer! With just a bit of spray oil and salt, you can have super crispy tots quicker than ever. It’s quick and easy to learn How to Cook Frozen Tater Tots in an Air Fryer!

Appetizers

20 m

American

Project Meal Plan

April 25, 2026

Projectmealplan.com

How to Cook Frozen Tater Tots in an Air Fryer

How to Cook Frozen Tater Tots in an Air Fryer cover

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How to Cook Frozen Tater Tots in an Air Fryer

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Ingredients

Warning0 allergens identified

How to Cook Frozen Tater Tots in an Air Fryer

1 lb frozen tater tots

avocado oil spray

½ tsp salt

Instructions

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Instructions

Place 16 ounces of frozen tater tots into your air fryer basket in a single layer, working in batches if you have a small air fryer. Spray tots quickly with avocado spray oil. Add a sprinkle of salt over the tots.

Set the air fryer to 350F and air fry for 15-20 minutes, shaking the basket every 5 minutes for maximum crisp factor. Tots are done when they’re golden brown and crispy to your liking!

If you ended up with extra tots, that’s okay! The air fryer does a wonderful job reheating soggy, cold tots. Add leftover refrigerated tots to your air fryer basket. Air fry at 350F for 6-8 minutes, giving the basket a good shake halfway through. No need to apply more oil. The tots are done when they’re hot and crispy again. Add more salt or seasoning to your liking.

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Don't Shake the Basket Too Early 🛑
Let tater tots cook undisturbed for the first 8-10 minutes at 400°F to develop a golden, crispy exterior before shaking the basket.
Lightly Coat, Don't Drench 💨
Use avocado oil spray in 2-3 short bursts rather than heavy coatings—excess oil makes tots greasy instead of crispy.
Season After Cooking for Maximum Crispness 🧂
Apply salt in the final 1-2 minutes or immediately after cooking while tots are still hot to prevent moisture absorption that softens the exterior.
Arrange in Single Layer Without Crowding 📐
Spread tots in a single layer with minimal overlap to allow hot air circulation; crowding steams them instead of crisping them.
Preheat Your Air Fryer Fully ⏱️
Run your air fryer empty at 400°F for 3-5 minutes before adding tots—this ensures immediate, even crisping from the moment they enter.