Tater tots aren’t just for eating out! Use leftover mashed potatoes to make these Homemade Tater Tots that just may be better than the fast food version.
Serve these homemade tater tots up with ketchup, homemade Chick Fil A Sauce, or even Homemade Ranch Dressing!
Tater tots have always been one of my little guilty pleasures. Whenever they are on a menu, I just have to get them.
There’s something about biting into the crispy potato gems that I just can’t get enough of.
But what if I told you that you can make them at home and that they are even better than the fast food tater tots?
And that you can make them with leftovers?
Yes, I know leftover mashed potatoes are hard to come by sometime (or is that just in my house with my mashed potato loving children?) But if you do happen to have some leftover, make sure you save them so that you can turn them into these delicious little bites the next day.
I know there are a lot of recipes out there using grated potatoes, which gives you more of that classic tater tot texture, but believe me when I say there is some magic with these mashed potato filled tots. It just works, and I may never go back to regular tots again!
Ingredients
- Mashed Potatoes: The biggest thing to keep in mind for the potatoes is that they need to be cold. If you don’t have leftover mashed potatoes and you are mashing potatoes just for this recipe, you’ll want to make them several hours in advance and refrigerate them until they are nice and cold.
- Eggs: You will need 2 large eggs.
- Flour: The flour will help bind everything together.
- Salt: The salt is very important! You want very well seasoned potato filling.
- Panko Bread Crumbs: I have only tested this recipe with panko bread crumbs, which are larger and lighter than traditional bread crumbs.
- Oil: You can use any neutral cooking oil with a high smoke point. I would suggest vegetable oil, canola oil, or avocado oil.
How to Make Homemade Tater Tots
STEP 1: Start by mixing together all of your filling ingredients. Make sure to season it well.
STEP 2: Take about 1 tablespoon of the mixture and drop it into a bowl of the bread crumbs. Roll in around until it is coated. The mixture will be too sticky to form before it is rolled in the bread crumbs, but once coated, you should be able to pick it up.
STEP 3: Use your hands to form the tater tot shape. These don’t need to be perfect, just a cylinder shape. I like to form all of the tater tots before I start frying.
STEP 4: Working in batches, add some of the tater tots to hot oil that is about 1 inch deep in a skillet. Fry until golden brown. I like to keep them moving while they are in the oil to ensure all sides brown evenly.
STEP 5: Transfer the hot tots to a paper towel lined plate and immediately sprinkle with some coarse salt. Continue to fry the tater tots until they are all done.
Serve the tots hot.
Tips and Tricks
We tested these in a few different sizes. The 1 tablespoon size was my favorite, while the 1/2 tablespoon size was my husbands favorite. It’s all preference, but be aware that the cook time my be slightly different depending on the size.
If your mashed potatoes are super thin, you may need to add extra flour. The mixture will be sticky before adding it to the bread crumbs, but it should be thick enough to stay together.
These are definitely best hot from the oil, but if they do cool off or if you have leftovers, you can reheat them in the refrigerator.
Feel free to get creative! Add in bacon bits or cheese or minced green onions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Technically, yes you can. But when we tested it, they were not even close to as delicious. But if you want to try it, spray them with nonstick cooking spray and bake in a 425ºF oven until golden brown.
We actually had very similar results in the air fryer that we did in the oven. They tater tots did crisp up, but there were not nearly as good as when they were fried.
Yes! You’ll want to freeze the fried tots once they have cooled down. Once ready to serve them, cook them in a 400ºF oven until they are warmed through.
More Potato Side Dishes
Baked French Fries
Ranch Potatoes
Baked Potato Wedges
Sweet Potato Hash
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Homemade Tater Tots
Ingredients
- 3 cups leftover mashed potatoes ,cold
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- salt
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- neutral cooking oil, for frying
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the mashed potatoes, eggs, and flour. Season to taste with salt. (If your mashed potatoes weren’t seasoned, make sure to go generous on the salt.) Stir to combine.
- Place the panko bread crumbs in a bowl. Drop about a tablespoon of the mixture into the crumbs, then roll to coat. Use your hands to shape into a tater tot shape. Place on a plate or baking sheet. Continue with the rest of the potatoes.
- Heat about an inch of oil in a heavy duty skillet over medium heat. (I like to use my cast iron skillet.) Heat the oil to 350ºF.**
- Place the tots in the hot oil in batches, cooking until they are golden brown, flipping often. Remove to a paper towel lined plate and immediately sprinkle with coarse salt.
- Continue until all of the tater tots have been cooked.
aimee @ like mother like daughter says
Oh my gosh, I love tator tots. These look so good!
Patti says
any chance these could be made in the oven instead of deep frying them? Any suggestions to try?
Deborah says
I haven’t tried baking them. If you do try, I would suggest spraying them with cooking spray so that they can crisp up on the outside, and probably bake them at a pretty high temperature. If you try, please let me know how they turn out!
Frances Quinn says
I usually use leftover mashed potatoes to make potato cakes. I add an egg, some chopped onions and some flour and drop a huge tablespoon full into the oil/bacon drippings and mash it down to form a patty. We all love them. I am, however, going to try your Tater Tots and see how they float. Thank you.
Danielle Lawrence says
These were so good… I used sour cream, bacon bits, cheese, and garlic (because I can’t ever cook without it) and they turned out delicious. I felt like I was eating at a restaurant or something, lol..
Thanks for the awesome idea
Cassy says
Have you tried freezing these? I love the concept but really need them to freeze well. I do OAMC so dinner always comes from the freezer. Thank you for a great looking recipe.
Deborah says
@Cassy, I haven’t tried freezing them, so I’m not sure how they would turn out. I think it would be worth a try, though!
Abby says
These are so great! So delicious that i personally think they dont need catsup.(: Thanks for the great recipe.
Deborah says
@Abby, so glad you liked them!!
Judy says
I have made a similiar version of this little gems for my family for many years, and if you don’t mind a few suggestions.
You can add lots of different extras to “kick it up a notch” like these
JUST CHOP THEM UP AND ADD THEM IN:
BACON, ONIONS, PEPPERS, PEPPERONI, MOZZERELLA, CHEDDAR, MUSHROOMS, GARLIC.
I’M SURE YOU CAN THINK OF MORE YUMMY CHOICES YOUR FAMILY WOULD ENJOY.
Deborah says
@Judy, love these suggestions!! I’m definitely going to try some next time I have some leftover mashed potatoes!
Kim Naik says
My Gramma is Czech. They pretty much only eat potatoes and cabbage there, and beets (or so it seems, based on the recipes!). She used to make these patties that reminded me of tater tots – she used mashed potatoes, just like this recipe, but she shredded a raw potato and mixed it into the mashed ones. Might have to give that a shot to see how they come out! Thanks for reminding me of that dish! My kids will love them!
Deborah says
@Kim Naik, I love the idea of adding in some grated potato – I’m going to have to try that next time!
Emma S. says
Just tried this recipe. Got very frustrated with the texture of the mixture and the time it took to shape it. I stopped half way through and threw the batter away. It is not a recipe I would try again and not something I would share with friends.
Deborah says
@Emma S., so sorry you didn’t like them and that they didn’t turn out like you would have liked. Better luck next time!
sally @ sallys baking addiction says
Deborah, my bf would go NUTS if I showed him this recipe. I’d be making tater tots everyday for dinner. Which… well… wouldn’t be so bad. LOVE IT!
Heather@French Press says
I’ve been wanting to try these – saw something similar on the Pioneer Woman – they look amazing!
Aly says
What fun! These look so cute and might get me to try deep frying. 🙂
kellypea says
Ha! All husbands must be related! I keep a jar of peanuts in our cupboard so he thinks there’s “something to eat.” Cute tots — my mother used to make patties with our left over mashed taters and we loved them. These sound so tasty 🙂
Vera Zecevic - Cupcakes Garden says
I’ve never tried this recipes but I really like it! I will put this meal on my bucket list 🙂
Heather of Kitchen Concoctions says
Eric says that all the time! I think because he doesn’t want to make anything and is so used to me cooking all the time, because like you it is rare if I don’t got to the store at least once a week! I always make homemade French fries but never think to make homemade tater tots this is on the list next time I have leftover mashed potatoes lying around!
Liz says
I never thought of making my own tator tots! My family would LOVE these 🙂
Javelin Warrior says
I love that you made these from scratch – and so easy! They look so tasty and such a great alternative to the pre-packaged stuff… I’m featuring this post in today’s Food Fetish Friday (with a link-back and attribution). I hope you have no objections and thanks always for keeping me inspired with new ideas…
DessertForTwo says
What a fabulous idea! I have leftover mashed potatoes from last night! I’m so making these!
Tracey says
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thrown away mashed potatoes. This is a brilliant idea. Thanks!
Madeleine says
Yummy! Mashed potatoes are on the menu for tonight – maybe we’ll just have to make a double batch so I can make these!
Annamaria @ bakewell junction says
I love tater tots. I’ll have to try this recipe. Thanks.
Cassie says
You definitley aren’t alone…my husband does that to me all the time. And I’m definitely using this recipe. It’s so innovative!
Sweetsugarbelle says
TATERTOTS are my FAVE!!! I had no idea uncoils make them!
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious says
I’m not much of a leftover person either but I hate wasting food. But this is the absolute perfect way to use up some leftover mashed potatoes. Everyone loves tater tots, and you could stuff so many at one sitting 🙂
Monet says
Yes! I think repurposing leftovers is key! These tater tots look heavenly. Along with a big squirt of ketchup. I would love to have these for dinner tomorrow night. Thank you for sharing! Now off to dream delicious dreams!
Emily says
These look so good but I have such a fear of frying. I fry something maybe once a year. Could I maybe pay for your leftovers-turned-tater-tots? 😉
Shawn @ I Wash...You Dry says
Deborah, don’t take this the wrong way, but…I love you. This is incredible! We love tater tots, and what a great way to use up the leftover mashed potatoes!
Tracy says
You are definitely not the only one hearing complaints about “no food,” lol. I love that these are made with leftover mashed potatoes. I can’t wait to try them!
Blond Duck says
These look so much better than frozen ones! And I hate it that an hour I get back from the store Ben’s whining there’s no food!
Sasha says
This is pretty genius. I had no idea it was this easy. I make similar things except I pan-fry them instead, and add cheese sometimes.
Jenny Flake says
I will be making these asap! How yum!!!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
What a great idea, these look so golden and delish!
Joanne says
I actually ADORE leftovers! But I also adore tater tots. Need these.
teresa says
yes! this happens to us all the time, or i come home from a huge grocery trip and we decide to eat out that night, go figure.
i LOVE these. it so happens that i have leftover mashed potatoes in the fridge today, guess what i’m making 😉
Erika - The Teenage Taste says
OH. MY. GOSH! This is just awesome! I am now regretting throwing out last night’s mashed potato leftovers… 😛
Erin @ Texanerin Baking says
I LOVE this! I live in Germany where we don’t have tater tots (which is a tragedy, I know) and have tried making the bake / potato chip version before, but it took forever. I will definitely try these at some point! Like when I have leftover mashed potatoes. Which I hate. My husband and I actually have reverse roles over here. He happily eats all the leftovers, I don’t. 🙂
benu says
Sure we have tater tots in germany… they are called kroketten… not always tasty but İt’s ok. 😉
Jen says
I get the “there’s nothing to eat” thing all the time too…..with the full fridge and pantry too….as a matter of fact I got it last saturday with a 9×13 pan of brownies and monkey bread sitting on the counter….
and he never eats the leftovers either, even though he swears he’s going to eat them for lunch the next day… never does….
You are not alone….
Cecilia says
Here in Argentina we call them “bombas de papa”, potato bombs, and we put a dice of mozzarella cheese in the middle so it melts when you fry them. So yummy!
Megan's Cookin' says
Makes me want to make mashed potatoes so I can have the leftovers to make these. Look terrific!
shelly (cookies and cups) says
I’m thinking that homemeade tater tots would be my new favorite food!
Ashley says
Oh maaaaaan these look fabulous! I wish my husband wasn’t on a low carb kick right now… 😉
Maria says
Josh loves tots. We will have to try these!
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
Well aren’t these just the best looking little tater tots ever! NICE!
Bev @ Bev Cooks says
GET. OUT.
Ali @ Gimme Some Oven says
Wow – so fun! I’ve never tried these before, but now I’m inspired. Would really love to try this with sweet potatoes!! 🙂
bellini says
I do love tater tots!!!
Colleen @ What's Baking in the Barbershop?! says
What a great way to use leftovers!!! This homemade version looks WAY better than any store-bought variety!
Rosa says
Mmmhh, what a delicious speciality! Those tater tots look amazing.
Cheers,
Rosa