In recent years, chefs across the country have gotten more creative with their restaurant menus. Everyone loves potatoes, and tater tots are crunchy potato treats that pair well with many menu options. When tater tots started making their way onto adult menus, chefs began to prepare them alongside tantalizing sauces and got creative with their recipes. A Yelp search for this tiny potato wonder turned up 20 pages of restaurants serving them in the Miami area alone. These crispy morsels are the trendy new alternative to the French fry. Tricking out this tiny delight that turns 65 years old this year is easier than you think. Wrap tots in bacon to create your new favorite appetizer. Top the bacon-wrapped tots with Smoked Gouda to take them up a notch further. Put 3-4 on a skewer to make tailgating kebabs. Love loaded potatoes? Cut a tot in half, scoop out the innards of a fried tot and fill with cheddar, bacon, sour cream and chives. Dip them in buffalo wing sauce and serve with ranch dressing for a fun treat that will please you and your vegetarian friends as well. Slice them in half and fill with cooked ground beef to create teeny tiny tot burgers. How about Tater Tot Nachos? Simply top them with cheddar, jalapeños, shallots, corn salsa, grilled chicken (optional) and cilantro. Popular seasonings that can be drizzled on the tots before cooking include olive oil, garlic powder, hot sauce, ranch dressing, taco seasoning, BBQ glaze…you’re pretty much limited only by your tastebuds and your imagination. Of course, you can always go traditional and eat them plain with a sprinkling of salt and pepper and a dollop of ketchup.
Tater Tot Casseroles
Midwesterners are probably well aware of tater tot casseroles, but the rest us will be rocked by these seriously mouthwatering combinations. The possibilities are endless with these potato-based dishes, which can be served for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Start the day with a Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole topped with avocado, red pepper, bacon and chives. Fill the pan with corn, green beans and cream of mushroom soup and you’ve got comfort food that could double as a Thanksgiving side dish. Tater Tot Pizza is just what it sounds like. Place a layer of tater tots in your casserole dish and top with your favorite pizza sauces and toppings. Tater tots can even be used instead of breading on a chicken pot pie. The results are at once nostalgic and tasty.
