What To Do With Leftover Tater Tots?

what to do with leftover tater tots

What do you do when you have the leftovers?

Most people might say that they would just reheat them and eat them again.

But, there are actually a lot of other things that you can do with them.

In this blog post, I will be sharing some recipes for dishes that you can make with your leftovers.

So, if you have any leftovers, be sure to check out these recipes.

Tater Tot Casserole

Making a tater tot casserole is one of the most popular uses for the leftovers.

This is because it is so delicious.

All you have to do is top your casserole with some tater tots before baking.

It’s that simple.

The taste of this dish will really depend on the ingredients that you add to your casserole.

You can choose to add cheese, sour cream, and bacon bits.

This guarantees a delicious taste.

There is also no need for seasoning when making this dish because tater tots are so flavorful.

Pizza Tots

One of the tastiest things that you can make with the leftovers is pizza tots.

If you like having cheese and sauce on your pizza, then this dish will definitely suit you.

This dish works well as a side or even as an appetizer.

All you have to do is bake your tater tots first and then top them with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese.

Tater Tot Quesadilla

You can also make a tater tot quesadilla when you have leftovers.

This dish is basically a quesadilla with some tater tots in it.

You can add whatever ingredients you want inside of your quesadilla, but I would suggest that you include some of your leftovers.

Tater Tot Taco Salad

Another dish that you can make with the leftovers is a tater tot taco salad.

This dish combines the goodness of a taco and a salad together.

The best thing about this dish is that it is customizable.

Simply microwave your tater tots first and then top your taco salad with them.

This ensures that they are crispy when you eat them.

Tater Tot Sushi

One of the most creative uses for the leftovers is tater tot sushi.

This dish is pretty much a rice ball with some tater tots in it.

The good thing about this dish is that you can top it with whatever ingredients you want.

For example, you could add mayonnaise and dried seaweed flakes to your rice ball.

This will give it a distinct taste.

Bacon-Wrapped Tater Tot Balls

Another unique dish to make with your leftovers is bacon-wrapped tater tot balls.

This dish works well as a side or an appetizer.

All you have to do is wrap some cooked bacon around a tater tot and then bake it for a few minutes.

Baked Potato with Tots and Cheese

Next, you can also make a baked potato with tater tots and cheese.

All you have to do is top your baked potato with some of your leftovers and shredded cheese.

This dish will definitely give you a whole lot of energy.

Tater Tot Gratin

If you’re looking for a dish that is perfect for winter, then you can try making a tater tot gratin.

This dish is basically mashed potatoes with some tater tots in it.

Then, the next step is to top this mixture with cheese before baking it in the oven.

Fried Rice with Leftover Tots

You can also make fried rice with your tater tots.

This dish works well as a side or even as a full meal.

All you have to do is use some butter and then fry your rice.

You can add whatever ingredients that you want into the fried rice.

I would suggest that you add some soy sauce and some ham.

Southern-Style Potato Salad with Leftover Tots & Eggs

what to do with leftover tater tots

Another great dish to make with the leftovers is southern-style potato salad.

This dish is ideal for any season and it works best as an aside.

To make this recipe, you will need eggs and meat such as bacon or ham.

Then, all you have to do is cut up your ingredients into cubes and add some mayonnaise.

Chili Dog With Toppings

Another dish that you can make is chili dogs.

You can simply place some of your leftovers over a piece of hotdog and then add some cheese, sour cream, onions, and salsa on top.

This will definitely give the tots a stronger flavor when they are combined with other ingredients.

Totchos

Another great way to use up the leftovers is by making totchos.

This dish is basically a combination of nachos and tater tots in one dish.

You can top your totchos with whatever ingredients you want, but I would suggest that you add some salsa on top.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also add a bit of guacamole on top.

Leftover Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole

If you ever have a lot of the leftovers, then you can try making a breakfast casserole with them.

This dish is perfect for winter and it works best as an appetizer or even a side dish.

You can add eggs, cooked sausage, and shredded cheese into this recipe to ensure that the taste is unique.

Potatoes O’Brien (with leftover tots)

Finally, if you have a lot of the leftovers, then you can try making some potatoes O’Brien.

You can also use other ingredients such as peppers and onions to make this dish even more flavorful.

Simply fry the potatoes and vegetables in butter before adding some salt and pepper into the mix.

Tater Tot Scramble

Another delicious dish to make with tater tots is tater tot scramble.

This dish is perfect for breakfast or brunch and it works best as a side or even an appetizer.

You can use any vegetables that you like in this recipe, but I would suggest spinach, onions, peppers, and tomatoes.

Can I freeze the leftovers?

Yes, you can freeze the leftovers.

Simply place them in an airtight container or freezer bag and then freeze them for later use.

How long will the leftovers stay fresh?

If you store the leftovers in the fridge, they will stay fresh for about 3-4 days.

If you store them in the freezer, they will stay fresh for about 2-3 months.

What is the best way to reheat the leftovers?

To reheat the leftovers, you will need a frying pan.

Simply add 2-3 tablespoons of oil into the frying pan and cook them over medium heat until they are brown and crispy.

You can also use a microwave or an oven for this step, but I would suggest that you use a frying pan instead.

When will tater tots go bad?

Tater tots will only go bad if they are left at room temperature for too long or when they have been frozen for over 3 months.

So, when in doubt, it is best not to keep your leftovers around for too long.

How do you make tater tots?

To make tater tots, you will first need 1.25 cups of cooked potatoes.

You can also use leftover mashed potatoes that are about 3 inches wide.

Then, scoop out the potato mixture and wrap it around a metal shaft before pressing them into cylindrical shapes.

Cook the tots in hot oil until they are golden brown before serving.

Conclusion

There are many different recipes that you can make with your leftover tater tots.

These recipes include bacon-wrapped tater tot balls, baked potato with tots and cheese, fried rice with leftover tots, southern style potato salad with eggs and meat, chili dog with toppings, totchos, breakfast casserole, potatoes O’Brien (with leftover tots), and finally the tater tot scramble.

All of these dishes are easy to follow and they will definitely help you use up all of your leftovers.

Further reading:

Homemade Tater Tots – Damn Delicious

Homemade Tater Tots Recipe – Serious Eats

Tamara Pierce

Tamara Pierce is a food writer at Elapasony, passionate about exploring diverse cuisines and sharing recipes and food experiences. From trendy restaurants to local hotspots, she's always on the lookout for new and exciting flavors.

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