Bacon Cheese Loaded Tater Tots

Here’s a little secret: it’s not that hard to make restaurant style late night junk food at home. You know, the kind of salty, greasy, cheesy snacks you order at the pub after your third pint of beer? Sometimes we just crave those midnight snacks while sitting on the couch on a Friday night. And our guess is that you probably do too, since you found this post on how to make bacon and cheese loaded tater tots.

There’s nothing quite like indulging in a pile of crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside tater tots coated in creamy Velveeta, salty bacon bits, and crunchy scallions. This late night snack will completely satisfy any junk food craving, with very little effort on your part. All it takes is 4 ingredients and about 10 to 15 minutes of hands-on time.

Bacon Cheese Loaded Tater Tots Ingredients

It’s almost all in the name – these cheesy loaded tater tots are made with only 4 ingredients:

• Frozen tater tots
• Bacon
• Velveeta cheese
• Scallions

It doesn’t get much easier than that, which makes these cheesy loaded tater tots one of the best late night snacks – or party appetizers!

How To Make Easy Cheese And Bacon Loaded Tater Tots

The best part about these loaded cheesy tater tots is how easy they are to throw together. If you happen to have leftover bacon and scallions in your fridge and are wondering what to do with them, it’s the perfect time to make these ultimate loaded tater tots! 

Here’s how to make the best loaded tater tots:

1. First, cook frozen tater tots according to the package instructions. We recommend cooking them in the air fryer (400 degrees F for 8 to 10 minutes, shake halfway through) so they’re super crispy.
2. If you have leftover bacon, chop into small bits. If not, chop uncooked bacon into small pieces and then fry over medium-high heat until crispy. Drain excess grease on paper towels.
3. Then, cube the Velveeta cheese.
4. Next, add the tater tots to an oven-safe baking dish and top evenly with the Velveeta cubes and bacon bits.
5. Bake at 375 degrees F for 10 minutes, until the cheese is gooey and melted.
6. Finally, top with sliced scallions and serve hot!

Honestly, these bacon cheese loaded tater tots are best served and enjoyed family-style right out of the dish they were baked in. Just grab a few forks (or one, we don’t judge) and dig in! 

What Goes Well With Loaded Tater Tots

If you are at all familiar with The Candid Cooks, you have likely already seen some of our other game day recipes and know that party-style appetizers are some of our favorite recipes. And if you’re new here, we suggest you check out our list of the best game day recipes for Sunday football here to get inspired. 

Because truth be told, what goes best with bacon and cheese loaded tater tots is a cold beer and an assortment of other finger foods. Here are some fun ideas for the next time you crave a comforting midnight snack spread: 

• 4 layer Mexican dip
• Deep fried oreos
• Loaded sweet potato waffle fries
• Loaded sheet pan nachos

But you really can’t go wrong. Served alone, or with your favorite snacky foods, these easy cheese and bacon loaded tater tots are perfect for the next time you want some bar food at home.

Cheesy Loaded Tater Tots: Variations

The best kind of midnight snack is the one that doesn’t take much effort and uses ingredients you already have. So, if you’re missing an ingredient or want to customize your ultimate tater tots, here are a few ways you can change up our recipe:

• Swap Velveeta with shredded cheddar cheese for a slightly lighter (although less creamy) version of these loaded tots
• Use leftover taco beef, sausage, or chorizo instead of bacon
• Top your cheesy tots with fresh ingredients like guacamole or pico de gallo

The possibilities are endless! 

Try our easy recipe for bacon cheese loaded tater tots and let us know how you customize your ultimate tots in the comments. If you love this recipe, don’t forget to rate, comment, and share!