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These totchos never last long once the game is on. They’re crispy, creamy, cheesy, salty and a little tangy all in the same bite. They come off the pan messy and loaded with cheddar, bacon and sour cream, which is exactly how totchos should look.
Totchos are what I make for casual parties and family nights, when I want something more fun than regular tater tots. Nobody needs a plate or a fork, and nothing about them has to be fancy.
I build my totchos around bacon, sour cream and ranch instead of the taco meat and queso most totchos recipes use. The bacon and ranch give every bite that loaded baked potato flavor, and the sour cream keeps it cool and creamy on top of the hot cheese.
If you like this kind of crispy potato snack, my smashed tater tots get brushed with seasoned butter and baked until golden. For a heartier pan, my loaded tater tots are topped with chili and cheese.
GAME DAY FAVORITE
The Toothsome Totchos I Knew I Had to Make at Home
I first saw totchos on the menu at Toothsome Chocolate Emporium in Orlando, and as soon as I saw them, I knew two things: I had to order them, and I had to make them at home. Mine were never meant to be a copy of theirs. I kept my version simple, with the toppings my family already loves, and it’s pretty hard to mess up.
What Are Totchos?
Totchos are tater tot nachos. You bake a pan of frozen tater tots, then pile on nacho toppings the same way you would with tortilla chips. The name is tots plus nachos. You’ll also see them spelled totchoes or tachoes, and one on its own is a totcho.
The Ingredients That Do the Work
- Frozen tater tots: These are the chips in this recipe, so everything else gets piled on top of them. They go onto the pan straight from the freezer and bake at 425°F following the package directions, and one 32-ounce bag makes the whole pan.
- Shredded cheddar: Cheddar is what I use, and a cheddar blend works too. About half melts over the tots in the oven and the rest goes on at the end, but it doesn’t need to be an exact split.
- Sour cream and ranch seasoning: The ranch is a 1-ounce packet of Hidden Valley Ranch dry seasoning and dressing mix, the powder, not bottled dressing. I sprinkle it right over the sour cream, which is where the tangy ranch flavor comes from. I haven’t tested this with bottled ranch in place of the sour cream and seasoning, so I can’t tell you that swap works.
How to Make Totchos
Step 1: Bake the Tots Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper, spread out the frozen tater tots and bake them at 425°F according to the package. Leave them in until they’re deep golden and crunchy all over.
Step 2: Add the Cheese and Bacon Sprinkle about half of the cheddar and some of the bacon over the hot tots and slide the pan back into the oven for 2 minutes. Pull it when the cheese is melted and everything is hot and bubbly.
Step 3: Add the Sour Cream and Ranch Spread the sour cream over the hot cheese and bacon, then sprinkle the ranch seasoning over the top.
Step 4: Top It and Serve Finish with the rest of the cheddar, the rest of the bacon and the green onion, and get the pan out while the tots are still crispy.
Brilliant recipe. Tried for the first time and was blown away by the results of the dish
Serve Them Hot and Skip the Leftovers
I put the whole pan out and let everyone help themselves, since totchos are one of those appetizers people pick at while they’re talking or watching the game.
They’re definitely best eaten right away. Once they’re assembled and refrigerated, the sour cream and toppings soften the tater tots and you lose the crispy texture that makes them so good. I don’t plan on leftovers. If you’re putting out a whole spread, my appetizers for a crowd list has plenty to set out alongside them.
More Game Day Appetizers
Totchos (Tater Tot Nachos)
Ingredients
- 1 32 ounce package Frozen tater tots
- 1 8 ounce package Shredded cheese
- 1 cup Cooked bacon cut up in small pieces
- 1 8 ounce container Sour Cream
- 1 package Ranch seasoning
- ½ cup Green Onion Chopped
Instructions
- Line baking sheet with either a silicon baking mat or parchment paper
- Bake frozen tater tots according to the instructions on the package (get them good and crispy)1 32 ounce package Frozen tater tots
- Sprinkle cheese on top of the tater tots1 8 ounce package Shredded cheese
- Add the bacon pieces and place back in oven at 425 degrees for 2 minutes1 cup Cooked bacon
- Spread sour cream on top and sprinkle ranch seasoning1 8 ounce container Sour Cream, 1 package Ranch seasoning
- Sprinkle more cheese, bacon and green onion½ cup Green Onion
- Serve and enjoy!
Jenn’s Notes
- Bake the tater tots until they’re really golden and crispy before any toppings go on. If they’re still soft, the cheese, bacon and sour cream make them even softer.
- Add the sour cream and ranch after the cheese and bacon layer comes out of the oven.
- Use a 1-ounce packet of dry ranch seasoning mix. I haven’t tested this recipe with bottled ranch dressing.
brilliant 👏 recipe tried for the first time and was blown away by the results of the dish
Excellent!!! I added some chicken tenderloin cooked in the bacon drippings and diced fresh tomatoes and it became a one pan meal. I highly recommend.
my boys and I love this. quick and easy
Awesome recipes
Could I use ranch dressing instead of sour cream and dry ranch seasoning?
Easy,, quick and yummy.
Psst…you might want to double check the nutrition facts ;). Each tater tot has about 2 carbs in each one…. so I don’t think that is accurate. Plus there is no serving size listed, etc… things we tend to zoom in on when we have a kiddo with Type 1 Diabetes :p My son is also celiac, so this is a good dish because it has no gluten unless it’s in the ranch, we might have to use something else but the dish looks wonderful and I’m going to give it a try!
Shoot – must be a glitch! Checking right now!!
It’s just my opinion, however, I feel that it’s always prudent to check the nutrition facts and any other pertinent information, etc., when trying any new recipe/dish if incorrect information could potentially cause harm or consequence when you have someone in your home, particularly a child or elderly person, with a compromised immune system or any specific health condition/s that require a special diet.
I think it’s wonderful that we have such incredible bloggers, such as our favorite “Pinky” who is always there at the touch of a finger to provide us with new and delicious ideas and recipes to try, giving us the opportunity to shake things up at home and get out of our usual dinner rut. Our favorite Bloggers do an AMAZING JOB of providing us with so many options and such incredible dishes to try, and that’s their job, that’s what they excel doing. They are not nutritionists or dietitians, nor are they certified in the medical field (this is generally speaking, of course), therefore, I believe that it’s wonderful if they do offer the Nutritional Facts and we should appreciate that extra effort. However, in the case of someone cooking for an individual/s with a health related condition, it really is in the best interests of the compromised individual/s, and the responsible choice to research that information prior to trying any new recipe.
I understand that you may have just been giving Pinky a heads up due to finding incorrect information, it’s obvious that you know your facts. 😊 This is information for anyone who may be in your position.
My best to all, especially those who may not always get to enjoy all the things they love due to health conditions. My Mom has cancer & diabetes, it’s a daily struggle that breaks my heart.
I cannot find Ranch Seasoning? Is it just dry Ranch Dressing? Really want to try this! Please reply
swles@aol.com
Hi Sharon – here is a link to it: http://amzn.to/2rXhLTA
Ranch Dressing in the packet for making the dressing Try Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix.