If You Have Frozen Tater Tots, Parmesan, And Parsley, You Have The Start Of A Tasty Appetizer Ready In 30 Minutes

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Advancements in frozen tater tot technology mean that you can now enjoy these cylinders of potato-y goodness in mere minutes. What's more, they provide an ideal blank canvas for your favorite toppings, dips, accompaniments, and much more. If you have about half a bag of frozen tater tots, a block of parmesan cheese, and a bunch of fresh parsley, you've got what it takes for the recipe of a crowd-pleasing appetizer: three-ingredient smashed tater tots.

The process for these tots is fairly simple, and the snack comes together in around 30 minutes. This includes about 10 minutes of time to prepare everything, and a cumulative total of around 20 minutes to let everything cook, crisp, and melt in the oven. This can absolutely be considered as one of the best creative ways to use frozen tater tots.

Let the potato bites warm in the oven until they're pliable, before carefully removing the baking sheet and using a glass or similar object to gently flatten each tot. Add a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt, freshly shredded parmesan cheese, and finely chopped parsley before returning your pan to the oven and letting the smashed tots brown. From there, it's a matter of serving this with your choice of dipping sauces and other accompaniments.

Tasting Table's recipe includes suggestions for flavorful mayo, aioli, and honey mustard sauces in which to dip your smashed tater tots. If you have the ingredients for a homemade garlic aioli recipe on hand, this is a great place to start. Otherwise, consider the myriad store-bought sauce and condiment options as well. For example, a ramekin filled with Huy Fong Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce Ketchup would make a great accent for these potato bites. Try a portion of pesto or green goddess dressing for more of an herbal feel that will complement the fresh parsley.

Additionally, you can get creative with clever ingredient swaps for these tots. Use a lesser portion of dried parsley in lieu of fresh, or change up your herbs entirely with others such as sage, thyme, or rosemary. If you're working with sweet potato tots, these flavorings would also counter the sweetness. Try a different shredded cheese like smokehouse cheddar or a fiery pepper jack.

Give your smashed tots a loaded baked potato twist by adding a dollop of sour cream to each of the cooled bites, along with pieces of chopped cooked bacon and chives. Swap in Greek yogurt, or try dairy-free cheese in this dish. The possibilities are limitless for this mouthwatering appetizer that starts with just a half bag of tater tots and takes less than 30 minutes to make.

For more details, check out the recipe video for three-ingredient smashed tater tots on Tasting Table's YouTube channel: