Slow Cooker Tater Tots
by Sommer Collier — last updated on Feb 17, 2025 
Slow Cooker Tater Tots Recipe – This tater tots recipe is perfect for game day celebrations and family get-togethers! Whether you make them in the slow cooker or the oven, this dish is packed with flavor and loaded with all of your favorite taco toppings!
Why We Love This Slow Cooker Tater Tots Recipe
Slow Cooker Tater Tots are a fabulous party snack that can feed a crowd! Load the toppings right in the crockpot for easy serving. Or when it’s time to feast, lay out a topping bar and let your friends pile on their favorite additions. Whether splurging or keeping the toppings on the lighter side, everyone will be happy!
Slow Cooker Taco Tater Tots are made in the crockpot, so you can keep them warm through the course of your party. Or if you are in a hurry, make them fast in the oven! Either way, they are totally easy to make in just a few steps. Simply mix a bag of frozen tater tots with one packet of Old El Paso Taco Seasoning, or your own favorite taco seasoning! Then make it in the slow cooker or oven, and prepare all of the toppings of your choice. In the end, you’ll have golden zesty taco-fied Mexican-inspired tots that taste amazing on their own and even better with a few toppings!
Ingredients You Need
For the Tater Tots:
- Taco seasoning mix – store-bought or make your own mix
- Tater tots – frozen
For the Toppings:
- Shredded cheddar cheese – or other flavor like Monterey jack, Pepper jack or Mexican cheese blend
- Black beans – canned, rinsed and drained
- Salsa – homemade salsa or store-bought
- Sour cream – low-fat
- Green onions – chopped
- Cilantro – chopped
- Avocado – diced
- Guacamole – homemade guacamole or store-bought
- Chicken – shredded
- Taco meat – ground beef mixture or ground turkey
- Red onion – diced
- Tomatoes – diced
- Lettuce – shredded
- Olives – sliced
How to Make Slow Cooker Tater Tots
In the Oven
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Place the tater tots in a large bowl. Sprinkle with Old El Paso Taco Seasoning and toss to coat.
- Spread the tater tots out, in a single layer, on a large rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Then move the tots to a platter and add toppings. Serve warm.
In the Slow Cooker
- Place the tater tots in the crock of a large slow cooker. Sprinkle with Old El Paso Taco Seasoning and toss to coat.
- Cover the slow cooker and turn on low for 4-5 hours, or high for 2-3 hours. Stir gently once an hour so that all tots spend some time on the bottom of the crock. This way, they will all get crispy. Once hot and slightly crispy, turn the slow cooker on warm.
- Add toppings directly to the slow cooker and serve out of the crock.
Get the full (printable) Slow Cooker Tater Tots Recipe below.
Recipe Variations
- Casserole – After making your tater tots in the oven or slow cooker, transfer to a baking dish and top with cheese, beans, corn, and maybe some pre-cooked meat, and bake again for a super melty tater tot taco casserole! Then top with cold toppings before serving.
- BBQ Ranch – Use 1 packet of ranch seasoning mix and ½ cup BBQ sauce. Top with shredded cheddar, crispy bacon bits, diced red onion, chopped cilantro, and a drizzle of ranch dressing.
- Buffalo Chicken – Toss with ½ cup buffalo sauce before cooking. Top with shredded rotisserie chicken, blue cheese crumbles, celery slices, drizzle of ranch or blue cheese dressing
- Loaded Baked Potato– Use 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, and salt & pepper. Top with sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon, and chopped chives.
- Chili Cheese – Use 1 teaspoon chili powder + ½ teaspoon cumin before cooking. Top with warm chili, shredded cheddar cheese, diced onions, and jalapeños.
- Greek – Use 1 teaspoon dried oregano and ½ teaspoon garlic powder. Top with crumbled feta, diced tomatoes, kalamata olives, red onion, and a drizzle of tzatziki sauce
- Breakfast – Use ½ teaspoon smoked paprika and ½ teaspoon salt. Top with scrambled eggs, crumbled sausage or bacon, shredded cheese, and a drizzle of hot sauce
- Pizza – Use 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning and ½ teaspoon of garlic powder. Top with marinara sauce, shredded mozzarella, mini pepperoni, and fresh basil.
Tips and Tricks
- Appetizer or meal? This recipe can be either! Keep the toppings light by using veggies like tomatoes, green chiles, olives, and bell pepper! Or make this a hearty meal by adding black beans or pinto beans along with chicken or ground beef!
- Use your own favorite taco toppings! Any of my suggestions for toppings are going to taste amazing, but trust your gut (and your taste buds) and choose your own favorite taco toppings.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you find that your tater tots aren’t crispy, cook them a little bit longer! When cooking them in a slow cooker, make sure to stir every hour so that all of the tater tots touch the edges to get crispy. If making them in the oven, make sure the baking sheet isn’t too crowded!
Nope! There is no need to thaw frozen tater tots before cooking them. In fact, it is best to cook the tater tots directly from frozen so that they keep their shape!
After you make up your casserole with all your favorite toppings, it does not last well in the fridge. You can store leftover tots in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Most brands of frozen tater tots are gluten-free, but check if needed.
Looking for More Party Snacks? Be Sure to Try:
- The Best Homemade Salsa Recipe
- Pomegranate Cheese Ball
- Sargento Natural Cheese and Blueberry Pizza
- Air Fryer Onion Rings
- Miso Hummus
- Creamy Avocado Salsa Verde
- French Onion Dip
Get the full (printable) Slow Cooker Tater Tots Recipe below.
Slow Cooker Tater Tots
Video
Ingredients
For the Taco Tots:
- 32 ounces frozen tater tots (1 bag)
- 1 Old El Paso Taco Seasoning Packet
Instructions
Oven Method:
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Place the tater tots in a large bowl. Sprinkle with Old El Paso Taco Seasoning and toss to coat. Spread the tater tots out, in a single layer, on a large rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Then move the tots to a platter and add toppings. Serve warm.
Slow Cooker Method:
- Place the tater tots in the crock of a large slow cooker. Sprinkle with Old El Paso Taco Seasoning and toss to coat. Cover the slow cooker and turn on low for 4-5 hours, or high for 2-3 hours. Stir gently once an hour so that all tots spend some time on the bottom of the crock. Once hot and slightly crispy, turn the slow cooker on warm. Add toppings directly to the slow cooker and serve out of the crock.
Notes
Nutrition
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Old El Paso. All opinions are our own.
I must say that this taco tater tots recipe is one of the easiest and the best (thanks to the slow cooker!) It is indeed loaded with flavor. Planning to have this again for our fam gathering this Sunday!
This was such an easy way to add a little something extra to regular tater tots! Absolutely loved it!
Ok, I think these are my kids new favorite!! You get the best of both worlds!! Thank you for sharing both ways to make them!
Oh what a delicious twist! I am sure these would be a hit at my house.
Oh my goodness, my kids would devour these! I cant wait to make these!
wow I’ll never eat plain old tater tots again! these were fabulous!
Tots in the slow cooker? I had no idea. This is pure genius.