These homemade Sweet Potato Tater Tots are the perfect appetizer or side dish that is easy to make using a few simple ingredients. They're oven-baked, meaning they are much lower in oil than the deep-fried tots from the grocery store, and that sweet and salty flavor will pair perfectly with your favorite sauces and dips. Serve them with chicken wings, burgers, sausages, and more.
If you've never made homemade tater Tots before, it might seem a little daunting. Fortunately, this easy recipe makes it so simple! This sweet potato tater tot recipe uses shredded sweet potatoes to give you a crispy texture, and is perfectly seasoned with just a little garlic powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, and parsley for the best flavor. Shape them into little cylinders, then bake and broil for the perfect texture. Homemade tots taste so much better than regular tater tots from the store. You'll never go back!
Why You'll Love These Sweet Potato Tater Tots
- Sweet and savory. The magic of sweet potato fries and tots is the balance between sweet and salty flavors. This sweet potato tot recipe has that classic sweetness, but it's also seasoned with savory spices to pair them with your favorite entrees.
- Three ways to cook. Although our main recipe uses the oven baking method, you can also make air fryer sweet potato tots or deep fry them in oil. Follow whichever method you're the most comfortable with!
- Naturally vegan tater tots. Since this recipe only uses sweet potatoes, flour, and spices, it's naturally vegan and vegetarian! It's also dairy-free, egg-free, and lower in fat than deep-fried frozen tots from the store. For a gluten-free version, use cornstarch instead of flour.
Ingredient Notes
To make these delicious sweet Potato Tater Tots, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):
- sweet potatoes - start by peeling the sweet potatoes. Some will be boiled and others will be grated and strained.
- all-purpose flour - this will absorb any excess moisture and give you a crisp shell on the outside. Use cornstarch as a gluten-free alternative.
- seasonings - season well with garlic powder (or nutritional yeast), paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and ground black pepper for extra flavor.
- fresh parsley - this will add a nice fresh herb flavor to balance the sweet potatoes and spices.
You will also need measuring spoons, a large pot, box grater, cheesecloth or dish towel, parchment paper, baking sheet and cooking spray. If cooking in the air fryer or deep fryer instead, then you will need an air fryer or large Dutch oven or pot for frying.
How to Make the Best Sweet Potato Tater Tots
- Boil sweet potatoes. Place sweet potatoes in a large pot of cold water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low and let it simmer for 8-10 minutes until softened. Drain well and let cool.
- Shred. Use a box grater to shred the sweet potatoes into thin strips. Use a cheesecloth or dish towel to squeeze out any excess water and place the shredded sweet potato into a large mixing bowl.
- Make tater tot mixture. Add flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika and Italian seasoning. Mix until well combined.
- Shape. Shape the sweet potato mixture into tater tots and arrange them in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spaced evenly apart.
- Bake. Apply cooking oil spray evenly over top of the tots. Bake in a 400F preheated oven until golden brown, about 25 minutes, turning the tots halfway through baking.
- Broil (optional). Broil on HI for additional 4-5 minutes to achieve extra crispy brown tater tots, if desired.
- Serve. Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.
How to Make Tater Tots in the Deep Fryer or Air Fryer
- To deep fry: Add 2 inches of oil into a large cooking pot and heat over medium-high heat until shimmering hot, about 3-4 minutes. Add the tots in batches and cook until golden brown and crispy, about 3-4 minutes.
- To air fry: Add the tots in the air fryer basket and cook for 12-15 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Gently shake the basket halfway during cooking to achieve even color.
Recipe Variations
- Add your favorite toppings. We add a drizzle of spicy mayo and a spinkle of sesame seeds on top. Another great option is to sprinkle some grated Parmesan cheese for a salty, savory, cheesy flavor.
- Stir in breadcrumbs. For extra crunchiness, replace part of the flour with panko bread crumbs or regular bread crumbs.
- Mellow out the sweetness. Replace half of the mashed sweet potatoes with mashed potatoes to make the tots a little less sweet.
- Gluten-free sweet potato tater tots. Use cornstarch instead of flour for gluten-free tots. Arrowroot powder is typically interchangeable with cornstarch, too.
- Add a little heat. Stir in a small dash of cayenne pepper, chili powder, or some red pepper flakes for a warming heat.
How to Serve
These Sweet Potato Tater Tots are a delicious appetizer served on their own with a dipping sauce on the side. It's also a great side dish paired with some of my favorite entrees and appetizers including:
- Quarter Pound Burgers
- Homemade Chicken Nuggets
- Salmon Bites
- Baked BBQ Chicken Wings
- Buffalo Turkey Wraps
- Baked Crispy Chicken Strips
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Strain off any excess liquid. Whether you have excess water from boiling or moisture from the shredded sweet potatoes, you want to remove as much as possible. If the sweet potato mixture is too wet, it'll fall apart while baking.
- Let them rest. You can easily make these tots the day before, then wrap them in plastic wrap and store them in the fridge. This will keep them nice and cold and help you get them in the oven faster.
- Don't forget to flip. Flip the tots over halfway through the baking time to make sure they crisp up on both sides.
Storing and Freezing Instructions
How to Store
Allow the tots to cool to room temperature for an hour or two, then store the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
How to Reheat
To reheat the tots, preheat the oven or toaster oven to 375-400 degrees F, then place them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Bake them until they're crispy on the outside and fully heated on the inside.
How to Freeze
Freeze the baked tots on a freezer tray, then transfer them to a freezer bag for approximately 1 month.
FAQ
Homemade sweet potato tots are made with simple ingredients, like sweet potatoes, flour, a variety of seasonings, and some fresh herbs. If you have some sweet potatoes on hand and a little fresh parsley, you probably have everything else you need!
Depending on the supplies you have at home, you can try several different methods. First, try rolling the tater tot mixture into a long cylindrical shape and then slicing it down into bite-sized pieces. You can also individually form each tot by rolling and shaping the mixture. If you have sturdy pastry bags, you can also try piping the mixture into a long tube and then slicing it into pieces. Try whatever method works best for you!
Homemade tater tots can definitely be crispy if you prepare them right. Most store-bought tater tots are deep-fried, then we bake them at a relatively high temperature to re-crisp that outer shell. Since you can cook your homemade tots in the oven, air fryer, or fryer, the level of crispiness may vary. For the crispiest texture, you'll want to use a fryer, but we find that even oven baking will give you a nice bite.
More Sweet Potato Recipes
- Baked Sweet Potato Wedges
- Sweet Potato Croquettes
- Herb Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Baked Sweet Potato
- Sweet Potato Rolls
- Thai Sweet Potato Yellow Curry
Did you make this recipe? I would greatly appreciate a comment and rating below, letting me know what you thought of the recipe. You can also snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @aheadofthyme or share it on the Pinterest pin so that I can follow along.
Don't forget to sign up for my email newsletter so that you don't miss any recipes. You can also follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook for more recipe updates.
