21 Ways Your Family Will Love Eating Tater Tots

If there’s one food you can usually guarantee your kids will love, it’s tater tots. The simple, deep-fried grated potatoes are super easy and great to have on hand when it seems like nothing else will make picky eaters happy, but for us adults, they can get pretty boring and bland. Other than giving up and making separate meals for the kiddos and the grown-ups, do you know the best solution? Transforming the tater tots themselves! Buzzfeed recently opened our eyes to all the different ways you can dress-up the frozen – or fresh! – go-to, and we realized we’ve actually been collecting tons of tater tot recipes for a while now. Here are our absolute favorites. Pick one and give it a try tonight!

  1. Tater Tot Grilled Cheese

    One of the best ways to use tater tots? In place of bread in your favorite sandwiches— and what sandwich could be more perfect for the experiment than grilled cheese? The tots are the perfect pairing for the jalapeños and bacon in this recipe.

  2. Chorizo y Papas Grilled Cheese

    Miss the bread in the grilled cheese but still intrigued by adding some tots? Try this version made with ground chorizo, sautéed onions, habanero cheddar and American cheese.

  3. Tater Tot Nachos

    Who says nachos have to be made on chips and not tots? After all, they’re both potatoes, and we’d even argue that with their warmth and fuller size, tots are an even better choice! These nachos are loaded up with guacamole, bacon and cheese for a dish that’ll please everybody.

  4. Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Nachos

    Another great nacho option? These ones, that are also like a tater tot take on buffalo chicken wings!

  5. Totchos Salad

    They took the idea of tater tot nachos, combined it with tacos, and called it a salad— and it looks so tasty, we’re not even mad.

  6. Cheeseburger-Stuffed Tater Tots

    Tater tot culinary creativity isn’t limited to using the tots to make other dishes. The tots themselves can be exciting, like these delicious appetizer alternatives that feature a classic homemade tot mixture wrapped and fried around cheeseburger!

  7. Tater Tot Burgers

    Or perhaps you prefer those tots transformed into the “burger” itself? Then this recipe – which tops them with Sriracha sour cream! – is for you.

  8. Totchos Supreme Burger

    Or maybe you’d simply like to top a regular beef burger with some tater tot nachos? Don’t worry; we won’t judge.

  9. Sweet Potato and Bacon Tots

    An even easier way to make your tater tots more special while still enjoying them as, well, tots? Use sweet potatoes to make them! They’re so good, the bacon in this recipe is just a bonus.

  10. Tater Tot Casserole

    Want a tried-and-true way to dress-up tater tots? A casserole! Try this classic, comfort food version . . .

  11. Cheesy Chicken Ranch Tater Tot Casserole

    . . . or get a little more adventurous and try this chicken ranch version you can make in your slow cooker!

  12. Zucchini Tater Tots

    Sometimes the best way to have fun with tater tots is to make them with more than just “taters.” This recipe adds zucchini for an extra kick of healthy . . .

  13. Vegetable Tots

    . . . while this one uses cauliflower and broccoli!

  14. DIY Basic Tots

    These tots might not be exciting, but you know what is? Making your own and knowing EXACTLY what’s in them, and keeping them preservative-free.

  15. Loaded Baked Tater Tot Dip

    Everything you love about loaded baked potatoes, turned into an easy-to-make dip that takes only five minutes to prepare.

  16. Tater Tot Mac ‘n’ Cheese

    The best part about this idea? You can do it to ANY macaroni-and-cheese recipe. Just throw some parbaked tots on top of your favorite.

  17. Bacon Jalapeño Poppers

    The only thing that could overshadow the bacon added to these jalapeño poppers? A cheesy crust made out of tater tots.

  18. Super Sonic Breakfast Burrito

    This copycat recipe is packed full of flavor for a totally satisfying, super-powered start to your day.

  19. Tater Tot Breakfast Pizza

    Another great way to shake up a tater-tot-based breakfast? Breakfast PIZZA made with eggs, cheese, and two types of bacon.

  20. Barbecue Bacon-Wrapped Tater Tots

    These simple, easy appetizers will be the hit of your next party. They’re especially perfect for Game Day get-togethers!

  21. Sweet-and-Salty Bacon-Wrapped Tater Tots

    And if you’re not a fan of barbecue sauce, try this sweet-and-salty version made with brown sugar!

The best thing about this round-up of tater tot recipes? They’re only the beginning. Check out Buzzfeed’s list for even more ideas to transform those tots!