Crunchy Bite Sized Bacon Tots will be the hit of your next get together. Whether served as an appetizer or a side dish you will LOVE these crunchy, bacon filled tots. Better than your average tot because it has Bacon in it too!
You heard that right? Crunchy Bite Sized Bacon Tots! Bacon in your tater tots!
I’ve been on a bacon kick recently. There is really not anything I wouldn’t put bacon on. Salads, sandwiches, pizza, baked potatoes and even meatloaf! (Check out my recipe for Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf if you love bacon as much as I do!… I promise you won’t be disappointed!)
Al of those are great ways to have bacon but I wanted an appetizer to share with you so I tried adding bacon pieces to this recipe for Crunchy Bite Sized Bacon Tots!
I have always loved tater tots so it seamed only natural to add bacon to them and see what happened. When you make these the trick is to crisp the bacon up before adding it to the tot so you have already drained away the bacon fat which would make the tot a little greasy if you don’t crisp it really well.
It doesn’t take much bacon to flavor a whole batch. So it’s quite economical for a party.
I tried two ways for shaping the tots. The traditional log shape and a coin shaped disc. At our house we preferred the coin shaped disc because we like things really crispy and crunchy. The smaller surface area gave more crunch!
BREAKDOWN OF THE CRUNCHY BITE SIZED BACON TOTS:
EASY/DIFFICULT: Easy to make, but they can be time consuming. They are very addicting so you have to make a lot of them.
PREP AHEAD? Yes! You can make these ahead of time and just fry them to order when you need them. You can assemble these up to 24 hours ahead keep covered in the refrigerator until you are ready to fry them.
BONUS: These are freezable! I made a quadruple batch and froze half of them for a later time. That really is a bonus the next time you are ready to serve them!
SERVING SUGGESTIONS: As an appetizer serve them with different dipping sauces. This Sriracha Dipping sauce, or this horseradish cream sauce or a traditional ketchup or BBQ sauce are some options for you! For something really different and colorful try this Herby Sauce!
- 8 medium baking potatoes
- 1-2 Tbs flour
- 2 tsp salt
- 6 pieces bacon
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1-2 cups oil
- Place 3-4 paper towels on a microwavable plate, then lay 4 strips of bacon across the paper towel.
- Cover top of bacon with another paper towel.
- Microwave on high, start with 4 minutes. Each microwave is different, you want the bacon to be extra crispy, but not burnt.
- Once bacon finished, allow to cool then break or cut bacon into tiny pieces.
- Puncture potatoes and bake in the oven for 45 mins on 350. (The potatoes should still be firm but easily slit with a knife. They will finish cooking in frying)
- While potatoes are still warm, peel the skins away.
- Using a cheese grater, grate peeled potatoes into a mixing bowl.
- In mixing bowl over the top of the potatoes sprinkle crumbled bacon, 1 tbs of flour, salt and pepper.
- Stir gently.
- To test if it needs more flour take a tablespoon of mixture and squeeze it in your hand into the desired shape (see blog for picture of coin vs log shaped.) If it sticks together and doesn't fall apart you do not need to add any more flour. If they don't hold together sprinkle the other tbs of flour into the potatoes.
- Make remaining mixture of potatoes into desired shapes and place on a cookie sheet.
- Once all tots are made, let them sit for a minimum of 10 mins to set. ** SEE NOTES FOR FREEZING OR PREPPING AHEAD OF TIME!
- In a pan, add oil to be about 1 " deep.
- Turn oil on to Med High and get oil hot.
- Once you feel the oil is hot enough, add one tot to pan. If the oil starts immediately bubbling when tot is placed in the pan, add several tots to pan and cook until one side is a golden brown color (about 2-3 minutes).
- Be sure to leave enough space in between to not overcrowd the pan.
- Then flip the tater tot and brown the second side until it is golden brown as well.
- Once both sides are nice and crispy golden brown, remove from the pan with a slotted spoon and allow to drain on a stack of paper towels on a plate.
- Repeat frying steps until all tots are complete.
- Season to taste once all Bacon tots are complete.
- Serve immediately with any of these sauces: Ketchup, BBQ, Horseradish Cream, Herby Sauce, Sriracha Sauce!
You can prepare these to this step and place in the refrigerator until ready to fry/serve.
You can also freeze them at this point for a later use. If you are freezing them, flash freeze them on a flat plate for 30 minutes so they hold together. Then gently place in a sealed container for future use. I stored them for up to 3 weeks before serving them. I allowed the potatoes to thaw for 1 hour before beginning the frying process.
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Stacey Stegg says
You said bacon? Why yes, I’ll have a bowl of those. That look amazing, delicious. I could eat them all!
Michele says
Right? Bacon makes EVERYTHING better! ~m
Toughcookiemommy says
This is the best mix of foods that I have seen in a long time. Since everyone loves tater tots and bacon, I can’t imagine that this wouldn’t be a food favorite at any family dinner gathering.
di says
Funny how we go through phases with food huh? I’ve been on a reall kick with seeds. Sesame, pumpkin, pepitos… can’t get enough of them!
Michele says
I can totally relate to the pepitas… they are on my addiction list at the moment! ~m
laura londergan says
this looks really good. Although I personally do not eat bacon – everyone else in my home would love them
Sheena Tatum says
A lot of people in my family are bacon lovers. This sounds like a delicious recipe that would really make them happy.
Michele says
There are times when I wish some in our family weren’t such big bacon lovers…. things go pretty quickly when bacon is involved! ~m
Rachel Lange4 says
Tater tots are my kryptonite. Now you are adding bacon?! Hand me my fat pants, please!
Michele says
Ha~ You just made me smile Rachel…. 🙂
CourtneyLynne says
Omg you had me at bacon!!!!!! I will definitely be making these. So yummy!
Heather says
Oh man! I need these in my life, like right now! I am drooling over here! I do have potatoes in the fridge…maybe a little cooking session is in order!
Ron Leyba says
Love this food. Will try this recipe soon. Amazing!
Paula says
There’s a restaurant near us that makes these and they are so good. I’m glad you shared the recipe 🙂
Mimi says
Wow! Are you kidding me? My son wouldn’t eat a tater tot to save his life, but I bet if I presented these to him, none of the rest of us would get one. lol These sound and look fantastic!
KRYSTLE COOK says
I am all for tots. They are one of my fav things if I go to Sonic. That and a slushy.
Debra says
Bacon tots?!?! I need this in my life. It sounds absolutely amazing. What a great combination!
jill conyers says
Bacon is one of those foods people love or hate. My daughter happens to be in the love group. She would love this.
Deb- It's me, debcb! says
OMG, these look amazing! Two of my favorite foods!
tp keane says
Oh wow, these look amazing. I’m going to have to try these ones for sure.
Ana De- Jesus says
My bestie would murder someone for a bacon tot. I have never seen someone so obsessed with bacon I think he would even put it in his cereal lol.
Denea says
This sounds amazing! i think my 3 year old will love this! I will try it with turkey bacon!
Amanda Love says
We actually had tater tots for dinner tonight and if I had seen this before, I might have made these instead but now I might just do it the next time we’re doing tots.
Amanda says
Wow. This looks so good I might have to get out of bed right now to make them! What an amazing recipe.
Blythe A. says
When I lived in Chicago I would order tots all the time. It is such a big there. I tried to make them once myself, but the recipe was too complicated. Can’t wait to try this one out. You’ve made it sound easy to follow.
Terri Steffes says
I would probably serve these to just one person: ME! Honestly these look amazing and I know my husband would love them, too!
Michele says
Terri~ You and I would get along great…. those are my thoughts exactly when I make these, “why do I have to share?” LOL Thanks for stopping by!
michele says
This looks so good. I could see making this for bbq or cookout this summer! Great post!
Karen says
This looks so yummy! I want to make them on a Friday night! Very unique recipe-thanks!
Karen | GlamKaren.com
Robin Rue (@massholemommy) says
Yassss! This is exactly my kind of snack! I could eat these every single day. So could my kids 🙂
Cakespy says
Oh girl we are all in trouble now. I feel like I shouldn’t even show this to my sweetheart. 😉
Michele says
but think how much you’ll be loved if you do?!?!?
Courtney Lopez says
I wonder how fast these will disappear in my house – batter make a double batch 🙂
Danielle - The Creative Bite says
This is a whole new level of tator tots. I love it!
Michele says
THANKS Danielle! Im glad you like the recipe! ~m
Megan @ MegUnprocessed says
I love making my own tater tots!
Michele says
So much better than the store bought ones!
DessertForTwo says
This is GENIUS!
Ally's Sweet & Savory Eats says
You’re right, these do look addicting! But so worth it.
Michele says
I agree Ally! ~m
Cristie | Little Big H says
So simple but so delicious. Just the type of recipes that I like. Will be giving these a try asap.
Michele says
Let me know how they turn out!
Beth says
Oh! Those look fantastic! I love adding the bacon idea! Super! Who doesn’t love bacon, after all!
Michele says
No-one in my world! W <3 bacon!
Ali @ Home & Plate says
These would disappear in my house in no time at all. I would have to make a double batch and keep the hubby away.
Michele says
Definitely a double batch if your hubby is anything like mine! !m
Andrea @ Cooking with Mamma C says
These sound so evil but in a good way! I love that you’re using fresh potatoes for your tots here, and then with the bacon, just wow!
Michele says
Why thank you Andrea… the bacon does really make these pretty tastY! ~m
The Food Hunter says
you had me at crunchy bacon!