Ultimate Crispy Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots: Your New Favorite Snack
Prepare for an explosion of flavor and texture with these incredible Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots! Imagine the perfect bite: a fluffy, tender tater tot interior, encased in savory, perfectly crispy bacon, all air-fried to golden-brown perfection. These bite-sized morsels are not just delicious; they are incredibly easy to make, boasting an irresistible sweet and salty combination that will have everyone reaching for more. Whether you’re hosting a party, looking for a fun appetizer, or simply craving a satisfying snack, this recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that comes together in less than 30 minutes with just a few simple ingredients.
Why You’ll Love These Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots in the Air Fryer
These bacon-wrapped tater tots are the ultimate appetizer bites that will have family and friends raving! Seriously, make a double or triple batch of these, because the plate will be empty before you even know it. The air fryer works its magic, ensuring that each tater tot is cooked through to a soft, steamy perfection while the bacon crisps up beautifully, creating a delightful contrast. The subtle sweetness from the brown sugar glaze adds another layer of addictive flavor, making these an unforgettable treat.
This is a fantastic and versatile snack that can be easily whipped up for various occasions. They are perfect for casual movie nights, intense game day gatherings, or as a fun, effortless addition to both kids’ and adults’ birthday parties. Their quick preparation time means less stress in the kitchen and more time enjoying delicious food with your loved ones. Plus, using an air fryer makes the process much cleaner and often healthier than traditional deep-frying, without sacrificing any of that beloved crispiness.
More Air Fryer Bacon Delights:
If you’re a true bacon enthusiast, the air fryer opens up a world of crispy possibilities! For a lighter, yet equally delicious, option, try our air fryer turkey bacon. And for more creative bacon-wrapped recipes that utilize the magic of the air fryer, don’t miss our Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Pineapple for a sweet and savory sensation, Bacon Wrapped Asparagus for a healthier side, or the unique and fun Air Fryer Twisted Bacon. Explore our full collection of bacon wrapped recipes made in the air fryer for endless inspiration.
Essential Ingredients for Your Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots
This recipe is delightfully simple, requiring only three core ingredients. Quality matters, but don’t overthink it – even basic supermarket items will yield fantastic results!
- Frozen Tater Tots: We recommend classic brands like Ore-Ida Frozen Tater Tots. Using them frozen is key, as they hold their shape better during wrapping and cooking.
- Slices Bacon: Opt for regular-cut bacon. Thick-cut bacon can take longer to crisp up in the air fryer and might result in uneven cooking with the tater tot. About 12 slices will yield 24 bacon strips once halved.
- Brown Sugar: This provides that wonderful sweet and savory crust. Light or dark brown sugar both work well.
Optional Flavor Boosters:
Elevate your bacon-wrapped tater tots with a touch of extra seasoning! For a delicious spicy kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, or ancho chili powder to your brown sugar coating. If you prefer savory notes, try incorporating a dash of seasoning salt, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, or a hint of cumin. These additions can transform your tots from great to absolutely extraordinary!
How to Master Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots: A Step-by-Step Guide
Making these delightful snacks is incredibly straightforward. Follow these simple steps for perfectly crispy and delicious results every time.
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Prepare the Bacon:
Begin by taking each slice of bacon and cutting it in half lengthwise. This will give you roughly 24 shorter bacon strips, which are the perfect size to wrap around individual tater tots without excessive overlap. This ensures the bacon cooks evenly and crisps up perfectly.
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Wrap the Tater Tots:
Carefully take one half-slice of bacon and wrap it around a single frozen tater tot. Try to wrap it snugly to ensure even cooking. If the ends don’t quite meet or you’re worried about them unraveling, you can secure them with a toothpick, which can be removed after cooking.
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Coat with Brown Sugar:
In a medium-sized bowl, gently toss the bacon-wrapped tots with the brown sugar. Ensure each piece is evenly coated. The brown sugar will caramelize during cooking, creating a delectable crispy, sweet, and savory crust on the bacon.
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Arrange in Air Fryer Basket:
Carefully place the sugar-coated, bacon-wrapped tots in your air fryer basket. It is crucial to arrange them in a single layer, ensuring they do not stack or overlap. This allows the hot air to circulate freely around each piece, guaranteeing maximum crispiness and even cooking. You may need to cook in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
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Air Fry to Perfection:
Air fry at 350 degrees F (175°C) for 14-16 minutes. Halfway through the cooking time (around the 7-8 minute mark), give the basket a good shake or flip each tot to ensure even crisping on all sides. Continue cooking until the bacon reaches your desired level of crispness and the tater tots are thoroughly cooked and golden brown.
I personally use my Cosori 5.8 qt. air fryer for this recipe, and it consistently delivers perfect results. Keep in mind that air fryer models vary in size, wattage, and heating efficiency. Therefore, your cooking time might need to be adjusted by 1-2 minutes or even slightly more to achieve your preferred level of bacon crispiness and tater tot doneness.
Achieving Perfection: Expert Tips for Air Frying Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots
To ensure your bacon-wrapped tater tots turn out perfectly every single time, keep these expert tips in mind:
- Don’t Defrost the Tots: As mentioned, frozen tater tots maintain their shape much better when wrapping. If they are defrosted, they can become soft and crumbly, making them harder to handle.
- Preheat Your Air Fryer: While not always strictly necessary, preheating your air fryer for 3-5 minutes at the cooking temperature can help the bacon start crisping immediately, leading to a better texture.
- Maintain a Single Layer: This is critical for air frying success. Overcrowding the basket prevents hot air from circulating, resulting in soggy bacon and unevenly cooked tots. Work in batches if necessary.
- Shake or Flip Halfway: For even browning and crispiness, gently shake the air fryer basket or use tongs to flip each tater tot about halfway through the cooking time.
- Adjust for Bacon Thickness: If you use thinner-cut bacon, it might cook faster. For thicker bacon, you might need an extra minute or two, but generally stick to regular-cut for this recipe.
- Toothpicks for Security: If your bacon doesn’t stay wrapped tightly, simply use a wooden toothpick to secure it. Remember to remove them before serving!
- Easy Cleanup: For effortless cleaning, consider lining your air fryer basket with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper specially designed for air fryers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots
Absolutely! You can prepare the bacon-wrapped tater tots up to 2-3 days in advance. Simply wrap them and store them in an airtight container in your refrigerator. When you’re ready to serve, just pop them into your air fryer following the recipe instructions. They might need an extra minute or two of cooking time if they’re particularly cold from the fridge. Reheating leftovers is also easy; air fry at 350°F for 3-5 minutes until heated through and crispy again.
These bacon-wrapped tater tots are incredibly versatile! They make a fantastic addition to breakfast or brunch, pairing wonderfully with items like Air Fryer Scrambled Eggs or Air Fryer Egg Bites. For lunch or dinner, they are perfect as a side to a juicy Air Fryer Hamburger, a tender Air Fryer Steak, or even a simple sandwich. Their savory profile makes them an excellent companion to almost any meal.
To store leftover bacon-wrapped tater tots, first allow them to cool completely to room temperature. Then, place them in an airtight container or a resealable storage bag. They can be kept in your refrigerator for up to 3 days. For longer storage, you can freeze them in a freezer-safe bag or airtight container for up to 2 months. Reheat from frozen or thawed in the air fryer for best results.
While you technically *can* use defrosted tater tots, we strongly recommend using them frozen. Frozen tots are much easier to handle and hold their shape better when wrapping the bacon. Defrosted tater tots tend to become quite soft and can crumble, making the wrapping process more challenging. If you do use defrosted tots, be extra gentle, and adjust your cooking time as they will cook faster than frozen ones.
These bacon-wrapped delights are fantastic on their own, but a dipping sauce can take them to the next level! Popular choices include tangy BBQ sauce, creamy ranch dressing, sweet and savory honey mustard, a robust blue cheese dressing, or a spicy sriracha aioli. Don’t be afraid to experiment with your favorites!
EXPLORE MORE AIR FRYER RECIPES:
- Twisted Bacon in the Air Fryer
- Crispy Air Fryer Turkey Bacon
- Perfect Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs
- Fluffy Air Fryer Scrambled Eggs
- Quick Air Fryer French Toast Sticks
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Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots
Equipment
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1 Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 24 frozen tater tots
- 12 slices bacon
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
Instructions
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Cut each slice of bacon in half, making 24 bacon slices.
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Wrap one piece of bacon strip around one tater tot. Seal ends together with toothpicks if necessary.
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In a medium bowl, toss bacon wrapped tots with brown sugar to coat.
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Place coated tots in the air fryer basket, without stacking or overlapping.
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Air fry at 350 degrees F for 14-16 minutes, until bacon reaches your desired crispness, and tater tots are cooked through.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.