Ingredients:

  • 1 lb frozen tater tots
  • 1 tsp olive oil or avocado oil spray
  • 0.5 tsp fine sea salt
  • 0.25 tsp garlic powder
  • 0.25 tsp smoked paprika

Instructions:

  1. Preheat the air fryer. Set your machine to 400°F and let it run for about 3 minutes. This ensures the tots start searing the moment they touch the metal.
  2. Prepare the spice blend. Whisk the salt, garlic powder, and smoked paprika in a small bowl.
  3. Load the basket. Place the 1 lb of frozen tater tots in a single layer. A little overlap is okay, but avoid stacking them three deep.
  4. Initial cook. Slide the basket in and set the timer for 5 minutes.
  5. The first shake. Pull the basket out and give it a vigorous toss.
  6. Apply the oil. Lightly mist the tots with your 1 tsp of oil. Doing this now rather than at the start helps the spices stick to the warm surface.
  7. Season the potatoes. Sprinkle your spice blend evenly over the tots while shaking the basket.
  8. Final blast. Return to the fryer for another 7 minutes until deep golden and crackling.
  9. Check for doneness. Give them one final shake; they should sound 'hollow' or like dry pebbles hitting the basket.
  10. Rest briefly. Let them sit in the basket for 1 minute before serving. This allows the steam to dissipate so they don't soften immediately on the plate.