I grew up on tater tots. As a kid and even as an adult I preferred them to french fries even! I love the texture of crispy tots and their delicious flavor, so it makes me so happy that they have been having a resurgence in popularity for a few years now! If you love them too, you might also want to try my Tater Tot Casserole recipe next! One of my favorite ways to use a bag of frozen tots (besides, you know, just dipping them in fry sauce or ketchup), is to make these loaded tater tot nachos! They’re just like nachos except with crispy tater tots stepping in for the tortilla chips. Whenever I see loaded totchos on the menu I order them because they are always so good! There is a food truck at our local farmer’s market that sells lobster totchos that are insanely delicious that I might need to recreate one of these days as well. But for now, these barbecue pulled pork totchos never fail to bring smiles when I serve them to my husband and kids for dinner or bring out a big pan for sharing when we have friends over, especially if there is a big game on like the Super Bowl.
Why Everybody Loves Totchos
Simple & inexpensive. This is one of those recipes where I don’t really measure most of the time because it’s so easy to eyeball it. And it’s a great way to stretch a protein or use up leftovers! Easy prep! We’re talking maybe 10 minutes including using freshly grated cheese. I always have some leftover pulled pork in the freezer and this is a great way to use leftovers. Or buy premade smoked pulled pork from Costco and use that if you don’t have any at home and don’t have the time to make it. Don’t get too hung up on the bbq flavor either – you can even use leftover pork carnitas or kalua pork since you’ll add bbq sauce to top the totchos anyway and nobody is going to notice much. Customizable. Want things spicier? Add some sliced fresh jalapenos! Care for some ranch action? Combine equal parts bbq sauce and ranch to drizzle over the top (it’s delicious!). Want more of a taco version? Toss the frozen tots with some taco seasoning before baking and use taco meat or shredded chicken instead of pulled pork. Satisfying. You’ve got a solid protein, carb, dairy, and veggies (in the form of plenty of green onions & fresh pico de gallo) in one incredible dish that you can serve family style. Everybody likes to dig in their own way – some just use fingers to pick up the totchos and others are more civilized and prefer to use a fork.
What You’ll Need
Scroll down to the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
Frozen tater tots – I like to buy the seasoned variety, but any tater tots will work. The brands we see most are Alexia and Ore-Ida and we usually just buy what’s on sale. Shredded pulled pork – I like to keep leftover pulled pork stored in individual portion sizes for our family of four in the freezer for throwing together easy dinners like this, but there are actually some pretty great premade versions you can buy in the refrigerated section at the store. Cheddar cheese – Use freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese for the best flavor since it holds up well to the other big flavors of the bbq sauce and toppings. Plus, freshly grated melts much better than the pre-shredded kind from the store. Sour cream or Mexican crema – This adds a wonderfully tangy contrast that is classic on loaded nachos. You can pile it on top or drizzle it over the big pan of totchos so there is some in every bite. BBQ sauce – You can make your own barbecue sauce or use your favorite store-bought brand. Our family loves Kinder’s bbq sauce flavors. Pico de gallo – Possibly my favorite condiment ever, this combination of chopped tomatoes, onions, and cilantro is so good I can eat it with a spoon. You can buy this from the store or make it fresh yourself with my homemade pico de gallo recipe. Green onions – I love the crisp, sharp flavor these add to the totchos. They pair perfectly with the shredded pork, cheese, and tots to keep the tater tot nachos from feeling too heavy.
How to Make Loaded Totchos
Tips for Success
Vegetarian totchos: You can leave the pulled pork off entirely for a meatless option if you have vegetarian friends coming over. Protein substitutions: Sub another protein source like shredded chicken, shredded beef, or taco meat. Cooked lobster or crab is an even more indulgent option that is delicious! Optional additions: Crumbled cooked bacon, coleslaw, sliced jalapeños, pickled onions, pickled jalapeños, chopped red or white onion, black beans, lime wedges, sliced avocado, guacamole, or anything else you can think of!
What to Serve With Totchos
Looking for some ideas to round out your meal? Totchos are pretty filling all by themselves, so we typically like to serve them with a fun beverage or another appetizer or side dish that compliments the flavors of the pulled pork and tater tots.
Easy Brazilian Lemonade (Limeade) Grilled Mexican Street Corn Horchata Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers Classic Frog Eyed Salad Easy Watermelon Lemonade
How to Store Leftovers
Like any nachos, these don’t store great. The tater tots will soften and get mushy from the other toppings, so they are best eaten right away. That said, if you have leftovers you can always stick them in the fridge for 3-4 days and reheat in the microwave until hot again. I don’t recommend freezing them.
More Appetizer Recipes
Hot Reuben Dip Crispy Loaded Potato Skins Grilled Mexican Street Corn 7 Layer Dip Roast Beef Sliders
Baked Greek Fries
BBQ Pulled Pork Nachos
Jalapeño Popper Dip
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