Copycat Cheesecake Factory Potato Tots

These Cheesecake Factory loaded baked potato tots are probably the best tater tots you will ever eat! And the best thing about these homemade tater tots is that you don’t have to go out every time you are craving them. They are so easy to make and your family will crave them all the time!

A few weeks ago, Forrest and I went to the Cheesecake Factory and just got a bunch of sides and appetizers! One of our favorite items were the loaded baked potato tots.

They were SO delicious! They were crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and had just the perfect amount of cheese, bacon, and a few other ingredients.

As we tried to figure out the consistency, we really both thought they tasted a little tater tot-esque! So that’s the base that we did for this.

While I wouldn’t say they are a 100% replica, I DO think they taste pretty similar – and absolutely delicious. Don’t skip freezing them, though – that’s the key to frying them to perfection!

How to make copycat Cheesecake Factory loaded baked potato tots

This recipe is very simple and doesn’t take too long to make, which is great for all of those who are really busy! And because these are tater tots, all of your picky eaters will love this recipe. These tater tots are a lot of steps up from fast food tater tots, and once you have these, you might not be able to go back…so beware!

Tater tots make a great side dish for lots of different meals, so if you aren’t sure what to make tater tots with, you don’t have to worry (they go with everything)! You can also eat these tots with any kind of sauce, although the ranch dressing and Sriracha mayo combo is hard to beat.

What is the best dipping sauce for these?

At The Cheesecake Factory, they were served with a Sriaracha mayo, which was fantastic! I think there was also a ranch dressing – I can’t remember entirely!

Can these be reheated?

Yes, they can definitely be reheated! You can reheat them by baking them, Air frying them, and grilling them. You can also microwave them, but it’s recommended to use a method other than the microwave.

You certainly can use a microwave – it just won’t make for a particularly crispy tot.

Do tater tots contain gluten?

Tater tots are just potatoes in a different form, so you would think that tater tots would be gluten free. However, tater tots are often made with flour either as a coating or a thickener.

If you are gluten free, there are some other tater tot options that do not contain flour and can be a substitute for tater tot brands that contain gluten.

Is this recipe good for you?

Unfortunately, no matter how good they taste, tater tots are not a very healthy option. This recipe has a lot of fat to begin with – and that isn’t helped by frying them (though they are so delicious).

As long as you aren’t eating these every day, you don’t have to worry, but it is good to eat them in moderation. So when you end up loving this recipe, just don’t go too crazy and make it every day!

Ingredients

• 1 bag tator tots
• 1 3/4  cups sour cream 
• 1/4 cup bacon bits 
• 2 stalks green onion 
• 3/4 cup cheddar cheese 
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1/2 teaspoon Pepper
• About 2 cups Panko Bread Crumbs
• Oil

Instructions

1. Bake tater tots  according to directions on the bag.
2. Blend up tater tots until mostly smooth with a few chunks – a food processor works best for this, but you can hand mash as well.
3. Mix tater tots in a bowl with other ingredients except Panko.
4. Roll into a teaspoon sized ball.
5. Roll ball in panko and place on a baking sheet.
6. Cover and freezer for about 15 minutes.
7. In the mean time, heat your oil to about 375 degrees.
8. Remove potato balls from the freezer and fry until golden brown.
9. Drain excess grease on paper towel
10. Serve with ranch dressing and Sriracha Mayo.
11. Enjoy 

Baked potato tots recipe card

Baked potato tots recipe steps

Can tater tots get freezer burn?

Like almost everything else, tater tots are not exempt from freezer burn. It’s recommended to take the expiration date seriously and use the tater tots before that date. However, a few days past the expiration date won’t make much of a difference taste wise, but the consistency turns a bit mealy, so keep that in mind!

Can tater tots be microwaved?

The short answer is yes. However, one of the best thing about tater tots is the crispy outer layer. When you microwave tater tots instead of frying or baking them, you lose that delectable crispiness!

More Cheesecake Factory Recipes You Might Enjoy:

• Copycat Cheesecake Factory Cheesy Spinach Dip Recipe
• Tamarind Cashew Sauce Recipe – Cheesecake Factory Copycat
• Cheesecake Factory Avocado Egg Rolls Recipe
• Copycat Cheesecake Factory Loaded Baked Potato Tots

More Potato Recipes:

• Easy Colcannon Potatoes Recipe
• Easy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
• The Best Hash Brown Cheesy Potatoes Casserole
• Easy BBQ Potato Wedges
• Easy and Cheesy Funeral Potatoes Recipe
• 30-Minute Mini Twice Baked Potatoes with Bacon
• Jalapeno Popper Potato Salad
• Easy Cheesy Baked Zucchini Tots

This tater tots recipe will become one of your go-to recipes, especially for those picky eaters in your family! Plus, once you eat these homemade tater tots, you won’t ever want to eat fast food tater tots ever again (let the homemade and fast food competition begin)!