Truffle Tater Tots with Garlic Herb Aioli
Why These Tater Tots Will be The Star of the Party
- Quick and effortless: Frozen tater tots make this recipe incredibly easy, but the flavor feels totally restaurant-quality just like truffle fries.
- Crispy, cheesy perfection: Tossing the tots with parmesan while they’re hot creates the best savory coating in every bite.
- Gourmet flavor with minimal ingredients: Just a drizzle of truffle oil instantly upgrades a classic snack into something special.
- Perfect for parties and game day: These are the kind of appetizers that disappear fast and everyone keeps coming back for “just one more.”
- That garlic herb aioli is everything: Creamy, fresh, and packed with herbs, it’s the ultimate dip to balance the rich truffle flavor.
Table of Contents
Key Ingredient Notes
Tater Tots: Any brand of frozen tater tots works perfectly. I prefer cooking them in the air fryer for maximum crispiness, but the oven works just as well.
White Truffle Oil: A little goes a long way. White truffle oil has a more delicate flavor than black truffle oil, allowing the parmesan to shine through. Store it in a cool, dark place to preserve its aromatic qualities.
Fresh Parmesan: Always use freshly grated parmesan cheese rather than pre-grated. Fresh parmesan melts beautifully when tossed with hot tater tots and has a much better flavor and texture.
Fresh Herbs: The aioli really benefits from fresh herbs. Each one brings something special: chives add mild onion flavor, parsley provides freshness, dill adds brightness, and thyme contributes an earthy note. If you’re short on time, you can use dried herbs in a pinch (use half the amount), but fresh is definitely worth seeking out.
Cooking Methods for Tater Tots
- Air Fryer (Recommended): The air fryer produces the crispiest tater tots with minimal effort. Make sure to follow the package instructions for cooking as each one is slightly different. I usually cook them at 360°F for 13-15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until golden brown and crunchy.
- Oven: Spread tots in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 425°F for 20-25 minutes, flipping once halfway through. For extra crispiness, broil for 1-2 minutes at the end, if you’d like.
How To Make Truffle Tater Tots with Aioli
These truffle tater tots come together fast, but the key is finishing them while they’re still hot and crispy.
- Cook the Tater Tots Until Crispy: Air fry or bake the frozen tater tots until they’re deeply golden and crunchy on the outside. Tip: Don’t overcrowd the basket or pan, more space means crispier tots.
- Toss With Truffle Oil and Parmesan: Transfer the hot tots to a large bowl right away. While they’re still steaming, sprinkle in freshly grated parmesan and drizzle with truffle oil. Toss gently until every tot is coated and the cheese starts to melt slightly. The scent will be incredible!
- Make the Garlic Herb Aioli: Whisk together the creamy garlic herb aioli while the tots cook. The fresh herbs add a bright, flavorful contrast to the rich truffle and parmesan.
- Serve Right Away: Pile the tots onto a platter, top with a little extra parmesan, and serve warm with aioli for dipping.
Make-Ahead Tips
- The garlic herb aioli is actually better when made ahead because the flavors have time to meld and develop. Prepare it up to 2 days in advance and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Give it a quick stir before serving.
- The tater tots, however, are best cooked and served immediately after tossing with the parmesan and truffle oil while they’re still hot and crispy.
Serving Suggestions
These truffle tater tots make an excellent appetizer for game day, holiday gatherings, or cocktail parties. They’re also fantastic as a side dish alongside burgers, grilled steak, or roasted spatchcock chicken. For a fun twist, set up a “tater tot bar” with multiple dipping sauces including this garlic herb aioli, spicy mayo, ranch dressing, or even a truffle aioli.
Storing and Reheating
Store leftover aioli in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Reheating: Leftover tater tots can be reheated in the air fryer or oven to restore some crispiness. I prefer the air fryer at 360°F for about 2 minutes.
Recipe FAQ
Yes, but black truffle oil has a stronger, more earthy flavor than white truffle oil, but both work beautifully in this recipe.
Yes, when properly stored and consumed within a few days, aioli made with store-bought mayonnaise is safe. The acid from the lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce helps preserve it.
Absolutely! Use vegan mayonnaise for the aioli and substitute nutritional yeast or vegan parmesan for the cheese. The result will also be delicious.
The key is spreading them in a single layer without overcrowding in the baking sheet or tossing every few minute in air fryer. This allows hot air to circulate around each tot for maximum crispiness.
Feel free to customize! Tarragon, cilantro, and basil all work well but remember those are stronger herbs. You can also keep it simple with just parsley and chives if that’s what you have on hand.
More Recipes to Try
If you love these truffle tater tots, you’ll want to explore my full collection of crowd-pleasing appetizers! For more hot and cheesy favorites, try my Spinach Artichoke Dip or the irresistible Queso Blanco with Chorizo. Seafood lovers will go crazy for my Hot Crab Dip and Smoked Salmon Dip, while the Cajun Shrimp Dip brings some spicy heat to the table. If you’re looking for elegant finger foods, don’t miss my Bacon Wrapped Scallops or classic Stuffed Mushrooms. For party-perfect options, check out my Cocktail Meatballs and Ranch Cheddar Cheese Ball. Looking for more inspiration? Browse my complete collection of dip recipes and appetizers perfect for any occasion!
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Truffle Tater Tots Recipe with Garlic Herb Aioli
Ingredients
- 28 oz frozen tater tots
- 2 tsp white truffle oil
- 1/4 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese
Garlic Herb Aioli:
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 garlic cloves pressed
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 Tbsp minced fresh chives
- 1 Tbsp minced fresh parsley
- 1/2 Tbsp minced fresh dill weed
- 1 tsp minced fresh thyme
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp coarse kosher salt more or less to taste
- 1/4 tsp black pepper more or less to tase
Instructions
Garlic Herb Aioli:
- Combine everything in a bowl and whisk it together well, until evenly combined.
- This is a great dip to make ahead and store in the refrigerator, in an air-tight container. (Tastes even better the next day!)
Cooking Tater Tots:
- Air-fryer is my personal preferred methos for fast, easy, and crispy tater tots. You an also use an oven. Make sure to check the cooking instructions for the bag as some brands have a different cooking time recommendation.
- As soon as the tater tots are cooked, and still hot, add them to a large mixing bowl, sprinkle in most of the parmesan cheese, and drizzle the truffle oil all over the tots.
- Mix well but gently, so not to break up the tater tots. Once tossed, transfer into a lined serving platter and sprinkle more parmesan cheese on top.
- Serve with aioli. (Or any other dip you'd like.)
Nutrition
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All images and text ©Lyubov Brooke for ©Will Cook For Smiles. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If using my posts in collections and features, please link back to this post for the recipe.
Disclaimer: Nutrition information shown is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate as most ingredients and brands have variations.
