Skip the chips and make nachos with tots instead! These Totchos use Tater Tots as the base and are topped with seasoned meat, crisp corn, savory black beans, and loads of melty cheese! Add your favorite nacho toppings and dig in!
TATER TOTS: Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 425 degrees F. Dump out both bags of Tater Tots on a large rimmed sheet pan. Space out tots as much as possible and bake for 20 minutes. Remove, flip, and bake for 15-20 more minutes (Note 2) or until tots are crisp and lightly browned.
BEEF: Meanwhile,add oil to a large skillet (cast iron if possible) over high heat. Once pan is hot, add ground beef and let sear (brown) by not touching for about 1 minute per side then begin crumbling with a wooden spoon cooking until the meat is no longer pink. Avoid stirring/breaking beef up too much-- allow it to brown (more flavor!). If there is a lot of extra grease (from higher-fat beef), drain off.
BEEF CONT.: Reduce heat to medium and add in the garlic and all the seasonings. Cook, stirring constantly, for ~1 minute or until very fragrant. Add in the tomato sauce and stir, scraping the bottom of the pan, until thickened, 1-2 minutes. Add in the frozen corn and drained and rinsed black beans. Mix through until corn is thawed and heated through, another 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to slightly cool.
BAKE NACHOS: Back to the tots: position the tots on the sheet pan so they are all close together. Spoon the beef mixture evenly over the tots, then sprinkle evenly with the cheese. Return to oven and bake again until the cheese is melted, about 8-10 minutes.
ENJOY: Meanwhile, prep the toppings you'll want for the nachos (cut up cherry tomatoes, thinly slice jalapeños, chop avocados, etc.) Remove nachos from the oven and immediately top with all your favorite totchos toppings and enjoy immediately!
Video
Notes
Note 1: Tater Tots: Hands-down our favorite tater tots are Alexia® Crispy Bite-Size Sweet Potato Puffs (not sponsored). If you’ve never tried these, you are in for a real treat! They’re mega flavorful, light, and crispy on the outside, tender on the inside. Here’s where to check if your local store carries them.Note 2: Tater Tot baking times: Although the package indicates less baking time, I typically bake them a little longer since there are 2 full bags, not just one. If you aren't using Alexia's tots, roughly follow package directions for baking tots, adding time if needed to get them crisp and baked through (they don't crisp up much more once the beef and other ingredients are added.)