No need to hit up your favorite restaurant or food truck because you can easily make these right at home! Crispy tater tots topped with warm, creamy queso cheese sauce, taco meat, salsa verde crema, and all of your favorite toppings!
After making and devouring these amazeballz “totchos”, it’s going to be really hard to go back to regular ol’ tacos!
Not only were they over-the-top delicious, but also super fun and easy to make and eat! And a whole lot less messy, too!
I served these up on some warmed, appetizer-sized cast iron fajita pans, but regular dinner plates work just fine, too.
After making a batch of taco meat, (*I made my homemade ground beef kind – “Best Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix“), but you can make your own favorite recipe or even cheat and use a store-bought packet if you want to. Whatever is easiest, and most convenient for you.
Then you start layering and building! Baked tater tots first, then ladled with my easy homemade queso blanco cheese sauce!
Then pile as much or little taco meat on top as you’d like!
Then it’s just a matter of whatever toppings you want. I first added shredded lettuce and chopped tomatoes…
…then my easy-peasy salsa verde crema.
Next, because we’re total cheese fanatics, I added a small handful of shredded Mexican blend cheese!
I know! But believe me when I say, it can handle it. It wasn’t cheese overload at all.
Lastly, I added two nice spoonfuls of sour cream….
…and garnished the top with pickled jalapeño slices!
You can, of course, add whatever toppings you enjoy! Sliced black olives, green onions, guacamole, hot sauce, black beans, pico de gallo, avocado, cilantro, or even a squirt of fresh lime juice!
And if you have everything already made, except for baking the tater tots, this is a fun dish to serve for Football Sunday, get-togethers, and parties, too!
Just keep the meat and queso cheese sauce warm in crock pots on Low, and set out a nice assortment of other toppings for your guests to pile on!
My hubby loved these so much, that he wanted a nice big plate of them the next day! I aimed to please!! And he ate very last bite, too!!
Your family and friends will go crazy over this! You’ll definitely want to double or triple the recipe!
And if you use my taco meat recipe, all the better! I promise you it’s wonderful! (*You can sub water for the beer if you prefer.)
So, if you’re looking for something fun to make today, for whatever event you have going on, or just for the family, you just found it!!
I think that this was the most fun I’ve ever had eating tacos! Those tater tots were just too much fun!
So, be sure to save this recipe on your Pinterest boards for safe keeping, because this Easy Cheesy Taco Totchos dish will become one of your favorite go-to’s whenever regular ol’ tacos just won’t do! Hope you all enjoy!!
*This recipe uses my Best Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix.
Easy Cheesy Taco Totchos
Ingredients
- 4 - 6 servings tater tots, baked or fried according to package
- 1 lb. cooked ground beef taco meat, my recipe preferably *see link in blog
Queso Cheese Sauce:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 lb. Land O'Lakes white american cheese slices, cubed
- 1 - 2 (4.5 oz.) cans chopped green chilies, to taste
Salsa Verde Crema:
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 Tbl. salsa verde, or more to taste
- tiny pinch of salt
- heavy cream to thin a little if desired for consistency
Toppings:
- shredded mexican blend cheese
- shredded lettuce
- chopped tomatoes
- chopped red onion or snipped green onion
- guacamole
- sour cream
- pickled jalapeno slices
Instructions
In large frying pan, sauté ground beef until no longer pink. Drain grease, and add taco seasoning ingredients. *My recipe for homemade, your own recipe, or seasoning packet. Add liquid and simmer until done, stirring occasionally. Cover and set aside.
While beef is simmering, preheat oven according to tater tot package directions.
In small saucepan, heat cream until hot but not boiling. Add white American cheese cubes, and stir until melted and creamy. Add green chilies and stir until combined. Set aside.
When oven is hot, bake (or deep fry), tater tots.
While tater tots are baking, in small bowl whisk together sour cream and salsa verde adding salsa to your liking for taste and consistency. And a teeny bit of salt to taste if you'd like. (You can also thin it more with a little heavy cream.) Prep desired toppings.
To Assemble: On warmed plate or appetizer-sized, cast iron fajita pan, add hot tater tots and ladle warm queso blanco cheese over the top. Pile on taco meat, and add shredded lettuce and chopped tomato. Drizzle with salsa verde crema. Add shredded mexican blend cheese, sour cream, guacamole, green onions, and pickled jalapeno pepper slices. Serve warm and enjoy!
