Crispy tater tots, gooey Colby jack cheese, and seasoned ground beef come together to make Mexican Totchos. This recipe is easy and fun to make, and can be customized with many different fresh toppings!
Totchos are a dish that never seems to fail me! I love being able to use different ingredients to create a different flavor profile. But, Mexican totchos are a classic that I always come back to.
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This recipe is so easy to make, you just need to cook the tater tots and ground beef on their own, then assemble them with the cheese and broil.
These are great for parties as appetizers or casual dinners because you can double or triple the recipe without any extra effort.
Ingredient Notes
Please take a look at the printable recipe card below for all ingredients, specific measurements, and complete instructions.
- Ground Beef—A great source of protein for your totchos! You can also use ground chicken.
- Spice Blend—A blend of garlic powder, salt, cumin, and red pepper flakes.
- Tater Tots— Cooked. You can use the oven or an air fryer.
- Colby Jack Cheese—Shredded.
How to Make Mexican Totchos
The first step is to cook your tater tots according to package directions.
The next step is to brown the ground beef. In a large pan add the ground beef, garlic powder, cumin, salt, and red pepper flakes Break up the ground beef and cook over medium-high heat until the ground beef is cooked through and no longer pink. Drain any excess grease.
The final step is to assemble and cook. Set your oven to broil. Spread the cooked tater tots on a baking sheet and top them with the ground beef and cheese. Cook until the cheese is completely melted.
Serve immediately with your favorite toppings and enjoy! We like to top it with salsa and guacamole.
Best Totchos Toppings
The great thing about Totchos is that they are easy to customize!
- Veggies—Corn, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and homemade salsa all make great additions to your Mexican totchos.
- Sauces—Adding a little sour cream, chipotle sauce, guacamole, or salsa verde is a quick and easy way to take your dish to the next level.
- Cheese—Switch things up by using pepper jack, sharp cheddar, or queso fresco instead of Colby Jack.
- Other Toppings—Some of our other favorite toppings include fresh limes, jalapenos, olives, avocado, pico de gallo and green onions.
Storing and Reheating
If you have any leftover Totchos, they can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat them in the microwave for 35 seconds, or until hot. Keep in mind that they will not be as crispy as when you first serve them. You can also reheat the leftovers in the air fryer for 5 minutes at 350°F to reconstitute the crispiness in the tater tots.
Recipe Tips
- Make sure you drain as much grease as you can from your ground beef, otherwise it will soak into your tater tots and cause them to become a little soggy.
- I like to cook the tater tots in the air fryer since it takes the least amount of time, but the oven works as well and can cut down on dishes since you can cook them in the same 9x13-inch pan.
- When possible, shredding your own cheese is the best! It will melt faster and more evenly and become extra gooey.
- In addition to garlic powder and cumin, you can also season your ground beef with taco seasoning to get the ultimate flavor.
- To save on some cleanup time, line your baking sheet with parchment paper!
If you like tater tot nachos you will want to make these Pulled Pork Totchos and Pepperoni Pizza Totchos.
I hope you enjoy these Mexican-style Totchos. They make an easy meal or appetizer, and are a favorite during football season.
Mexican Totchos Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 pound bag tater tots, cooked
- 1½ cups shredded Colby Jack cheese
Instructions
- Set your oven to broil on high.
- Combine the ground beef, garlic powder, cumin, salt, and red pepper flakes in a large pan over medium-high heat.
- Use a spatula to break up the ground beef as it cooks. Cook for about 7 to 10 minutes until it is cooked through and no longer pink. Drain the excess grease from the pan.
- Spread your tater tots on a 9x13-inch baking sheet and top them with the ground beef and cheese. Cook your Totchos for 5 minutes or until the cheese is completely melted.
- Serve immediately with your favorite toppings, and enjoy!