PARTNER POST: Reinvent potato recipes to be fresher and lighter in the new year. Make it your resolution to try these dishes as nutritious packed lunch ideas.
Learn how to make your own tater tots that are just as delicious, but better for you and can be made gluten free.
By Sharon Lachendro
Potato tots are one of those foods that are loved by just about everyone. Except me. I never really loved the frozen version. 
I didn’t eat them growing up because we didn’t buy tater tots. I think my parents had a “Why buy it when you can make it” type of mentality.
So yeah… Tater tots are not one of those nostalgic “oh my god I ate that all the time growing up!” kinds of food for me. Unless, they’re homemade. Because homemade gluten free tater tots are totally awesome. So these are awesome-tots.
I make my potato tots about twice the size as store bought ones. You can make them store bought size if you’d like. Just remember, you’re hand-rolling these little nuggets of potato delicousness so if you enjoy things like looking for needles in haystacks, counting pennies, or waiting for the cows to come home, then rolling tiny tots just might be the thing for you.
These gluten free tater tots, although pan fried, are still a better choice than store-bought ones. You can completely control the ingredients you use. For these, that means minimal ingredients with real potatoes being the bulk of the recipe. I also made these dairy-free which means my whole family can enjoy them.
Not only are these a great side dish for dinner, they’re great for lunches. If you’re trying to make more of an effort to skip the drive-thru and bring your lunch to work, you can have these and still have your beloved potatoes. And I must admit, these are way tastier than fries
Did you know potatoes are naturally fat free, sodium free, and cholesterol free? They’re also full of potassium, an essential mineral – they have more than bananas. They’re even a good source of Vitamin C, fiber, B6 and Iron. Be sure to visit the The US Potato Board for more nutritional information and recipes.
Here is another great gluten free recipe that can double as a lunch at work.
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Homemade Tater Tots – Gluten Free
- Total Time: 45 minutes
Description
Learn how to make your own tater tots that are just as delicious, but better for you and can be made gluten free.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lb white potatoes
- 2 tsp fine sea salt
- cold water
- 4 Tbsp vegan butter
- ¼ C chicken broth
- salt and pepper (to taste)
- 2 large eggs (beaten)
- ½ C gluten free all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 1 c gluten free breadcrumbs
- oil for frying
Instructions
- Peel and cut the potatoes into 1 ½-2 inch pieces. Add them to a medium sized pot and add enough water to cover the potatoes by 2 inches and add the2 teaspoons salt. Bring the potatoes to a boil and then boil for 12-15 minutes (until fork tender).
- When the potatoes are cooked, drain the water and return them to the pan. Add the butter and chicken broth and mash the potatoes, leaving them slightly lumpy to give the potato tots better texture. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate the mashed potatoes overnight.
- When the potatoes are chilled, add them to a medium sized bowl with the eggs, flour, and garlic powder. Mix until completely combined.
- Use a tablespoon to scoop the potatoes and then roll into log shapes and then coat them in the breadcrumbs. Place the coated potato tots on a baking sheet are refrigerate while the oil is heating.
- In a large heavy bottom skillet, add enough oil to coat the bottom with 1 inch of oil. When the oil is hot (365 degrees), fry the potato tots about 2 minutes per side or until golden brown. Fry in batches so you don’t over-crowd the pan. When the potato tots are cooked, remove from the pan with a slotted spoon (or spider spoon) and drain on a paper towel lined plate. Season with salt immediately. Serve the potato tots hot with desired condiments.
Notes
Prep time does not include chilling time.
3 cups leftover mashed potatoes can be used in place of the potatoes, butter, and chicken broth.
Leftovers can be frozen and reheated in the oven at 425 degrees until heated through.
Makes about 3 dozen tater tots depending on size.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Side
These look positively delish! Have you ever tried making them with sweet potatoes? I try to limit the amount of white food I eat, but I may need to make an exception for these.
Hi Janet,
I have not used sweet potatoes in this recipes since I made is specifically to work with regular potatoes.