Sweet Potato Tater Tots

This baked sweet potato tater tots recipe makes tots that are crispy on the outside and tender in the middle. Homemade tots are easy to make and fun to enjoy as a healthy side dish.

A hand holds a sweet potato  tater tot dipped in ketchup, dangling over a plate with more tater tots and a bowl of ketchup.

One summer, I noticed there was a new addition on the Sonic menu, sweet potato tater tots. Holy. Motha.

I never chose anything else while those sweet potato tots were there. Maybe they were always there, and I just missed them. These tots…. they were different. They were softer… and sweeter….

I LOVED THEM, OKAY? We had something really special. And then one day they were gone. That’s why I had to create the recipe to make them at home.

Sweet Potato Tots

Here I am, years later looking at the picture of our baked sweet potato tater tots, and my mouth is watering.

It’s ridiculous and probably weird how much I love vegan tater tots.

So, if you haven’t already guessed, these tots are heavenly. Like, the perfect combination of the regular tots and the sweet potato. And they’re super easy!

Ten ingredients or less. Seriously, the perfect addition to your black bean burgers or vegan sandwiches or crispy fried tofu chicken sandwich.

Go make them, and your lives will be changgggged. This is the part where I disappear into the darkness and you’re all left mesmerized… But luckily you still have the tater tots to look at.

Ingredients are laid out on a table, including sweet potatoes, salt, notch, almond flour, cornstarch, panic crumbs, and olive oil.

Key Ingredients

You can find the full printable recipe, including ingredient quantities, below. But first, here are some explanations of ingredients and steps to help you make this recipe perfect every time.

Here are the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe, including substitution ideas:

  • Sweet potatoes — You’ll need two regular-sized sweet potatoes. Check out my post, Vegetables that Start with U, for more about Ube potatoes…if you’d like to transform these into purple sweet potato tots!
  • Nutritional yeast flakes (“nooch”) — You can find nutritional yeast flakes in most health food stores.
  • Ground flaxseed — We’ll use flaxseed and cornstarch as binding agents.
  • Almond flour — I’m using almond flour to keep these tots gluten-free, but you can substitute all-purpose flour if gluten is not on your radar.
  • Salt — Sweet potatoes are, well, sweet. Adding a bit of salt tones that down some.
  • Panko crumbs — This part is optional, but adding breadcrumbs helps create a crispy tater tot crust. You can use regular or gluten-free.

How to Make Sweet Potato Tater Tots

It’s oh so fun to make these baked Sweet Potato Tots! Let’s get started!

  1. Cook sweet potatoes in the microwave for 2 to 4 minutes (stab them first).
  2. Allow the sweet potatoes to cool, then chop them into large pieces.
  3. Add sweet potatoes to a food processor along with the remaining ingredients (except for the panko crumbs).
    Mashed sweet potatoes and other ingredients are in a food processor.
  4. Pulse for a few seconds until the ingredients are combined, leaving lots of sweet potato pieces.
    Pulsed sweet potatoes are in a food processor.
  5. Roll into a tater tot form, roll in the bread crumbs, and place on the prepared baking sheet.
  6. Optional: Brush tots with olive oil.
  7. Place the pan in the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the outside crust is golden.

What Makes This Recipe Shine?

  • EASY — Pulse ingredients in a food processor, form into tots and bake, it’s that easy!
  • VERSATILE — Add your favorite seasonings, such as smoked paprika or even cinnamon.
  • FREEZER-FRIENDLY — Make a double batch and freeze these tots to serve with any meal.

Air Fryer Tater Tots

Want to make these sweet potato air fryer tots? Here’s how:

  1. Simply heat up your air fryer to 400°F/200°C.
  2. Spray the air fryer basket with vegetable cooking spray.
  3. Add breaded tots to the air fryer basket on a single layer at the bottom of the basket. Do not stack tots as they may stick.
  4. Cook for 5 minutes, then remove the air fryer basket and use tongs to flip the tots.
  5. Cook for another 10 minutes or so, until crispy and brown.
  6. Repeat this process with the rest of the uncooked tots.

Storage Tips

Store tots in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. They can be frozen in freezer-safe containers for up to 2 months.

Sweet Potato Favorites

If you love these sweet potato tater tots, you’ll want to try even more sweet potato recipes. Here are some of our favorites:

A hand holds a sweet potato tater tot dipped in ketchup, dangling over a plate with more tater tots and a bowl of ketchup.

Sweet Potato Tater Tots

Enjoy these easy, delicious Baked Sweet Potato Tater Tots as a fun, healthy way to get your tots in! Crispy on the outside, savory on the inside!
5 from 3 votes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 130kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 medium sweet potatoes not skinned, washed
  • 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast flakes
  • 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
  • 1 tablespoon almond flour or flour of your choice
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup panko crumbs regular or gluten-free
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil (omit for oil-free)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375°F/190°C. Spray a cooking sheet with vegetable spray. See notes for air fryer instructions.
  • Stab each sweet potato with a fork several times. Place in a microwave and cook for two minutes. The potatoes should be slightly tender at this point.
  • Allow the sweet potatoes to cool, then chop them into large pieces.
  • Place in a food processor along with the remaining ingredients except for the panko crumbs. Pulse for a few seconds until the ingredients are combined. We’re going for a rough texture here, with lots of sweet potato pieces.
  • Portion the dough in large tablespoons (you can use a cookie dough scoop for this). Roll it into a tater tot form, roll the tot in the bread crumbs, and place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat until all the mixture is gone.
  • Place the pan in the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the outside crust is golden. Remove from the oven. Serve warm.

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Notes

Make Air Fryer Tots: Heat your air fryer to 400°F/200°C. Spray the air fryer basket with vegetable cooking spray. Place battered tots in a single row in the bottom of the basket. Cook for 5 minutes. Then remove the basket and use tongs to turn the tots. Return to the air fryer and cook for another 10 minutes or so, until crispy and golden brown. Repeat with the remaining tots.
Calories: 130kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 3g | Sodium: 672mg | Potassium: 285mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 9220IU | Vitamin C: 1.6mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 1.1mg

The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

This post was originally published in 2015 and was updated to include new photos, new text, and an updated recipe in 2022.

5 Responses to Sweet Potato Tater Tots

  1. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyLeah BREVER Reply

    I LOVE THAT YOU show the nutritional information. I am diabetic and that really does matter to me. Thanks.

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      Hi Leah. I’m so glad this information is helpful!

  2. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyRebecca Reply

    5 stars
    Wow, these homemade tater tots were so easy…and tasty!

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      I’m so glad you like them Rebecca!

  3. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMaria powell Reply

    5 stars
    I like my sweets to be on candy. But wow! These tater tots really knocked them out of the park!

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