Name: Buffalo Tatchos
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: PT-491340H34M31S
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 (28 oz) bag frozen tater tots or potato nuggets; 1 tbsp olive oil (optional, for tossing); 1/2 tsp chili powder; 1/2 tsp smoked paprika; Salt and pepper, to taste; 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or chopped; 1/2 cup Buffalo wing sauce; 1/4 cup diced onion (optional); 2 tbsp diced celery (optional); 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar, pepper jack, Monterey Jack, or blend); 1/4 cup blue cheese crumbles (optional); 1/4 cup ranch or blue cheese dressing (for drizzling); 2 green onions, sliced; Optional: 1/4 cup crispy bacon bits; Optional: 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced; Optional: extra hot sauce, for drizzling

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

It’s playful and indulgent — part nacho, part loaded potato, all flavor.
The Buffalo sauce gives a spicy, tangy kick that contrasts beautifully with creamy dressings like ranch or blue cheese.
It’s flexible and customizable: use shredded chicken, or go vegetarian, swap cheeses, add extra toppings.
It’s easy to scale up or down for parties or solo feasts.

Ingredients

(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)

For the Base

Frozen tater tots or bite‑sized potato nuggets
Olive oil (optional, for tossing)
Seasonings (e.g. chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, pepper)

For the Buffalo Chicken Topping

Cooked chicken (shredded or chopped; rotisserie or leftovers work well)
Buffalo wing sauce (your favorite brand or homemade)
Optional: diced onion, celery bits

For the Cheese & Additional Toppings

Shredded cheese (cheddar, pepper jack, Monterey Jack, or a blend)
Blue cheese crumbles (optional)
Ranch or blue cheese dressing (for drizzling)
Green onions, sliced
Optional: crispy bacon bits, sliced jalapeños, extra hot sauce

Directions

Preheat and cook the tots:
Preheat the oven (or air fryer) to a high temperature (e.g. ~450 °F / 230 °C). Arrange tater tots in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake until golden and crispy (flip if needed).
Prepare the Buffalo chicken:
In a bowl, toss the cooked chicken with Buffalo wing sauce until well coated. If using onion or celery, mix them in.
Assemble:
Once the tots are crisp, transfer them into a baking pan (or keep on the baking sheet). Layer the Buffalo chicken over the tots, then sprinkle evenly with shredded cheese.
Melt cheese & finish:
Place the assembled tots + toppings under the broiler or back in the oven (on a lower rack) for a few minutes until the cheese melts and bubbles. Watch closely to avoid burning.
Garnish & serve:
Remove from heat. Drizzle with ranch or blue cheese dressing. Scatter blue cheese crumbles (if using), green onions, bacon bits, jalapeños, or extra hot sauce as desired. Serve immediately while crispy.

Servings and timing

Yields about 4–6 servings (appetizer or snack portion).
Total time: ~35–45 minutes (10–15 min prep + 20–25 min cooking/assembly)

Storage/Reheating

Storage: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge, keeping the tots and toppings somewhat separate if possible to preserve crispness.
Reheating: Reheat in an oven or air fryer at ~375–400 °F (190–200 °C) for several minutes until heated through and somewhat crisp again. Avoid microwaving, as it can make the tots soggy.

FAQs

What exactly are “tatchos”?

“Tatchos” is a playful variant on “totchos” — nacho-style dishes built on tater tots instead of tortilla chips. The “ta” likely comes from “tater.”

Can I make this vegetarian (no chicken)?

Yes — substitute with plant‑based “chicken,” sautéed mushrooms, or even black beans. Toss them in Buffalo sauce similarly.

Can I adjust the spiciness?

Absolutely. Use milder or hotter Buffalo sauce, add or reduce hot sauce, or include extra spicy elements like jalapeño slices.

What kind of cheese is best?

Cheddar, pepper jack, or Monterey Jack melt well. A blend gives color and flavor contrast. Blue cheese crumbles add sharpness but are optional.

Can I use sweet potato tots or other varieties?

Yes. Sweet potato tots or seasoned potato bites can work — they’ll add a slightly different flavor profile.

Can I prepare anything in advance?

Yes. Cook the chicken ahead and keep it tossed in sauce. You can partially bake the tots so they’re crisp and then finish assembly just before serving.

How do I keep the tots from getting soggy under the toppings?

Make sure they are very crisp before topping. Don’t overload with wet ingredients. Also broil or bake just long enough to melt the cheese, not to soak the base.

Is there a gluten‑free version?

Yes, if your tater tots, Buffalo sauce, and dressings are gluten-free (check labels). Everything else is naturally gluten-free.

What else can I serve alongside?

Celery sticks, carrot sticks, extra dressing, a simple green salad, or pickled veggies make good accompaniments.

Conclusion

Buffalo Tatchos are a bold, fun twist on loaded nachos — replacing tortilla chips with crispy tots, and layering on Buffalo chicken, melted cheese, and creamy dressings. They’re perfect for sharing, customizable, and guaranteed to satisfy cravings for something indulgent and spicy. Give this recipe a try, and feel free to experiment with toppings and substitutions to make it your own.

Buffalo Tatchos

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Buffalo Tatchos are loaded tater tot nachos topped with spicy Buffalo chicken, melted cheese, and creamy dressings. A fun, indulgent twist on classic comfort food, perfect for game day or parties.

Author: Laura
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35–45 minutes
Yield: 4–6 servings
Category: Appetizer
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free

Instructions

Preheat oven to 450 °F (230 °C). Arrange tater tots in a single layer on a baking sheet. Toss with olive oil and seasonings (chili powder, paprika, salt, pepper). Bake for 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and crispy.
While tots bake, combine cooked chicken with Buffalo sauce in a bowl. Add optional onion or celery if using.
Once tots are crispy, transfer them to a baking dish or keep on the sheet. Layer the Buffalo chicken over the tots, then top evenly with shredded cheese.
Return to oven or place under broiler for 3–5 minutes, just until cheese is melted and bubbling.
Remove from oven. Drizzle with ranch or blue cheese dressing. Top with blue cheese crumbles, green onions, bacon bits, jalapeños, and extra hot sauce if desired.
Serve hot and enjoy immediately while crispy.

Notes

To keep tots crispy, avoid overloading with wet ingredients and bake just long enough to melt cheese.
Make vegetarian by substituting chicken with plant-based protein, mushrooms, or black beans.
Blue cheese adds sharpness but can be skipped or substituted.
Use sweet potato tots for a flavor variation.
Can be prepped ahead: cook chicken and partially bake tots in advance.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
Calories: 420
Sugar: 2g
Sodium: 820mg
Fat: 27g
Saturated Fat: 10g
Unsaturated Fat: 14g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 26g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 18g
Cholesterol: 60mg