Tater Tot Casserole Recipe (Dairy Free, Egg Free, Gluten Free) (2024)

FAQs

Are tater tots dairy free? ›

Dairy-Free Tater Tots

All of the plain tater tot brands at my local stores are made without any milk ingredients, Ore Ida, McCain, Great Value (Walmart), and some of the other store brands. Veggie tots and other types of potato puffs often contain milk, so always read the label.

Tater tots are typically made from grated potatoes that are mixed with flour, seasonings, and sometimes eggs, then formed into small cylindrical shapes and deep-fried until crispy and golden brown.

Tater tots are made from potatoes, oil, salt, and not much else. However, most store-bought brands of tater tots are not certified gluten-free, which means that they could be subject to cross-contamination during manufacturing. Ore-Ida potatoes are the exception: rest assured that they are definitely gluten-free!

The majority of tater tots are vegan, and we're grateful that Sonic's are. These deep-fried potatoes are soft and pillowy. It goes great with any sauce, but we love it best with tangy ketchup. Or, sprinkle them with a packet of salsa and something sweet to drink, like a Cherry Slush.

Even frozen French fries can secretly be harboring dairy.

But according to the University of Rochester Medical Center, lactose sometimes finds its way into even your frozen French fries — no matter what type of flavoring may be advertised on the bag.

Tater Tot Casserole is a classic comfort food made with a flavorful beefy base, canned or frozen vegetables, an optional addition of cream of mushroom soup, cheese, and crispy tater tots. It's easy to make ahead of time, freezer friendly, budget friendly, and a great way to feed a crowd!

Warning: There's absolutely nothing healthy or nutritionally redeeming about “tater tots.” They're straight up junk food, loaded with fat and salt. But they're also crispy, salty and simply irresistible — no matter what your age.

We know that what keeps the Tater Tots stuck together is a combination of two pretty sticky things: moist starches and proteins. The more they come in contact with each other, the stickier they become, and the tighter/gummier the Tater Tots will be.

Kraft (the company that makes Velveeta) has a trusted policy to disclose any allergens on their nutrition label and there are no warning that indicate that Velveeta cheese contains any gluten ingredients. Furthermore, the gluten-free and celiac community is in agreement that Velveeta should be considered gluten-free.

Corn tortillas are a healthier alternative to flour tortillas. They provide more whole grains and have built-in portion control because they're typically smaller. They're also gluten-free and thus suitable for people who cannot tolerate gluten.

Are eggs gluten-free? ›

Eggs are naturally gluten-free. Any gluten present in a hen's diet is completely broken down during the hen's digestive process, meaning there is no gluten that makes it way to the egg.

Coat with cooking spray: Lightly spritzing your frozen tater tots helps them become extra crispy. Season generously: Experiment with different seasoning blends like garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, Old Bay seasoning, or seasoned salt.

Why Air Fry Tater Tots. Here's my quick answer – they cook way faster than in the oven and get even crispier. I've tested it and my oven was just about preheated when my air fryer beeped that they were done cooking in there. That means saving time so I can make dinner faster.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Combine the tater tots and the olive oil in a bowl. Toss to coat, spread on a baking sheet and bake until golden brown and crisp, about 30 minutes. Remove the tater tots from the oven, season with salt and pepper and transfer to a mixing bowl.

Unfortunately, many store-bought tater tots aren't vegan as they contain lactose, egg powder, or other animal ingredients. So don't just grab them at random but make sure to check the ingredient list first.

Potatoes, Vegetable Oil (Contains One Or More Of The Following Oils: Canola, Soybean, Cottonseed, Sunflower, Corn). Contains 2% or less of Dextrose, Natural Flavor, Salt, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate Added To Maintain Color.

Tater Tot Ingredients

Potatoes: Start with two medium russet potatoes. Parsley: Fresh parsley adds color and flavor. Flour: All-purpose flour helps hold the tots together and is essential for crispiness. Seasonings: The tater tots are seasoned with salt, seasoned pepper, and onion powder.