These loaded tater tots feature crispy bacon, fresh green onions, and a velvety smoked gouda cheese sauce! Perfect for entertaining and simple to make.
Can I just say something really quick? TATER. TOTS.
We know that potatoes just might be one of the world’s most perfect and versatile foods. I mean, mashed potatoes, potato soup, potato pierogi, potato gnocchi, twice baked potatoes . . . I could go on forever.
But tater tots? Tater tots might be in the top five of best potato forms. Perfectly golden brown crispy outside with creamy insides. Plus you can load them with delicious toppings like in these loaded tater tots. Potatoes are really showing off here.
Today we’re taking tater tots to the NEXT LEVEL with a velvety smoked gouda cheese sauce, BACON, and even a veggie (green onions are green after all!).
Normally I’m a pretty firm believer in making everything from scratch. But today we’re using store bought tater tots (and that is 100% fine sometimes!). Especially because we’re making a luscious homemade smoked gouda cheese to top them with, and life is ALL ABOUT BALANCE, people.
If you’re feeling ambitious though, you can totally make homemade tater tots, under the condition you call me so I can help you eat them.
How to make a cheese sauce
Let’s make this ooey gooey delicious cheese sauce.
In a small saucepan, whisk flour into melted butter to form a roux. Cook for 30 seconds or so to cook out the raw flour taste.
Next slowly add in milk and whisk out any lumps.
Mix in dijon mustard and simmer for a few minutes until the sauce has thickened.
Finally, remove from heat and stir in shredded smoked gouda cheese until it has all melted. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Set the cheese sauce aside until you are ready to assemble.
Can’t get enough smoked gouda? Try smoked gouda beer burgers or smoked gouda mashed potatoes!
Expert Tips
- If your cheese sauce isn’t as smooth as you’d like, zap it with an immersion blender for a few seconds to bring it back to a creamy consistency!
- Storage. These loaded tots are best served right away. Store any extra cheese sauce separately in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- Reheating. To reheat the cheese sauce, add a splash of milk and stir. Heat in a saucepan over medium heat while stirring occasionally until fully heated.
Riffs and Substitutions
- Change the cheese! If you’re not a fan of smoked gouda, swap it out for cheddar, gruyere, or muenster.
- Add more toppings. Loaded tots can be topped with just about anything! Try sliced jalapeños, diced tomatoes, sour cream, diced onions, or your favorite toppings.
- Swap the spuds. Tater tots are pretty perfect, but you can also make this same dish with french fries or onion rings!
More appetizers to love
- Easy BBQ Chicken Nachos
- Whipped Feta Cheese
- How to Make A Cheese Plate
- Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Sliders
More of our favorite appetizers for game day
- Chicken, pepperjack, and BBQ stuffed mushrooms
- Easy bbq chicken nachos
- Pesto and goat cheese smashed potatoes
Video: How to Make Gouda Loaded Tater Tots
📖 Recipe
Smoked Gouda and Bacon Loaded Tater Tots
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Description
Delicious loaded tater tots with a smoked gouda cheese sauce.
Ingredients
FOR THE SMOKED GOUDA CHEESE SAUCE:
- 1 Tbsp. unsalted butter
- 1 Tbsp. flour
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
- ⅔ cup shredded smoked gouda cheese
- salt and pepper to taste
TO ASSEMBLE:
- 4 strips thick-cut bacon
- 24 oz. tater tots (I cheated and used store-bought frozen tater tots, but if you're feeling ambitious you can certainly make your own!)
- 1 large green onion, chopped
Instructions
FOR THE SMOKED GOUDA CHEESE SAUCE:
- In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
- When butter is melted, whisk in flour to form a roux. Cook for 30 seconds or so to cook out the raw flour taste.
- Slowly add milk to roux, whisking constantly to work out any lumps.
- Whisk Dijon mustard into sauce.
- Cook sauce, whisking occasionally, for 8-10 minutes until sauce has thickened. (This is a great time to prep the rest of the recipe ingredients!)
- When sauce has thickened, turn off the heat and stir in shredded smoked gouda cheese. Stir until cheese has melted, then season with salt and pepper to taste. Set sauce aside.
TO ASSEMBLE LOADED TATER TOTS:
- Cook bacon until crispy (I like to roast my bacon, but you could also cook it on the stovetop). Let bacon strips cool for a few minutes, then crumble them into bite-sized pieces. Set aside.
- Cook tater tots according to package or recipe directions until they're VERY crispy.
- Transfer crispy tater tots to a serving dish and drizzle about ½ of the cheese sauce over the top. Reserve the remaining cheese sauce to serve on the side of the tots!
- Top cheesy tots with bacon pieces and chopped green onion. Season with another pinch of salt and pepper if desired and serve immediately.
Notes
If your cheese sauce isn't as smooth as you'd like, zap it with an immersion blender for a few seconds to bring it back to a creamy consistency!
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 499
- Sugar: 4.4 g
- Sodium: 999 mg
- Fat: 30.9 g
- Carbohydrates: 48.8 g
- Protein: 9.4 g
- Cholesterol: 32.2 mg
Terri
Yum! I took a slightly different approach but the smoked gouda sauce is awesome. I made tot waffles in the waffle iron, topped them with an over easy egg and our house smoked bacon with the wonderful cheese sauce -- benedict inspired. The remaining cheese sauce was tossed with some cooked pasta and leftover pulled pork for outrageous mac and cheese to enjoy another day.
Jenna
Having this for dinner on this St. Patrick's, my version of Irish food, haha! But wow...the smoked gouda cheese sauce is EVERYTHING! In love. Thank you Jessie!
Jessie
Wahoo! That cheese sauce is my FAVE. I'm so glad you liked it!
Karly
DROOL. DROOL EVERYWHERE. So first, I want to bathe in this Gouda sauce. Looks totally amazing. And second, that bacon. Yes. I must have these soon!
Jessie
Thanks so much, Karly! I am soooo with you on that Gouda sauce - it's a new fave for sure!