Big Mac Loaded Tater Tot Nachos

These Big Mac Tater Tot Nachos are loaded with special sauce, ground beef, pickles and cheese – a special indulgence and twist on a classic!

A close-up of big mac tater tot nachos on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper.

Ingredients and substitutions

Tater tots – for a lower carb option feel free to use cauliflower tater tots. You could also use tortilla chips to make more traditional nachos instead of totchos.
Olive oil – use any neutral oil such as avocado oil, sunflower oil or vegetable oil for this recipe.
Ground beef – extra lean ground beef is recommended for that authentic Big Mac taste, but you can use ground turkey or ground chicken for a leaner meat option.
Cheddar cheese – use any shredded cheese variety of your choice like Tex Mex, Monterrey Jack, Pepper Jack and more.
Iceberg lettuce – romaine lettuce or mixed greens lettuce can be used in place of iceberg lettuce.
Tomatoes – plum, heirloom, cherry tomatoes or red vine tomatoes can be used in this recipe.
Yellow onion – white onion or red onion also work as substitutions for yellow onion.
Pickles – if you’re not a fan of pickles feel free to leave this out

Special Sauce

Mayo – substitute the mayonnaise with a vegan mayo if you need a dairy-free alternative or substitute with Greek yogurt or sour cream for a healthier alternative.
Ketchup – if you’re in a pinch, substitute ketchup with tomato paste mixed with vinegar and sugar or a hot sauce for a tangier finish.
Onions – use finely diced onions or if you're in a pinch leave them out altogether.
Relish – use any variety of your liking, or dice up some pickles.
Vinegar – white vinegar is the best option.

Ingredients for big mac tater tot nachos: ground beef, tater tots, pickles, onion, lettuce, cheddar cheese, white vinegar, light mayo, ketchup and relish.

How to make tater tot nachos

Steps 1 and 2 for making big mac tater tot nachos: Bake tater tots then brown ground beef.

Step 1: Cook the tater tots.

Cook the tater tots in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet, flipping halfway through.

Step 2: Brown the ground beef.

Cook the ground beef over medium heat in a large skillet. Set aside and prepare your toppings.

Steps 3 and 4 for making big mac tater tot nachos: Make special sauce then assemble nachos with toppings.

Step 3: Make the special sauce.

Mix together the light mayo, ketchup, relish and white vinegar.

Step 4: Assemble your tater tot nachos and serve!

Sprinkle the cheese over top of the tater tots and cook until the cheese is melted. Top the tater tots with beef, onions, pickles and lettuce, then drizzle with the sauce and serve.

Big mac tater tot nachos on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper.

Variations of tater tot nachos

Whether you're making them for game day or a special snack, there are a few different ways you can customize these loaded totchos:

Vegetarian: Skip the ground beef to make these nachos vegetarian. You could also swap out the ground beef for a ground meat substitute of your choice or add on some black beans or refried beans.
Classic nachos: Add on your favourite nacho toppings like sour cream, salsa, jalapenos, guacamole and lettuce.
Pulled pork: Top your nachos with some pulled pork or pulled chicken instead of ground beef.
Chili: Add some yummy chili or turkey chili on top of the tater tots with some melted cheese, green onions, sour cream and tomato.

Frequently Asked Questions

What toppings can you add to your tater tot nachos?

You can add on any toppings of your choice! This recipe is for a Big Mac tater tot casserole, but you can get creative with your toppings and go with classic nacho fixing, pulled pork, chili or something of your own creation.

What is the best kind of cheese to use?

I used shredded cheddar cheese, but you could also use American cheese (which is what they put on a traditional Big Mac), mozzarella, Swiss or Monterey Jack. Pretty much any kind of cheese you'd like would be good!

How do you crisp frozen tater tots?

Baking the frozen tater tots in the oven for 22-25 minutes at 450° Fahrenheit should make them nice and crispy, but if you want them even crispier for this recipe, you can try cooking them in the air fryer.

Do you need to defrost them first?

No, you don't need to defrost the tater tots before cooking them. In fact, defrosting them might result in soggy tater tots, so you'll want to cook them straight from frozen.

Can you make these tater tot nachos ahead of time?

This Big Mac tater tot casserole recipe is best made fresh, but if you have any leftovers, you can store the tater tots and toppings separately in the fridge and then assemble them when you're ready to enjoy.

Storing and reheating

If you plan on enjoying these tater tot nachos throughout the week, I’d recommend storing the tater tots and toppings separately in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can store everything together, but the tater tots might get a bit soggy.

When you’re ready to enjoy, reheat the tater tots in the oven or the air fryer, and reheat the ground beef in a pan on the stovetop. If you're in a rush to eat, you can also reheat it in the microwave for several minutes, but the tots won't crisp up again the way they would in the oven. Your call!

Freezing the ground beef

While you can’t refreeze frozen tater tots, you can cook the ground beef ahead of time and freeze it for up to 3 months in Ziploc bags or airtight containers. Let it defrost in the fridge overnight then use it to make your Big Mac tater tot casserole or any other dishes of your choice.

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Meal Prep Tools

Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you plan on turning this dish into leftovers.
I get all my grass-fed beef from Butcher Box, conveniently delivered to me frozen.
Freeze the ground beef in glass microwave-safe bowls up to 3 months.
**Get my full list of tools here**

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