West Balmer Recipe

Preheat oven

Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven for even browning.

Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easier cleanup. If you prefer extra-crisp tots, place a wire rack on the sheet and arrange tots on the rack so hot air circulates underneath.

Lightly coat the baking sheet or wire rack with vegetable oil or use cooking spray (about 1 tablespoon) to prevent sticking and encourage browning.

Spread the frozen tater tots in a single layer on the prepared sheet (do not overcrowd). Leave a little space between tots so they crisp up.

Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, turning or shaking the pan once halfway through (about at 10 minutes) to promote even crisping. If you like them extra-crispy, you can bake 2–4 minutes longer, watching carefully to avoid burning.

At the end of baking, test one tot for doneness — the exterior should be golden-brown and crisp and the interior hot. Remove from oven.

Immediately transfer the baked tots to a serving platter. While still hot, sprinkle kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper evenly over the tots to taste (about 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper, adjust as desired).

If using, sprinkle chopped fresh chives over the tots for color and mild onion flavor.

Serve with ketchup or your preferred dipping sauce (about 1/2 cup) on the side. Consume hot for best texture.