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Ingredients
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Tater Tot Layer
Cheese & Sauce
Bacon & Toppings
Finishing (optional)
Method
Tater Tot Layer
Preheat and prepare pan
Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch (full pan) baking dish with 1 tablespoon of the butter or nonstick spray.
Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single even layer in the prepared 9x13 pan. If your tater tots come in a bag measured by weight, use about a 32 oz bag for full coverage.
Melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter and brush or drizzle it evenly over the top of the tater tots. Sprinkle the 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp black pepper evenly over the tots.
Cheese & Sauce
In a medium bowl, use a rubber spatula or electric hand mixer on low to combine the softened 4 oz cream cheese, 1 cup sour cream and 1 cup mayonnaise until smooth and lump-free.
Stir in 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder and 1 tsp smoked paprika until evenly distributed.
Fold in 2 cups of the shredded sharp cheddar and all of the 1 cup shredded mozzarella into the cream mixture, reserving 1 cup of cheddar for topping.
Spread the cheese mixture in an even layer over the arranged tater tots, pressing gently so the tots are partially covered but still retain some texture. The cheese layer should reach the edges so tots bake into the sauce slightly.
Bacon & Toppings
Evenly scatter the chopped cooked bacon (from 8 slices) over the cheese layer.
Sprinkle the reserved 1 cup shredded cheddar evenly over the bacon to form a golden topping.
Bake & Finish
Bake the assembled pan in the preheated 425°F (220°C) oven for 20–25 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden around the edges and the cheese is bubbling and starting to brown. If you prefer a more browned top, switch the oven to broil and broil on high for 1–2 minutes watching closely to prevent burning.
Remove the pan from the oven and let rest 5 minutes. Scatter the thinly sliced green onions, chopped parsley and chives over the top.
Serve warm straight from the pan with optional dollops of sour cream and hot sauce or ranch on the side for dipping. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper to taste.