Lg Smothered Tot Recipe

Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C) or set air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Toss frozen tater tots with 1 tablespoon vegetable oil so they crisp evenly. Arrange tots in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet or in the air fryer basket with small gaps between pieces.

Bake for 20–25 minutes, turning once halfway, until golden and crisp. If using an air fryer, cook 12–15 minutes shaking once, until crisp and cooked through. Keep warm in a low oven (200°F / 95°C) while you prepare the smothering sauce.

While tots cook, thinly slice the yellow onion and mince the garlic. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 teaspoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter.

Add the sliced onion and a pinch of salt. Sauté 6–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened and beginning to caramelize.

Push onions to the side, add the bulk sausage to the skillet and break it up with a spatula. Cook 5–7 minutes, stirring, until browned and cooked through. Stir the onions back into the sausage, add minced garlic, smoked paprika and dried thyme, and cook 30–45 seconds more until fragrant.

Sprinkle 2 tablespoons flour evenly over the sausage-onion mixture and stir to coat. Cook the flour 1–2 minutes to remove the raw taste, stirring constantly so it browns slightly.

Gradually pour in 1 cup chicken broth while whisking or stirring vigorously to avoid lumps. Bring mixture to a gentle simmer and let thicken for 3–5 minutes. Stir in 1 tablespoon heavy cream, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce and 1 teaspoon hot sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.

Remove the baking sheet from the oven (or take the cooked tots from the air fryer) and arrange the hot tater tots on a serving platter or keep on the oven-safe sheet. Spoon the sausage gravy evenly over the tater tots, using enough to coat generously but not drown them (about 1 to 1 1/2 cups of gravy).

Scatter 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar evenly over the sauced tots. Return to the oven at 400°F (200°C) for 3–5 minutes, or to the air fryer for 2–3 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Remove from oven, sprinkle with sliced chives and optional pickled jalapeños. Serve immediately with dollops of sour cream on the side if desired.