Tachos - {Mexican Loaded Tater Tot Nachos Recipe}

Name: Tachos - {Mexican Loaded Tater Tot Nachos Recipe}
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 2 lb Tater tots (or 1kg hashbrown potato bites); 1 tbsp Olive oil; 1/2 tsp Salt; 1/4 tsp Pepper; 1 clove Garlic (minced); 500 g Minced beef (1lb); 6 oz Mexican cheese (shredded (160g) or 6 slices); 1 packet Taco seasoning ((25-30g or 0.9oz-1oz)); 1 cup Cherry tomatoes (halved (100g)); 1 Red onion (diced); 2 Spring onions (sliced); 2 tbsp Jalapenos (sliced); 1/2 cup Sour cream to drizzle ((140g)); 2 tbsp Coriander (chopped)

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If you love traditional nachos and tacos, you will love this easy Tachos recipe. They're delicious tater tot nachos, topped with melted Mexican cheese, spicy ground beef, sour cream, salad, and your favorite nacho toppings.

It's the perfect easy weekend or weeknight treat that's great for sharing, or eating as a main or side!

If this is the first time you've ever heard of tachos, it's similar to the traditional Mexican dish nachos and tacos. But tater tots are used in place of tortilla chips, soft tacos, or a flour tortilla.

All of the same ingredients are here for a taco night: spicy taco beef, chili stringy cheese, salad, and it's all nestled together as a tear and share. Just serve with a tomato salsa, salsa verde or guacamole!

But you can actually use many other potato recipes for the layers, like croquette balls, hash brown bites, gnocchi, new crushed potatoes, easy homemade chips, or make a Mexican mince and potato bake.

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✔️ Why You'll Love This Recipe
🛒 Ingredient Notes
📋 Instructions
👩‍🍳 Substitutions
⚖️ Variations
🔪 Equipment
❄️ Storage
💡Pro Tips
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
❓ FAQ
🍽️Pairing
➕ More Mexican Recipes
📖 Recipe
💬 Comments

✔️ Why You'll Love This Recipe

Easy comfort food
Made in 30 minutes
Can be made in the air fryer
Fun to eat as it's a twist on a classic dish
Can be made healthy, vegetarian, vegan or gluten free
Great for special occasions, and as football game day snacks, etc
It's a fun dish to eat for a family dinner or entertaining side dish

🛒 Ingredient Notes

Please see the printable recipe card with exact ingredient quantities, preparation instructions, and daily value info at the bottom of this post.

Frozen tater tots - for those in the UK, use hash brown bites or crispy potato pops, or use my quick loaded French Fries potato hack here

Mexican cheese - I use slices of Mexicana cheddar which has a mix of red and green chiles that I shred with a knife, or place on top to melt. Or use a Tex Mex cheese, melted queso, homemade nacho sauce, etc

Olive oil - for browning the ground beef

Garlic - minced and pan fried with the beef to add a more complex flavour

Minced beef - this can be lean ground beef, otherwise you will want to drain the fat off later

Seasoning - this is sea salt and black pepper to season the beef while searing

Taco seasoning - this is from a sachet and also usually requires adding water (see package directions) and cooking until evaporated. Or you can make your own here to season and create your own taco meat

Sour cream - to drizzle between layers for a cool and refreshing taste to balance the heat

Fresh tomatoes - you can use diced large tomatoes, halved cherry tomatoes, or swap for diced bell peppers - it's your salad, so your choice!

Red onion - fresh and diced. I use red as its rich red colour offers more antioxidants than white onions. Or I recommend shallots if looking for similar health benefits

Jalapeno peppers - these are optional and sprinkled on top of the cheesy crispy baked tater tots to add some heat. Or use poblano peppers or serrano pepper

Spring onions (AKA scallions) - for a tangy fresh onion taste

Fresh cilantro or coriander - finely chopped, or any fresh herbs you wish, such as chives, parsley, mint, etc as a garnish

📋 Instructions

First, preheat your oven to 200c fan, 220c conventional, gas mark 7 or 425F.

1. Line a large baking dish or tray with baking paper or a silicone mat.

Then add the tater tots or hashbrown bites and bake for 30 minutes, turning half way.

They should be crispy and golden.

2. Meanwhile, add the oil, garlic, beef, salt and pepper to a large frying pan.

Fry until browned, then drain any excess fat.

3. Add the taco seasoning, and water as per instructed in the back of the packet (this was 150ml or ⅔ cup).

Then simmer over medium heat until the water has disappeared.

4. Now add the chilli cheese on top of the tater tots.

Bake in the oven for a further 5 minutes until melted.

5. Add a large spoonful of cheesy tater tots to a serving dish or individual servings for the bottom layer.

6. Now add a large spoonful of the taco mincemeat and a few dollops of sour cream.

7. Repeat the layers until you have used up all of the mince, potatoes, and sour cream.

8. Then sprinkle the sliced tomatoes, spring onions, etc on top.

Serve with extra sauces, favorite toppings, cilantro, and lemon or lime wedges if you wish.

👩‍🍳 Substitutions

Depending on your dietary needs, here are a few simple swaps you can make to this totchos recipe:

Tater tots - you can swap for Parmentier potatoes, homemade fries, or sweet potato tots for a more nutritious and colorful option. For low carb, swap blanched cauliflower florets.

Ground beef - you can make a Weight Watcher taco casserole recipe by swapping for extra lean beef, or swap for a lean ground turkey taco recipe, or ground chicken or shredded rotisserie chicken. Use vegetarian or vegan mince if preferred

Vegetarian or vegan tachos - use veggie mince or vegan mince of your choice, and choose a vegan tex mex cheese, tater tots and seasoning

Cheese - swap for cheddar cheese, monterey jack cheese, or pepper jack cheese, depending on how hot and spicy you wish. Mexicana also have a vegan cheese

Sour cream - swap for low-fat natural or Greek yogurt if preferred

⚖️ Variations

Here are what we think are some of the best ways to adapt these tachos:

Deluxe - add diced or ground chorizo for an extra special flavour
Kid-friendly - swap slices of jalapenos for diced green bell pepper
Breakfast tachos - swap beef for sausage meat, tater tots for larger hashbrowns, and top with hard boiled eggs and streaky bacon
Extra spicy - add a few drops of hot sauce or Siracha, etc for more heat
BBQ tachos - swap the beef for BBQ pulled pork, slow cooked in BBQ sauce
Onion rings - instead of a tater tot nachos casserole, use baked onion rings, curly fries, or other baked finger food

🔪 Equipment

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Large skillet - or large saucepan to fry the garlic and mincemeat before draining off any rendered fat and cooking further with taco spices

Sheet pan - large enough to bake your crispy tater tots. A walled one is easier for when turning halfway and prevents the melted cheese from dripping off

Silicone baking mat - I swear by this more than parchment paper as it is washable and reusable - nothing have ever stuck to it

Chopping knife and chopping board for salad prep, or you can buy prepared salad if easier

Measuring spoons and measuring cups or kitchen scales - this recipe has been carefully weighed and measured in cups and grams so you can eat it anywhere in the world

Salt and pepper grinder - to season the beef before frying

Serving dish - so you can layer your crispy tater tots,

❄️ Storage

Storing - we prefer eating this recipe fresh, but it can be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated for up to 3 days.

Freezing - cool to room temperature and again, store in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.

Reheating - If you want to eat the next day, defrost in the fridge if required and microwave until piping hot, or on the hob or stove.

💡Pro Tips

To speed up the cooking time, bake the tater tots in an air fryer until golden and crispy
Drain the fat from the cooked beef to prevent a greasy appetiser or main
Use the best spicy cheese you can find as it makes a massive difference
Make your own taco seasoning so you know there's less preservatives or that it's gluten free if need
Serve on a plate lined with a paper towel if wanting to soak up any extra fat if preferred

🍽️ Serving Suggestions

Whether it's a movie night or any day of the week, here are a few ways you might like to eat tachos:

Extra salad - serve with an easy Pico de Gallo, which is diced tomatoes, avocados, onions etc

Sides - add some fresh healthy coleslaw on the side, smoky charred corn, or easy Mexican rice

Dressings - top with salad dressings and dips like this creamy avocado and lime ranch dressing, tomato salsa, sugar free sweet chilli sauce, guacamole, salsa verde, etc

Beans - serve with a bowlful of taco mixed beans in spicy tomato sauce for spooning over the top

Queso dip - make a hot cheesy queso dip, made with melted cheese, milk, and spices

Beverages - enjoy it with classic Mexican drinks, such as tequila or an ice-cold beer, like Corona

❓ FAQ

What are Tachos?

Tachos is also known as a loaded tater tot nachos casserole recipe instead of using nachos, tortilla chips or tacos. Tater tots are layered with Mexican spiced beef, sour cream, cheese and salad and dips of your choice.

How do you store and reheat Tachos?

You can store leftover Tachos in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. To reheat them, you can microwave them, but it is better to bake in the oven until crispy again, excluding the salad.

Can you make Tachos vegetarian or vegan?

Yes, it is easy to make tachos vegan or vegetarian. Simply swap the meat for plant based mince, soya or lentils, beans for protein, etc. Then use vegan cheese if needed and bulk up with extra salad,

🍽️Pairing

Here are a few sides that are great with tachos:

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