“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” ~William Shakespeare
So true, so so true… This little baby went by a couple different names before I landed on Extreme Tater Tots. The last the kids knew – we were going with Trashy Tater Tots, but I changed my mind in the final minutes.
Truth is – you can call it anything – it’s still going to be the same plate of guilty pleasure that this day, Mardi Gras aka Fat Tuesday, happens to call for.
Fat Tuesday’s roots lie in the Christian calendar as the last whoopee before Lent begins on so Ash Wednesday.
I could think of no better way to celebrate this special day than with a plate of deep-fried crispy tots, melted cheddar, fried bologna, scallions, a fried egg and Sriracha. Yep.
I’ve been longing to do a recipe using tater tots and the idea for this plate of crazy good party food came to me like a lightning bolt.
I’m using a very sophisticated technique here – are you ready?
Fry, scatter and stack. Mmmm-hmmm…the old fry, scatter and stack technique.
Deep fry your tots, create your first layer. Scatter cheddar over top. Broil. Fry bologna. Stack. Chop scallions. Scatter. Fry egg. Stack. Finish with a couple dashes of Sriracha. Done.
Whether you commemorate Fat Tuesday or not – this also makes for a scrumptious snack on Munchy Monday, Wild Wednesday, Thirsty Thursday and Fun Friday!
Buon Appetito!
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Extreme Tater Tots
- Category: Appetizer
Ingredients
- 2 lb. bag of Tater Tots
- 2 quarts canola oil
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar
- Salt & Pepper to taste
- 3 slices (thick sliced) bologna
- 1/3 cup chopped scallions
- 1 extra large egg
- Sriracha sauce (optional)
Instructions
- Heat oil to 350 degrees in a deep-fryer.
- In two batches, add tots to the oil and fry until golden brown, about 3 – 4 minutes.
- Carefully remove from oil and place on a paper-towel lined plate.
- When all tots are cooked, put on a large serving platter.
- Top with shredded cheddar.
- Place under the broiler on High until cheese is melted.
- Remove from oven.
- Add salt & pepper to taste.
- In a large frying pan, over medium-high heat, fry bologna on both sides.
- Remove from pan and cut into strips.
- Place over cheesy tots.
- Scatter scallions.
- Fry egg to your liking.
- Set atop tots.
- Finish with a few dashes of Sriracha.
- Serve immediately.
Ciao!
Looks amazing Annie, tater tots are amazing as it is but you took it to a different level altogether! Amazing my friend!
Thank you my dear! These are too yummy for my own good!
What a sinfully delicious indulgence! I do love me some tator tots and these are totally over the top! Extreme!
Why thank you, Rachelle!! They are quite a sinful delicious indulgence!
Oh my goodness I’m salivating. This hash looks incredible! Way to celebrate fat Tuesday the right way!
Hey! We were only doing as we were told! 😉 Thanks, Sarah!
Wow! This dish looks so indulgent and flavorful. 🙂 I don’t eat bologna, but I’m sure that it would be just as good without!
I’m certain it would be just as good without! Thanks so much, Erin!
Extreme tator tots?! These look amazing and the sriracha sauce makes it even better!
You are so right! That little bit of sriracha at the end tied the whole dish together. Thanks, Ashley!
Wow these definitely are extreme tator tots, Annie! I love these! Tater tots is one of my favorites, though I never think to make them any other way than just baking them. I love this jazzed up version, so full of flavor!
Yep – that’s all I usually do too – bake them. But the day called for something more! 🙂 Thanks, Gayle!
Extreme tater tots sounds like the perfect name to me! That egg on top looks absolutely perfect!
Thanks so much, Stacey!
Wow! You are totally right with the name – these are some insane (and extreme!) tator tots). That egg on top? OMGosh, so yummy! And could it possibly be more perfectly cooked??? Wowza girlie! Thee mouth is watering!
Darn…I should have called them Insane Tater Tots! I like that! Thanks, Kristi!
So delicious! Perfect for fat Tuesday! Need this dish for dinner right now 🙂 Awesome pictures!
Thanks so much, Mira! I think it fit the bill today!
I haven’t had tator tots in a while, but now I’m suddenly craving them! For good reason though, I’m craving a plate of these extreme tator tots! Love these!
These are hard to resist! Thanks, Danielle!
This is a omg dish. Looks so good. I am a big fan of tater tots, what’s not to love about your over the top breakfast. YUMM.
Thanks so much for stopping by. I’m glad to have know you through insta. Keep in touch. hugs.
Thank you so much, dear! I appreciate your kind words!
You had me at tater tots!! And they really do look extreme, in such a good way! This looks so awesome! Tater tots are one of my guilty pleasures and these look awesome 🙂
Haha! I love that! Thank you so much, Isadora!!
Cheesy goodness, and just the right amount of ‘extreme’!
Oh yes! Just the right amount of extreme! Thanks, Kari!
Omg!! I seriously want these for my dinner tonight!! I mean tater tots are just amazing by themselves but here you take them to a whole new delicious level!! Genius!
So true! Tater tots are rather perfect on their own, but it’s always fun to change it up a bit! Thanks, Ami!!
Oh my word. This is perfect Fat Tuesday food! LOVE all of that crispy, cheesy deliciousness!
Oh yeah! This is good stuff! Thanks, Ashley!
Wow! Annie, these look sinfully delicious! I love the way you roll 🙂 What a incredible indulgent dish and that fried egg is just perfect!
They are sinfully good! That’s why I can only justify them one day a year! ha! Thanks, Kelly!
Oh my GAWD…. I need a giant plate of these, right now! My husband and I eat brunch out every weekend, and we always order a side of tater tots – but we’ve never had or seen them like this! This is incredible – not just a side, but an entire dish of tots – YES! Very well done!
Yes! An entire dish!! Thank you Kathleen! All I can say is thank God there were four of us in the house to share…I likely would have eaten the entire plate myself!
I am dying! This looks AMAZING!
Thanks, Amanda! It’s pretty special! hahaha!
This looks so sinful! Perfect for Fat Tuesday!!! I could eat that whole thing by myself right now.
It is sinful but soooo good!! Thanks, Olivia!!
Annie, oh my gawd, these are EPIC!!! love this extreme tater tots dish!!! and put a fried egg on anything and I’m in love!! love this!
You couldn’t be more right! A fried egg on anything is epic!! Thanks, Alice!