Wild Game Side Dish: Homemade Tater Tots

There isn’t a bad way to make potatoes, but tater tots are always a favorite side dish. Exmark ambassador and James Beard nominee, David Bancroft, gave us this delicious homemade tater tot recipe as his perfect wild game pairing for hunt camp. He tosses together the American classic, with a spin of course, by adding a tasty poblano dressing your guests are going to go wild for!

Try these tasty tater tots with your favorite wild game meat or pair them with this Fried Wild Turkey Nuggets recipe.

More About the Tater Tot

Have you ever wondered where tater tots come from? It’s such a common food, but how did it come about? Believe it or not, it’s a simple history, but an interesting one!

According to US. Foods, Ore-Ida’s F. Nephi Grigg created the tater tot in 1953. He wanted to use the leftover potato shavings that came from creating frozen French fries. Ore-Ida actually owns the name “tater tot” and they’re known by different names in other places. A fun fact: in Australia, they’re known as “potato gems.” 

David Bancroft’s Tater Tot Twist

Bancroft has, yet again, taken the average food and turned it into something extraordinary in this recipe! He marries tater tots and cool ranch seasoning to create a bite that will leave your guests wanting more. And you’ll have it! Because this recipe makes plenty to share around. Along with the tasty potato bites, he’s also created a terrific poblano ranch dressing that will go side-by-side with the tots and could even go perfectly with some carrot sticks or celery if you run out of the crispy bites.

Wild Game Side Dish: Cool Ranch Tater Tots

Course: SidesCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

4

servings

Total Time

25

minutes

Ingredients

• Tater Tots

• 8 oz crispy fried Ore-Ida Golden Tater Tots (about 25pcs)

• 1-2 tsp cool ranch seasoning (make sure to season generously)

• ¼ cup poblano ranch dressing

• 1 diced jalapenos (seeds optional)

• fresh chopped cilantro (optional)

• 2 qts peanut oil

• Cool Ranch Seasoning

• Hidden Valley Original Ranch Salad Dressing Mix, 1oz packet

• ½ tsp garlic salt

• ½ tsp onion powder

• ¼ tsp cumin

• ¼ tsp cayenne

• Poblano Ranch Dressing

• Hidden Valley Original Ranch Salad Dressing Mix, 1oz packet

• 1 cup dukes mayo

• ½ cup sour cream

• ¼ cup buttermilk

• 1 large charred, peeled, seeded poblano

Directions

• Tater Tots
• Heat frying oil to 350f in a medium sauce pot.
• Fry tots until crispy golden brown. (I like mine extra crispy!)
• Remove tots from oil and place onto a plate or cookie sheet lined with paper towel.
• Immediately season hot tots with the cool ranch spice.
• Place tots in serving bowl and drizzle poblano ranch generously over the top.
• Garnish with fresh jalapeno and cilantro.
• Add some crumbled cotija cheese over the top if you like.
• Serve immediately while the tots are hot and crispy!
• Cool Ranch Seasoning
• Mix all spices together.
• Add more cayenne or remove it to match your preference.
• Poblano Ranch Dressing
• Place sour cream, buttermilk, roasted poblano, and contents of 1oz ranch packet in a blender.
• Blend until completely smooth.
• Add mayo and poblano sauce to mixing bowl and whisk until completely smooth.
• Chill before serving.

Whether you dishing up this side at your next hunt camp or backyard bash, a big batch of these tater tots is sure to get the party started for even the pickiest of eaters. Because who could hate tots?

More Like This:

• Fall Garden Vegetable Side Dishes from David Bancroft
• Wild Game Cooking Tips with Michael Waddell
• Prime Cuts: Sous Vide Wild-Turkey on the Grill