National Tater Tot Day 2024: History, Quotes, Recipes & More

National Tater Tot Day is observed annually on February 2nd. It is a day to celebrate the beloved deep-fried potato nugget known as the tater tot. These bite-sized treats made of shredded potato, flour, and seasoning are enjoyed by people across America and the world.

Tater tots were invented in 1953 by Ore-Ida founders F. Nephi Grigg and Golden Grigg. They were looking for a way to utilize leftover slivers of cut-up potatoes and conceived the tater tot as a fun spin on traditional hash browns. The product was an immediate success and has remained popular over the decades.

On National Tater Tot Day, people celebrate by eating tater tots at home or going out to restaurants that feature specials to mark the occasion. Tater tot fans get creative with recipes and preparation methods to highlight this tasty snack. The day is all about indulging in the comfort food and enjoying its crispy outside and fluffy potato interior.

Why Do We Celebrate National Tater Tot Day?

National Tater Tot Day celebrates the creativity and ingenuity that led to the invention of the tater tot in 1953. The holiday recognizes the Grigg brothers who came up with the idea to bind together shredded potato scraps and deep fry them into the tot form we know and love.

The day also honors how deeply tater tots have embedded themselves into America’s cultural consciousness and cuisine over the decades. Though a relatively modern invention, they have become nostalgic comfort food with the ability to transport many back to childhoods or family traditions.

Tater tots are enjoyed by millions of people of all ages and backgrounds. National Tater Tot Day gives all tater tot connoisseurs a chance to unify in their appreciation and indulge their cravings. It’s the perfect opportunity to try fun tater tot creations or just enjoy them classically with favorite dipping sauces.

The day also provides an economic boost to restaurants that sell tater tots, from diners to fast food chains. Specials and promotions around National Tater Tot Day drive business and revenue while allowing the eateries to celebrate a beloved menu item.

History and Origins of Tater Tots

Tater tots were invented in 1953 by brothers F. Nephi Grigg and Golden Grigg, founders of the Ore-Ida company. The Grigg brothers were pioneers in the potato industry, creating frozen french fries and other potato products.

In the 1950s, the brothers were looking for a creative way to use leftover slivers and scraps created from cutting french fries. Rather than waste the precious potato pieces, they decided to combine shredded potatoes with flour and seasonings and form them into bite-size nuggets.

They tested their creation by deep frying the potato bites and found the end product had a delicious crispy outside and fluffy interior. The Grigg brothers knew they had an innovative hit on their hands and named their creation “tater tots” since the nuggets resembled tiny toddlers with their short and chubby bodies.

Ore-Ida began mass producing tater tots and they were an immediate success when released nationally in 1954. Their convenience, kid-friendly size and fun name made tater tots a staple in freezers across America throughout the 1950s and 60s.

Tater tots also became a regular side dish option at school cafeterias, further cementing their popularity with children in particular. They continue to be served in many schools today.

Over the decades, tater tots have Embedded themselves into American culture and cuisine. They still evoke nostalgia for many adults who grew up eating them at home, school or diners. Tater tots remain a staple freezer and kid’s menu item to this day.

Milestones in Tater Tot History

1953 – Tater tots invented by Nephi and Golden Grigg
1954 – Ore-Ida releases tater tots nationally
1960s – Tater tots become popular menu item in schools
1970s – Restaurants like Sonic drive-ins popularize tots
1990s – Tater tot casseroles gain popularity
2000s – New prep methods like air frying emerge
2010s – Gourmet tater tot trucks and restaurants open

How are Tater Tots Made?

While the exact recipes used by various tater tot producers may vary, the overall process for making tater tots is generally the same. Here are the basic steps:

1. Prepare the Potatoes

Russet or other starchy potatoes are peeled, washed, and run through a food shredder to create long shreds. The shreds are then cut into shorter pieces. This process maximizes surface area for crispiness.

2. Mix in Binders and Seasonings

The potato shreds are combined with flour, a binder like corn starch or wheat, and seasonings in a large mixing bowl. Seasonings may include salt, pepper, onions, and paprika.

3. Form the Mixture into Nuggets

Small portions of the potato mixture are formed into cylinder or oval shapes, similar to a mini hash brown. Commercial machines press the tots into shape.

4. Preheat Oil for Frying

The shaped tots are then par-fried or fully fried. The oil is heated to temperatures between 330-375°F.

5. Fry the Tater Tots

The tots are added to the hot oil in batches and fried until golden brown on all sides. This takes 2-3 minutes.

6. Freeze or Cool the Tater Tots

Once fried, commercial tater tots are frozen rapidly to lock in flavor. Homemade tots are drained on paper towels.

7. Package (Commercial Only)

After freezing, commercial tater tots are packaged in bags or boxes. Frozen tots are shipped to stores.

How to Celebrate National Tater Tot Day

There are endless ways to celebrate the unofficial food holiday of National Tater Tot Day on February 2nd. Here are some classic ideas and fun new traditions to start this year:

Host a tater tot bar with different dipping sauces like ketchup, ranch, cheese sauce, bbq sauce, etc.
Make tater tot nachos by topping tots with cheese, beans, salsa and other fixings.
Fry some tots in bacon grease for extra flavor.
Experiment with flavors by seasoning tots before baking. Try ranch seasoning, chili powder, lemon pepper, etc.
Bake a casserole like a tater tot breakfast hashbrown bake or cheesy tater tot pizza bake.
For a decadent treat, wrap bite-sized tots in pillsbury crescent roll dough with cheese baked inside.
Top your burger or hot dog with tater tots instead of french fries.
Skewer bite-sized tater tots and cheese cubes for tater tot kabobs.
Dress up your tots by mixing in shredded cheese, scallions, ranch seasoning, etc before baking.
Go out to a diner, fast food spot, or restaurant advertising National Tater Tot Day deals.
Share fun tater tot facts, recipes, or memories using #NationalTaterTotDay on social media.

Get creative in the kitchen and come up with your own unique tater tot dishes. The opportunities are endless!

Tater Tot Day Quotes and Messages

Celebrate National Tater Tot Day by sharing a cute quote or message about everyone’s favorite potato snack with friends and family:

“Tots for my tots on Tater Tot Day!”

“Make room in your tot-tum for some tater tots today!”

“Can’t stop, won’t stop eating tater tots.”

“You’re tot-ally a-mah-zing, tater tots!”

“Hip hip hooray, it’s Tater Tot Day!”

“Tater Tot Day is tots amazing.”

“My heart belongs to tater tots.”

“Today, I tot-ally love you a whole bunch, tater tots!”

“Let’s get tot-ally crazy for tater tots!”

“These tater tots were made for walking…into my mouth!”

National Tater Tot Day Social Media Captions

Get ready to tot-ally pig out on #NationalTaterTotDay!
Sleigh all day, nosh on tots all day! #TaterTotDay
Can I interest you in something fried, starchy and potatoey today? #NationalTaterTotDay
Today it’s tots for all and all for tots! #TaterTotDay
Time to indulge in my favorite guilty pleasure…tater tots! #NationalTaterTotDay
Tater tots > Veggies today and I’m okay with it! #TotallyObsessed #TaterTotDay
Tot-a-licious holiday coming up! #NationalTaterTotDay
I like big tots and I cannot lie! #TaterTotDay
Only 24 hours until tater tot magic happens! #TaterTotDayIsNear #SoPumped

How to Make Tater Tot Casserole

Tater tot casserole is the ultimate comfort food combining tater tots, meat, vegetables, and cheese baked into a creamy and crunchy casserole. Here is an easy recipe to make at home:

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef
1 small onion, diced
1 (10 oz) can cream of mushroom soup
1 (15 oz) can mixed vegetables, drained
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
32 oz bag of frozen tater tots

Instructions

Pre-heat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 casserole dish and set aside.
Brown ground beef in a skillet over medium heat. Drain excess fat.
Add diced onions to beef. Cook 2 minutes until translucent.
In casserole dish, mix soup, drained mixed vegetables and ground beef mixture.
Top with shredded cheddar cheese.
Bake for 20 minutes until hot and bubbly.
Top with tater tots in a single layer.
Bake 15-20 more minutes until tots are crispy.
Let sit 5 minutes before serving.

For a creamier casserole, replace soup with 8oz sour cream mixed with a 10oz can cream of mushroom soup. Add sautéed mushrooms or other veggies.

Top with crispy bacon or fried onions for crunch. Serve with ketchup or ranch dressing. Enjoy this hearty casserole!

5 Fun Facts About Tater Tots

The Grigg brothers who invented tater tots ran a contest to name the new item in 1953. The winning entry was “tater tots”.
Ore-Ida’s tater tots were an immediate hit, selling over 70 million pounds in their first 8 months on the market.
McDonald’s was the first national fast food chain to offer tater tots, adding them to their menu in select locations in 1976.
Napoleon Dynamite was filmed in the same town where tater tots were invented – Preston, Idaho.
In 2021, Americans ate over 1.5 billion pounds of frozen potato sides like tater tots and fries. Tater tots remain iconic!

Is There a National Tater Tot Day?

Yes, there is an official National Tater Tot Day! It is celebrated each year on February 2nd.

The unofficial food holiday honors the classic American snack – the tater tot. These beloved little potato nuggets were invented by Ore-Ida in 1953 and released to the public in 1954.

National Tater Tot Day is a chance for people across the country to enjoy and celebrate the iconic tot. Restaurants often run specials, and potato fans fry up their own tots or create indulgent casseroles and appetizers to mark the occasion.

The perfect pairing of crispy outer and fluffy potato interior has made tater tots a nostalgic favorite for generations. National Tater Tot Day recognizes their lasting popularity and gives all tater tot lovers an excuse to indulge.

Why Do We Love Tater Tots So Much?

Tater tots have embedded themselves so deeply into American cuisine and culture, but what makes them so beloved? Here are some top reasons Americans are crazy for these potato treats:

Nostalgia – Many adults have fond memories of growing up eating tater tots at home, school cafeterias or fast food restaurants. They evoke a sense of childhood and tradition.

Convenience – Frozen tater tots require minimal prep and can be thrown in the oven for quick snacking or sides. Their bite-size makes them perfect finger food.

Crispiness – The crispy outer shell and soft interior texture provides irresistible mouthfeel. The contrast is what makes them so addicting.

Comfort Food – The starch, potato flavor and smell of tater tots right out of the oven is pure comfort. They are the ultimate cold weather food.

Customizable – Tater tots can be used in endless recipes. They serve as a perfect foundation for nachos, casseroles, appetizers and more creative dishes.

Kid-Friendly – Most children love tater tots! Chances are if you grow up eating and enjoying them, you’ll adore them for life.

How to Make Baked Tater Tots

Baked tater tots are a quick and easy side dish with all the crispy, potato goodness of fried tots but less oil and fat. Here is a simple recipe:

Ingredients:

32 oz bag frozen tater tots
1-2 Tbsp olive oil or cooking oil spray
Salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
Spread frozen tater tots in a single layer on baking sheet. Drizzle or spray with olive oil and season with desired spices.
Bake for 22-28 minutes, flipping halfway through. Tots should be golden brown and crispy on the outside when done.
Optionally, broil the tots on high for 2-3 minutes after baking for extra crispiness.
Serve the baked tater tots immediately and enjoy! Add ketchup, hot sauce or ranch dressing for dipping.

Tips

For crispier tots, make sure they are spread in a single layer on the sheet with space between them.
Flip the tots halfway through for even browning.
Adding a little oil helps get a crispy texture.
Track cooking time as oven temperatures vary.
Season as desired before or after baking.
Baked tots reheat well in an air fryer or conventional oven.

Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

This cheesy tater tot casserole makes a hearty, comforting meal the whole family will love.

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
32 oz frozen tater tots
Salt and pepper

For the Sauce:

2 Tbsp butter
3 Tbsp flour
2 cups whole milk
1 tsp mustard
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 baking dish and set aside.
Brown ground beef with onions and garlic in a skillet. Drain excess fat. Season with salt and pepper.
Make sauce by melting butter in a saucepan. Whisk in flour and cook 2 minutes. Slowly whisk in milk and cook until thickened. Stir in mustard and Worcestershire.
Place ground beef in prepared baking dish. Top with 1 cup shredded cheese.
Pour sauce evenly over the top. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese.
Top with tater tots arranged in a single layer.
Bake uncovered 35-40 minutes until bubbling and tots are browned.
Let sit 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions About Tater Tots

What are tater tots made of?

Tater tots are made from a mixture of shredded potatoes, flour, oil or shortening, and seasonings like salt, onions, pepper, and paprika. The exact ratio of ingredients varies by brand.

Who invented tater tots?

Tater tots were invented in 1953 by brothers F. Nephi Grigg and Golden Grigg, founders of Ore-Ida company. They created them to find a use for leftover potato shreds from french fry production.

How long do cooked tater tots last?

Cooked tater tots will stay fresh for 3-4 days when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat in the oven or microwave to restore crispiness.

Can you freeze cooked tater tots?

Yes, cooked tater tots freeze well for 2-3 months. Let them cool completely before storing in freezer bags or airtight containers. Reheat directly from frozen.

Are tater tots vegan?

Most tater tots are vegan and made with plant-based ingredients. However, always check labels as some brands may contain milk or egg ingredients. Look for vegan certified tater tots to be sure.