Mac and Cheese Tex-Mex Tots (Printable)

Crispy tater tots topped with creamy macaroni and cheese, bold Tex-Mex spices, and fresh, colorful garnishes.

# Ingredient list:

→ Tater Tots

01 - 2 lbs frozen tater tots

→ Mac and Cheese

02 - 7 oz elbow macaroni
03 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
04 - 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
05 - 1 cup whole milk
06 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
07 - 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
08 - 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
09 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
10 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
11 - 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
12 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ Tex-Mex Toppings

13 - 1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese
14 - 2 spring onions, thinly sliced
15 - 1 small tomato, diced
16 - 1 small jalapeño, thinly sliced (optional)
17 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
18 - 1/4 cup sour cream
19 - 1/4 cup salsa

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Arrange tater tots in a single layer on a large baking sheet and bake according to package directions, about 25 to 30 minutes, turning halfway through for even crispness.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni until al dente following package instructions. Drain and set aside.
03 - Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute. Gradually add whole milk and heavy cream, whisking constantly until smooth and slightly thickened, about 2 to 3 minutes.
04 - Reduce heat to low. Stir in shredded cheddar, Monterey Jack, smoked paprika, ground cumin, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix until cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth.
05 - Add drained macaroni to the cheese sauce and stir gently to coat the pasta evenly.
06 - Transfer baked tater tots to a large ovenproof dish. Spoon macaroni and cheese mixture evenly over the tater tots.
07 - Sprinkle shredded Mexican blend cheese on top. Return dish to the oven and bake for 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbling.
08 - Remove from oven and garnish with spring onions, diced tomato, jalapeño slices (if desired), and chopped fresh cilantro. Drizzle with sour cream and salsa just before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Uses simple pantry and freezer staples
  • Quick assembly makes this a weeknight win
  • Fun to build and customize with garnishes
  • Crowd-pleasing for potlucks and game days
02 -
  • High in satisfaction for both adults and kids
  • Easy to double or halve for any crowd
  • Best eaten hot for optimal creaminess and crunch
03 -
  • Crowd the oven with too many tots they will steam not crisp. Always give them breathing space for max crunch on every bite.
  • Use a spatula to get every drop of cheese sauce out of the pan macaroni loves to cling to those corners.
  • Channel Tex-Mex spirit by swapping in black beans or extra roasted veggies for extra color and protein.

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