Buffalo Sloppy Joes Tater Tots

Can you say no to fries? Or hash browns? Or tater tots?

I can’t.

Imagine a plate of them laying there. Would you be able stop shoving them into your mouth?

I wouldn’t.

I just love all fried potato-y stuff.

Yesterday I was feeling tater tots. And then I thought what if I added my favorite sloppy joes with a hint of hot sauce on the tots and then top all that with cheese?

YES.

Oh my god. Oh my god.

What you’re going to get is a crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside tater tots, sweet and spicy buffalo sloppy joes and ooey gooey melting cheese.

Potato Heaven. Just dig in, guys.

Oh, and if you haven’t already, check out my last post. Peach Iced Tea. The perfect summer drink infused with real peaches. No artificial nothing. So peachy, sweet & a lil tart.. just like homemade Snapple, only better.

Buffalo Sloppy Joes Tater Tots

 

Save Print

Crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside tater tots, sweet and spicy buffalo sloppy joes and ooey gooey melting cheese.

Author: AiPing | Curious Nut

Recipe type: Entree; Appetizer

Cuisine: Western

Serves: 3-4

Ingredients

• Buffalo Sloppy Joes
• ¾ lb ground beef
• 1 medium onion, finely diced
• 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
• 1 medium carrot, finely diced
• ½ large red pepper, finely diced
• 2 celery sticks, finely diced
• 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
• 1½ tbs prepared mustard
• 1½ tbs Worcestershire sauce
• 1 - 2 tbs raw honey
• ¾ tbs apple cider vinegar
• ¾ tsp chili powder
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Hot sauce to taste
• 
  
• Tater tots
• 3 medium (about 2 lb) russet potatoes, cut in half
• 1 tbs cornstarch
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• ¼ tsp onion powder
• ¼ tsp garlic powder
• 1- 1½ tsp salt
• 
  
• 1½ - 2 cups shredded cheese

Directions

Buffalo Sloppy Joes

1. Over medium heat, add a thin coat of oil to a wide pan. Sear and brown the ground beef. Set aside.
2. Over medium high heat, add a coat of oil to the same pan and sear the onion. Once onion has soften, add the garlic. Fry for a couple minutes. Add the carrots until carrots has almost soften. Add the red pepper. Fry for a couple minutes and add the celery. Fry for another couple minutes. Add the seared beef and fry to combine.
3. Add the tomato sauce, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, honey, apple cider vinegar, chili powder. Mix well and bring it to a boil. Once boiled, cover and let simmer on medium low heat for 20-30 minutes. The liquid will have decreased considerably. Add the salt, black pepper and hot sauce to taste.

Tater Tots

1. Two methods to cook the potatoes. Bake or Boil. To bake, place the potatoes in the oven and bake at 450 F for 25 minutes. To boil, place the potatoes in a pot of water, bring it to a boil and simmer on medium heat for 6 minutes. Potatoes are ready when you can pierce them with a fork but is still firm.
2. Let the potatoes cool until you can handle it. Remove the skin, finely shred the potatoes and combine it with the cornstarch, black pepper, onion powder and garlic powder. Add 1 tsp of salt, mix well and shape one tater tot. Fry it on a pan to test the seasoning. Adjust if needed, keeping in mind that the sloppy joes and cheese may be salty.
3. Once you're happy with the seasoning, shape the tater tots. Use damp hands for easier handling. Shape into a small cylinder shape or any shape you please. Place each shaped tater tot on a large baking sheet. (See notes about freezing here)
4. Preheat ½" oil in a pan. Put a shred of potato in. Once it's bubbling, the oil is ready. Place as many tater tots as your pan can handle without overcrowding it. You're essentially frying the at 300 F. Too high and the tater tots may brown too fast or break apart.
5. When the bottom has browned, gently flip the tater tots to brown the other side. Don't poke or prod it or it may fall apart. Use a slotted spoon to remove the tater tots. Drain them on paper towel for 1 minute and then transfer them to a wire rack. Repeat with the remaining tater tots.

Assembling

1. Remove ½ the buffalo sloppy joes from the pan. Top the ones remaining in the pan with tater tots. Top the tater tots with the remaining buffalo sloppy joes. Top that with cheese.
2. Place it under the broiler and broil for a few minutes until cheese has melted. Serve immediately.

Notes

I tried both boiling and baking the potatoes to see which would yield a fluffier interior. Both gave the same results. However, based on the science similar to this, I believe freezing the tots after shaping them would yield an even fluffier interior. If you have time, I'd suggest to freeze after shaping and before frying them.

3.5.3208