Cheesy Garlic Potato Tots: only 39p-per-serving

Cheese, garlic and potatoes... what's not to love? This cheesy garlic potato tot recipe is a real favourite in my household, and it's the perfect side dish to make your dinner pop.

It's also really easy to make, and while some pizza takeaway chains offer a similar dish as a side, my version comes out at only 39p a serving - making it a budget-friendly (and seriously tasty!) way to feed your family.

Image shows cheesy garlic potato tots being served from a casserole dish

What are potato tots?

Think of them like small bits of potato or mash, surrounded by a golden deep-fried outer casing. Delicious!

If you watch just about any American show, you'll probably have heard of 'Tater Tots'. The name is trademarked by Ore-Ida, so while there are many varieties and shapes on the market, they'll typically have a different name (such as in Asda, where they're known as 'Potato Pops').

I won't lie... in this dish, I didn't actually make the potato tots myself. Life is too short when you can pick a pack for 90p! I used these Asda essential ones, but Tesco do them too. The whole recipe only uses 3 ingredients, so its really quick and easy to prepare.

Cheesy Garlic Potato Tots ingredients

cheesy garlic potato tots ingredients, including cheese, garlic butter, and potato tots

There are only three ingredients you'll need to make your cheesy garlic potato tots side-dish:

  • 70g Mozzarella (I use grated, but you could purchase a ball of mozzarella to make this recipe even cheaper - just bear in mind the grated variety tend to last over a couple of meals - you can see an example of a meal plan here, where I used it multiple times)
  • 250g Potato Pops (found in the frozen section)
  • 30g Garlic butter (I tend to get my garlic butter from Asda. They don't seem to be available online, but I pick mine up in store, right by the ready-rolled pastry and pizza bases)

Cheesy Garlic Potato Tots Recipe

  • Preheat the oven to 180
  • Add the potato tots to your dish
  • Distribute the garlic butter evenly on top of the potatoes

Layering potato tots and garlic butter to make cheesy garlic potato tots

  • Layer mozzarella on top (think of it almost like a lasagne, with the ingredients layered one on top of the others)

cheesy potato pops

  • Cook in the oven for 10-12 minutes (I like the mozzarella to be crispy around the edges, but you can cook for a little less time if you prefer it softer). 

Potato tot variations

I love a dish you can change up based on what needs using up in the fridge, or what my family is in the mood for - so here are just a few ideas on how you can alter this recipe depending on your preferences:
  • Consider par-boiling broccoli and then adding it in to the mix before cooking
  • Use different kinds of cheeses for a deeper, more rich taste
  • Top the dish with chopped spring onions to give it a slight edge (along with salsa and sour cream for a different feel)
  • Fry bacon before chopping it up and adding it to the mix ahead of cooking
  • To save even more money, you could make your own garlic butter (I just went for the easiest option here)

The final verdict

My Cheesy Garlic Potato Tot dish is the perfect side dish to accompany meat, fish, or veggie alternatives - and you can bet my family loves it. With multiple variations available (typically based on what I need to use up in the fridge), this 39p-a-serving recipe is a real comfort dish - and one I'll be serving for many years to come.

Have you tried making my Cheesy Garlic Potato Tot dish? Let me know what you think - and don't forget to tag me on Instagram if you share it so I can see it. Bon appetite!

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