Description
A crispy and tangy Smashed Tater Tot Salad featuring golden baked tater tots smashed to crunchy perfection and tossed with fresh cucumbers, green onions, and dill pickles. Finished with a creamy dill pickle yogurt dressing that adds a refreshing zest, this salad is a delightful combination of textures and flavors perfect for a casual lunch or side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Tater Tots
- 28 to 32 oz tater tots
Vegetables and Toppings
- 2 Persian cucumbers, chopped
- 4 green onions, sliced
- 3 dill pickles, chopped
- 1/3 cup red onion, diced
- 4 slices cooked bacon (optional)
Dressing
- 1 1/2 cups Greek yogurt
- 1 lemon, zest and juice
- 3 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
- 1/4 cup dill pickle juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 0.5 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 0.5 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven according to the package instructions on the tater tots to ensure optimal baking temperature for crispiness.
- Bake Tater Tots: Spread the tater tots evenly on a baking sheet and bake until they become golden brown and crispy, following the recommended time on the package.
- Smash and Re-crisp: Carefully remove the tots from the oven and gently smash each one with the back of a spatula or a flat tool to flatten slightly. Return them to the oven to bake again briefly to achieve extra crispness on the smashed surface.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: Transfer the crispy smashed tots into a large mixing bowl. Add in the chopped Persian cucumbers, sliced green onions, chopped dill pickles, diced red onion, and bacon pieces if using, tossing them lightly together.
- Prepare Dressing: In a separate bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, lemon zest and juice, chopped fresh dill, dill pickle juice, Dijon mustard, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, and ground black pepper until smooth and well combined.
- Toss Salad: Drizzle the dressing evenly over the tater tot and vegetable mixture. Toss gently to coat all components without breaking the crispy tots.
- Serve: Serve immediately while the smashed tots remain crisp and the flavors are fresh and vibrant.
Notes
- Allow the tater tots to cool slightly before adding the dressing to help maintain their crispy texture.
- Add the dressing gradually to control the creaminess and prevent oversaturating the tots.
- For a vegetarian option, omit the bacon.
- Use fresh dill and pickle juice for the most authentic flavor in the dressing.
