This super tasty stack of black bean totchos with garlic lemon sauce has layers of flavor and texture. Tater tot nachos are a great game day snack.
recipe originally published April 18, 2014
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Why you'll love these tater tot nachos
Black bean totchos with garlic lemon sauce are not only a quintessential game day snack, they are a great lunch or dinner option as well. Crispy tots are piled high with veggies and beans, then drizzled with a bright garlic lemon sauce for a super flavorful and filling dinner.
There are a few components to this totchos recipe: the savory beans, the garlic lemon sauce, and prepping all of your favorite toppings from veggies to salsa. The tater tots can be air fried or baked while you quickly make the beans and assemble the rest of the toppings.
For game day or a party setting, set up a make your own tater tot nachos bar and everyone can make their own stack.
Like totchos? Try these Spicy Thai Totchos made with sweet potato tots and spicy almond sauce.
Garlic Lemon Sauce
This garlic lemon sauce goes way back to 2010, and was first made for a veggie rice bowl with beans. We now use it on everything from salads and veggie bowls to tofu marinade and a dipping sauce for veggies.
The base is cashews, and you can use your favorite nut from almonds to walnuts. I love a cashew for the rich flavor they add, but I also love the very different flavor a walnut can bring to this sauce. The rest of the ingredients are all whole food ingredients that are easy to find.
If you want to see the garlic sauce video, visit this garlic recipe collection.
Savory black beans
The savory black beans bring the protein and a layer of flavor to these tater tot nachos. A quick and easy recipe that can be made in the time it takes to cook the tater tots, it is basically a can of beans, tomato paste, and spices.
I love this recipe and meal prep it often to use in different ways: tacos, taco salad, and as the warm protein element in a veggie rice bowl.
How long does this recipe last?
My rule for maximum flavor and freshness is to enjoy the savory beans within three days. The garlic lemon sauce will last a week in the refrigerator. I recommend making only the tater tots you will consume at once; if using leftover beans later, bake or air fry a fresh batch of tater tots.
Cool leftover beans completely, and refrigerate in a glass container with a tightly fitting lid. Refrigerate any leftover garlic lemon sauce as well.
Did you make these totchos?
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Black Bean Totchos with Garlic Lemon Sauce
The stack of comfort food you need for lunch or dinner! Layers of flavor and texture make this a great game day snack.
Ingredients
Garlic Lemon Sauce
- 1 cup raw cashews
- 2 garlic cloves, peeled
- ½ -¾ cup water
- juice and zest of 1 lemon
- ¼ cup nutritional yeast
- sea salt and pepper to taste
Savory Black Beans
- 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons oregano
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
Totchos
- 4 cups tater tots
- â…“ cup salsa
- 1 fresh tomato, cored and diced
- 4 tablespoons dairy free sour cream
- 6 tablespoons Garlic Lemon Sauce
- 2-3 green onions, trimmed and sliced
Instructions
Make the Garlic Lemon Sauce
- Soak cashews for several hours or overnight. For a quicker alternative, boil water and soak cashews in the hot water until softened, 10 - 15 minutes.
- Drain cashews after soaking.
- In high speed blender or food processor, process cashews and garlic cloves until crumbly.
- Add ½ cup water, blend until smooth.
- Continuing to blend, add lemon juice and zest, garlic, nutritional yeast, salt and pepper.
- Blend at highest speed to a smooth consistency.
- Add additional water to thin / reach desired consistency.
Make the Savory Black Beans
- Add the drained black beans to a skillet over medium heat.
- To the beans, add tomato paste and seasonings.
- Stir to combine, and continue cooking over medium heat for several minutes until hot.
Oven Baked Tater Tots
- Preheat oven to 425 °F. Line baking sheet with parchment.
- On the parchment lined baking sheet, arrange tater tots in a single layer.
- Bake tater tots for 12 minutes and remove from oven. Using a spatula, flip tater tots, keeping in single layer. Return to oven and bake another 10 - 12 minutes or until tots crisp and hot.
Air Fryer Tater Tots
- Set temp to 400 °F. Line basket with parchment round (optional for easy cleaning).
- Add tater tots to air fryer basket and air fry for 7 minutes.
- Remove and shake the basket or use a spatula / tongs to turn tater tots. Return basket to air fryer and cook another 5 minutes, or until tots are crisp and hot.
While tater tots bake, slice green onion and prep toppings.
Assemble The Totchos
- On one platter or individual serving plates, add a pile of tater tots.
- Top the tater tots with the savory black beans. Follow with salsa, tomatoes, garlic lemon sauce, sour cream, green onion.
Enjoy immediately.
Notes
How long does this recipe last?
My rule for maximum flavor and freshness is to enjoy the savory beans within three days. The garlic lemon sauce will last a week in the refrigerator. I recommend making only the tater tots you will consume at once; if using leftover beans later, bake or air fry a fresh batch of tater tots.
Cool leftover beans completely, and refrigerate in a glass container with a tightly fitting lid. Refrigerate any leftover garlic lemon sauce as well.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 438Total Fat: 19gSodium: 577mgCarbohydrates: 41gFiber: 12gSugar: 6gProtein: 15g
nutrition calculations results vary by calculator, are for informational purposes only, and are not intended to replace medical advice or treatment.
about Kristina:
Kristina is spabettie! She found cooking at an early age, and created spabettie in 2010 to share vegan recipes. Kristina turned her culinary training into sharing vibrant vegan food! Read more...
spabettie / Kristina Sloggett is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
allie @ Through Her Looking Glass says
Great, quick meal Kristina! That's what we need around here! Taxes or no.
Kim - Liv Life says
What's not to love about tots and garlic sauce?? Love, love, LOVE everything about this dish!!
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
I had no idea what totchos were, but I'm definitely going to become very familiar with them now…YUM!
Mila says
The tater tot-nacho combo is brilliant! I wanna try it with sweet potato tots and a chipotle sauce.
Kristina Sloggett says
I agree Mila - totchos are brilliant! I made a sweet potato version that was tasty - Spicy Thai Totchos. 🙂
Heather @ Better With Veggies says
They had totchos at one of the condo restaurants in Utah this year and they were fantastic. Really, you can win me over with the mention of tots. I mean, who doesn't love them?!
Hannah says
How can I possibly go on if I don't eat something like this very very soon? I want to eat everything on a bed of tots now!
Eileen says
No one makes me crave tater tots quite like you, Kristina! 🙂 These sound so good, especially with that beautiful sauce. Yay!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
There is a place half a block from my house that has a full page of totcho creations on their menu. I had to band myself from going there because I couldn't control myself! Need to make them at home. This seems much safer. 🙂