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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Pepperoni Totchos

appetizer· snacks· Tailgating Recipes
September 9, 2021

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Pepperoni Totchos – Tater tots are tossed in an herb butter, covered with mozzarella cheese and mini pepperoni and served with marinara sauce to make the best tater tot nachos you’ve ever had!

angled photo of pepperoni totchos on a baking sheet and marinara sauce

Football season is among us, people! We put on our first football game the other night and it felt so good. It signaled the beginning of cooler weather, oversized scarves, and delicious tailgate foods. Yay!

We are choosing to stay home for football games this year so we’ll be enjoying it from our living room and cozy couch. I actually prefer it this way, health crisis or not, so bring on the homegating!

To celebrate the start of the season, I have a new sharable treat for you. It’s a recipe for these Pepperoni Totchos. I looooove totchos. They’re just as they sound – nachos made from tater tots. No tortilla chips here! They’re easy to make at home but much more exciting than boring chips.

But before we dive into the recipe, let’s take some time to looks at these yummy totchos!

overhead wide shot of pepperoni totchos on a blaing sheet with marinara dipping sauce
two fingers pulling at some pepperoni totchos

Making these totchos

Just like nachos, totchos come together super fast. You are simply layering toppings on top of tater tots. How simple is that?

But before you can start layering, the tots have to be cooked and crispy. Otherwise, they will be all soggy under all the toppings. So bake or fry the frozen tots according to the directions on the package before getting started on the totchos.

Next, toss the cooked tots in an herb butter made by adding Italian seasoning to melted butter. This step ensures that the tots are coated in delicious flavor.

Then, place the tots in an even layer on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, shredded mozzarella, and mini pepperoni. I like using mini pepperoni because it ensures that you get pepperoni in every bite without being too overpowering.

Finally, the tots are baked for 10 minutes to melt the cheese and crisp the pepperoni. Remove from the oven and serve with marinara sauce for dipping.

angled shot of pepperoni totchos

Tips & Tricks

  1. If you can’t find fin mini pepperoni, simply buy normal pepperoni and cut into quarters.
  2. Make sure the tots are cooked and crispy before you continue layering on toppings. Otherwise, the tots will get soggy and yucky.
  3. These tots are best served warm. They come together so fast, though, so no need to do any prep ahead of time.
Print Recipe

Loaded Totchos

Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time20 minutes mins
Total Time30 minutes mins
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 32-ounce bag frozen tater tots
  • 2 tablespoons butter melted
  • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
  • 8 ounces mozzarella cheese shredded
  • 3 ounces mini pepperoni

Instructions

  • Cook tater tots according to package instructions. Add melted butter and Italian seasoning to a large bowl and mix together. Add cooked tots and toss into melted herb butter.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lay buttery cooked tots onto baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  • Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the tots. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese and mini pepperoni over the cooked tater tots. Bake in preheated oven for 8 minutes, or until cheese is completely melted. Remove from oven. Serve immediately with marinara sauce.

Pin for later:

collage of photos of pepperoni totchos with descriptive text

More recipes you’ll love:

BBQ Chicken Nachos
a sheet pan with BBQ Chicken Nachos on them and a slice of lime cut and off to the side
Loaded Totchos
loaded totchos on a baking sheet with parchment paper on it drizzled with ranch tomatoes and green onions, shot from overhead
Potato Skin Bites
potato skin bites topped with bacon sour cream and green onions, shot from a side angle

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11 Comments

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Comments

  1. [email protected] says

    May 7, 2025 at 11:30 am

    Totchos for game day? Yes, please! I love the idea of home gating—comfy couch, great food, and no long lines. While we’re talking about convenience, if you’re expecting any game-day gear or snack deliveries, http://www.dtdc-tracking.com is a super handy tool to keep tabs on your packages. Can’t wait to try this recipe!

    Reply
  2. annakena says

    January 20, 2025 at 5:47 am

    These Pepperoni Totchos sound amazing! They remind me of the rice purity test—layered and full of surprises, each bite is a delightful mix! Perfect for homegating during football season!

    Reply
  3. Nadalie Bardo says

    September 11, 2021 at 8:49 am

    How have I never heard of Totchos before? Is this an American thing? They look tasty.

    Reply
  4. Bella says

    September 10, 2021 at 7:06 pm

    oh these look so tasty!!! such a great recipe! tarter tots are m fav!!

    Reply
  5. Marta says

    September 10, 2021 at 8:25 am

    My kids will love making these. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  6. Kristen Wood says

    September 9, 2021 at 11:02 pm

    My kids loved these, thanks so much!!

    Reply
  7. Beth says

    September 9, 2021 at 10:31 pm

    These are so delicious and perfect for gatherings that are just a hit here every time! Excited to make these for our movie night tomorrow,so yummy and easy to make!

    Reply
  8. Tisha says

    September 9, 2021 at 10:13 pm

    My kids are going to love these!!

    Reply
  9. Alejandra says

    September 9, 2021 at 9:57 pm

    What a great recipe, this is the perfect snack food for a casual night when I have friends over!

    Reply
  10. Andrea says

    September 9, 2021 at 9:54 pm

    What a fantastic recipe for game day or just the weekend to snack on. The whole family will love this.

    Reply
  11. Serena says

    September 9, 2021 at 6:25 pm

    Such a fun take on nachos. Can’t wait to try this!

    Reply

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Hi, my name is Sharon. I’m an accountant by day, risk-taking baker and food enthusiast by night. Come join me as I share my favorite recipes and test out new ones along the way!

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I used to love cooking, but during busy weeks it f I used to love cooking, but during busy weeks it felt like a chore. I was too exhausted after work to make anything fun. But with all that time at home, I was able to rethink our favorite foods and make them more achievable for weeknights.

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Here's what makes this recipe a weeknight winner:
🍊 The Marinade: Orange juice, lime juice, garlic, cumin, and oregano create that classic Cuban flavor. Just dump everything in a bag and let it work its magic!
⏰ The Timeline: Marinate for 4-24 hours (I usually do overnight), then it's only 25 minutes of active cooking time. Quick sear + oven = done!
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This has become one of our absolute go-to meals. It tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen but it's secretly SO easy!

Want the full recipe? 💌 Comment 'MOJO' below and I'll send you the link!

#MojoPork #PorkTenderloin #CubanFood #WeeknghtDinner #EasyDinner #DinnerIdeas #MarinadeRecipe #HealthyDinner #MealPrepIdeas #QuickDinner
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I know this pastry braid looks super fancy and complicated, but here's the secret: IT'S SHOCKINGLY SIMPLE. When I first saw a pastry braid, I was so intimidated by how intricate it looked. It felt almost unattainable without tons of practice. But I'm here to tell you that is absolutely not the case!

Here's the whole process:
1️⃣ Roll out puff pastry and cut slits on the sides
2️⃣ Spread cream cheese and guava down the center
3️⃣ Overlap the side pieces to create the braid
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This is perfect for brunch, dessert, or honestly just because you want something that looks impressive but is secretly easy to make. You can also substitute any fruit preserves if you can't find guava!

Want the full recipe? 💌 Comment 'GUAVA' below and I'll send you the link!

#GuavaPastry #PuffPastry #PastryBraid #LatinDesserts #CreamCheese #BrunchRecipes #HomemadePastries #BakingFromScratch #WeekendBaking #ImpressiveButEasy
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Want the full recipe? 💌 Comment 'BUTTER' below and I'll send you the link!

#DanishButterCookies #ButterCookies #ShortbreadCookies #HolidayBaking #CookieRecipe #HomemadeCookies
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