Tator Tots and Sassy Sauces

… Super Easy Gluten-Free Super Bowl Snacks!

With Super Bowl XLVII (47 for those who don’t do Roman numerals) approaching very quickly, everyone is looking for super snacks for munching during the big game. If you don’t have much time to prepare, or you just want something really easy to make (this is so easy it might be considered cheating), I’ve got the quickest finger food recipe … Tator Tots with sassy sauces. Yes, I know … I told you it’s almost like cheating. 

I know some of you are saying, “Really? Tator Tots?” I have to confess, I really enjoy a crunchy*, potato-y, tender-on-the-inside tator tot snack once in awhile. I thought Super Bowl would be the perfect time to reach for them. Trader Joe’s makes a mean tator tot! … So there’s no need to add extra pressure to reinvent the wheel, right?

I discovered these tator tots just recently. Trader Joe’s Trader Potato Tots can be found in the frozen foods section, and have the gluten-free and vegan symbols right on the front of the bag. I LOVE it when it’s that simple!! They also make a fantastic Sweet Potato Tot (also frozen). You may know that anything with “sweet potato” has my name written all over it. While this bag is not clearly labeled, I verified with Trader Joe’s headquarters that they are vegan and gluten-free, manufactured in a dedicated gluten-free facility. 

To bring this back around to the easy “recipe” part of this post, I’ve got a couple of sassy sauce ideas for you … for dipping those crispy little bites of yum. They’re both made in less than five minutes, can easily be altered to your personal taste buds, and can be served up immediately or made ahead and kept in the fridge until needed (yes, a week is no problem). The flavors will bloom the longer they chill. Easy, right?

I like to eat the regular tator tots with the Chipotle Barbecue Sassy Sauce. But that’s just me. I think the Peppy Aioli Sassy Sauce pairs particularly well with the sweet potato tots. But munch and combine as you like … rules are only meant for the Super Bowl players, not the “munching team”.

So pull up the couch, lay the finger food spread on the table in front of you (so you don’t have to walk away from the game and miss an AMAZING play … or any of the $1M+ commercials), and enjoy the company – because you didn’t have to work your tail off to get here. 

Chipotle Barbecue Sassy Sauce

Prep time: less than five minutes

Cooking time: none

Chill time: as much as you wish

Makes about 1 cup of sauce

Ingredients:

9 Tablespoons ketchup

6 Tablespoons barbecue sauce - I like Sweet Baby Ray’s Sweet Vidalia Onion (but any flavor will work) 

3 Tablespoons adobo sauce - I use La Costeña brand chipotle peppers in adobo sauce in a can, and I only use the sauce for this recipe

Directions:

Stir all ingredients together well. Adjust the ratios as you like. Serve or refrigerate for later use. 

Peppy Aioli Sassy Sauce

Prep time: less than five minutes

Cooking time: none

Chill time: as much as you wish

Makes about 1 cup of sauce

Ingredients: 

9-10 Tablespoons mayonnaise - I used Earth Balance Mindful Mayo – olive oil variety

6-7 Tablespoons Chili Garlic Sauce - unsweetened

6 teaspoons rice wine vinegar

1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder

1/3 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste

Directions:

Stir all ingredients together well. Adjust the ratios as you like. Serve or refrigerate for later use. 

*To get a really good crunch on the outside of tator tots, I spray them with cooking spray before baking. I place them on a cooling rack nestled on a foil-lined baking sheet (this allows air to circulate all around them) and bake them according to the package directions, or sometimes even a bit longer. I like to bake them in a convection oven, but they’ll crisp up just fine if you don’t have a convection setting. 

Happy Super Bowl XLVII – and safe and tasty munching!

Safe food is a journey … Thrive!™