Air Fryer Vegan Tater Tot Casserole
Add Preferred SourceThere’s something about a tater tot casserole that just hits the spot, and this Air Fryer Vegan Tater Tot Casserole brings all the flavor without the fuss. A hearty, veggie-packed filling topped with crispy, golden tater tots is all you need to make every bite a mix of crunchy and creamy goodness. Not only that, you get both healthy and delicious in just one casserole, so no guilt as you enjoy this comforting meal.
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This crowd-friendly and versatile casserole is so easy to pull together, that’s why I love serving it for family dinners, brunch, or game day. I can make it ahead—just assemble it, store it in the fridge, and pop it in the air fryer when it’s time to eat. Leftovers reheat well, and you can also freeze portions for later, making this air-fried vegan tater tot casserole recipe a perfect choice for busy weeks.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You’ll need all the ingredients shown in the photograph below.
How to Make Air Fryer Vegan Tater Tot Casserole with Step-By-Step Instructions
Scroll down for the full recipe card containing a full printable recipe and measurements in both US customary and metric units.
If you follow my simple steps, you’ll have a perfectly crispy, satisfying vegan casserole in no time.
Make the Creamy Sauce
Melt the vegan butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and garlic, and sauté for about 5 minutes or until the onions soften.
Sprinkle in the flour and stir well to create a paste, cooking for about a minute to get rid of the raw flour taste.
Add the Broth and Vegetables
Slowly pour in the vegetable broth and vegan milk while whisking continuously. This helps the sauce thicken smoothly.
Stir in the nutritional yeast, mushrooms, frozen mixed vegetables, and chopped seitan. Let everything simmer for a few minutes so the flavors can meld together.
Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
Assemble the Casserole
Lightly grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish (or a pan that fits in your air fryer).
Pour the vegetable and seitan mixture from the saucepan into the prepared baking dish and spread it out evenly.
Finish off by topping it with frozen tater tot potatoes and crispy onions, covering the entire surface.
Cook in the Air Fryer
Place it in the air-fryer basket and bake the casserole in the air fryer at 350°F (180°C). Let it cook uncovered for 6 minutes so that the tater tots crisp up properly. Otherwise, the trapped steam (if you cover it) will make them soggy instead of golden brown and crunchy.
Serve and Garnish
Once it’s done cooking, remove it from the air fryer and let it sit for a couple of minutes before serving. You can also add more crispy onions over the top for extra crunch.
Serve hot and enjoy!
Recipe Notes and Expert Tips
I’ve put together a few tips to make sure your casserole turns out just right every time.
- Sauté the onions properly: Letting them soften before adding the flour helps develop a richer flavor in the sauce.
- Use unsweetened vegan milk: Stick to almond, soy, or oat milk to keep the sauce creamy without adding sweetness.
- Whisk constantly when adding liquids: This prevents lumps and helps you get that smooth, thickened sauce.
- Chop the seitan into bite-sized cubes: The size of seitan matters—if you don’t dice it evenly, you may have portions with too much seitan, and other portions with none. Chopping it into bite-sized pieces not only makes it easier to mix evenly into the casserole but also helps you make sure there’s some protein in every bite.
- Arrange the tater tots in a single layer: Spacing them evenly across the top of the casserole allows the hot air to circulate around each tot. Overlapping or stacking them can lead to uneven cooking, with some staying soft while others get extra crispy. So, do only one layer to make sure all tater tots crisp up on all sides.
- Don’t skip the crispy onions: They add the perfect finishing touch, with a bit of crunch and a hint of sweetness.
- Let the casserole sit before serving: This allows the filling to settle slightly, making it easier to scoop and serve.
How to Store Leftover Air Fryer Vegan Tater Tot Casserole
If you’ve got some leftovers, let them cool down first, but don’t leave them out at room temperature for more than 2 hours. To store, you can cover the casserole with plastic wrap and aluminum foil or transfer it into an airtight container. Keep in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
To reheat, remove any wrap or foil, then pop it back in the air fryer at 350°F for 5-10 minutes to bring back the crispiness.
You can also freeze it for 2-3 months, just portion it out for easier storage. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating, but just keep in mind that thawing the frozen casserole might change its texture.
What to Serve With Air Fryer Vegan Tater Tot Casserole
This air-fryer casserole is a meal on its own, but you can pair it with a fresh green salad, roasted vegetables, or even a side of vegan coleslaw to round out the meal.
More Easy Recipes for You to Try at Home
Here are some other healthy and delicious recipes you can cook in the air fryer that are worth the try!
- Air Fryer Vegetable Casserole
- Air Fryer Vegan Avocado Fries
- Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets
- Air Fryer Carrot Fries
- Air Fryer Onion Rings
Ingredients
- 1 cups chopped onion divided
- 2 large garlic cloves finely chopped
- 3 tablespoons vegan butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup vegetable broth
- 1 ¼ cup unsweetened vegan milk
- 1 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1 cup coarsely chopped mushrooms
- 1 pound bag frozen mixed vegetables
- ½ pound seitan chopped
- 1 pound bag frozen tater tots
- Crispy onions for garnish
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Grease a 9" x 13" baking pan. Set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons vegan butter. Add onion and garlic, and sauté over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes until the onions are soft. Stir in flour to make a paste.1 cups chopped onion, 2 large garlic cloves, 3 tablespoons vegan butter, ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- Add broth and vegan milk, whisking constantly over high heat until the sauce thickens. Stir in nutritional yeast, mushrooms, frozen vegetables and seitan. Season with salt and pepper. Top with tater tots and crispy onions.¼ cup vegetable broth, 1 ¼ cup unsweetened vegan milk, 1 tablespoons nutritional yeast, 1 cup coarsely chopped mushrooms, 1 pound bag frozen mixed vegetables, ½ pound seitan, 1 pound bag frozen tater tots, Salt and black pepper, Crispy onions
- Bake in the air fryer at 350°F (180ºC) uncovered for 15 minutes, until fully warmed.
- Serve hot and enjoy.
Notes
- Sauté the onions properly: Letting them soften before adding the flour helps develop a richer flavor in the sauce.
- Use unsweetened vegan milk: Stick to almond, soy, or oat milk to keep the sauce creamy without adding sweetness.
- Whisk constantly when adding liquids: This prevents lumps and helps you get that smooth, thickened sauce.
- Chop the seitan into bite-sized cubes: The size of seitan matters—if you don’t dice it evenly, you may
have portions that have too much seitan, and other portions that have none. Chopping it into bite-sized pieces not only makes it easier to mix evenly into the casserole, but also helps you make sure there’s some protein in every bite. - Arrange the tater tots in a single layer: Spacing them evenly across the top of the casserole allows the hot air to circulate each tot. Overlapping or stacking them can lead to uneven cooking, with some staying soft while others get extra crispy. So do only one layer to make sure all tater tots crips up on all sides.
- Don’t skip the crispy onions: They add the perfect finishing touch, with a bit of crunch and a hint of sweetness.
- Let the casserole sit before serving: This allows the filling to settle slightly, making it easier to scoop and serve.
