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Close-up of an air fryer vegan tater tot casserole with golden-brown tots and crispy onions atop a creamy mixture dotted with visible vegetables.

Air Fryer Vegan Tater Tot Casserole

Air Fryer Vegan Tater Tot Casserole is all about making dinnertime stress-free while still delivering a satisfying, comforting meal. A crunchy tater tot topping and a creamy, veggie-packed base make it perfect for everything from weeknight dinners to casual gatherings. I love that I can put it together ahead of time and air fry it fresh when I’m ready. It reheats beautifully, and freezing leftovers means I always have a quick meal ready to go.
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 6 minutes
Total Time: 16 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 499kcal
Author: Mandy Applegate

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
US Customary - Metric

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.

Nutrition

Calories: 499kcal | Carbohydrates: 61g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 985mg | Potassium: 829mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 6486IU | Vitamin C: 29mg | Calcium: 161mg | Iron: 3mg
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