• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Midwest Nice logo

  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Recipe Index
  • Ebooks
    • Venison Ebook
    • Coffee Ebook
  • About
  • Contact
  • Portfolio
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Search
  • Recipe Index
  • Ebooks
    • Venison Ebook
    • Coffee Ebook
  • About
  • Contact
  • Portfolio
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Venison Dishes

    January 17, 2023 · Updated March 18, 2025

    Ground Venison Tater Tot Nachos (Totchos!)

    No ratings yet
    Leave a comment

    · by Amanda Gajdosik

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

    This post may contain affiliate links. This blog generates income via ads.

    A pin to share the recipe for ground venison tater tot nachos.

    These ground venison tater tot nachos are a dinner dream come true! Made on a bed of tater tots instead of tortilla chips they’re loaded with melty cheese, perfectly seasoned ground venison, and all the fun nacho toppings you love! As a bonus, you can make them outside on the grill or inside in the oven.

    This post is sponsored by Oklahoma Joe's. Thank you for continuing to support the brands we love at Midwest Nice!

    These totchos (tater tot nachos) are another ground venison recipe in a long line of winners that I’m absolutely in love with! Obsessed even?

    See also: my ground venison tater tot hotdish (that's right, tater tots aren't just for nachos!), my cheesy baked venison enchiladas, and my sweet and spicy ground venison tacos!

    I won’t claim to have invented tater tot nachos, but I might be so bold as to say I’ve perfected ground venison nachos! Because they’re not only ridiculously delicious but also incredibly easy!

    A look at the ingredients

    Making Venison Nachos

    This is just a brief overview, detailed instructions can be found in the recipe card below.

    1. Bake the tater tots. Either in the oven or on the grill. I love grilling this recipe on hot summer days.
    2. Prepare the ground venison topping. It's like an insane taco meat situation. Which would also be perfect for my venison taco salad!
    3. Assemble the nachos. We’re layering cheese, the venison, some fresh veggies, and more cheese on the tater tots!
    4. Bake until melty. A hot grill is a great way to get all that cheese to melt perfectly.
    5. Add your favorite toppings and enjoy! These tater tot nachos, like all nachos, are totally customizable.
    Bake the tater tots.
    Prepare the ground venison.
    Assemble and bake the nachos.
    Add your favorite toppings.

    Stovetop and Oven Instructions

    While I love making this recipe on the grill, it can absolutely be made using your stovetop and oven.

    1. Bake your tater tots in a 425-degree oven for 20 minutes.
    2. Meanwhile prepare the ground venison topping on the stovetop.
    3. Lower the oven heat to 350 degrees and layer the cheese, meat, and toppings on the tater tots as instructed in the recipe card.
    4. Bake until melty!

    Grilled Nachos

    It might seem a bit odd to some people to make nachos on the grill, but it’s such a fun way of making them!

    Not only does it keep my kitchen cleaner and cooler, but it helps to flex a culinary muscle.

    If you’re new to grilling, like I was (slash, still am!), I can’t recommend a gas grill enough! It’s easy to light, control the temperature, and is very user friendly.

    The most important thing to remember is that you’re generally closer to your heat source on a grill, so while it may be tempting to really crank up the flame to reach 425 degrees quickly, you risk scorching the bottom of your tater tots!

    Set the flame between medium and medium-low, letting the grill slowly come up in temperature and holding it there for perfectly golden brown and crispy tater tots!

    Watch the recipe video!

    A close up of a pan full of ground venison tater tot nachos.
    Print Recipe
    No ratings yet

    Ground Venison Tater Tot Nachos

    Made with fresh, flavorful ground venison, melty cheese, and fun toppings on a bed of baked tater tots these sheet pan venison nachos are a dinner dream come true.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time25 minutes mins
    Total Time35 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: ground venison nachos, totchos, venison nachos
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 437kcal
    Author: Amanda Gajdosik
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Cast Iron Pan
    • Rimmed Baking Sheet

    Ingredients

    • 32 ounces frozen tater tots
    • 1 pound ground venison
    • 1 packet taco seasoning
    • 14 ounces diced tomatoes with green chilies
    • ¾ cup water
    • 2 tsp. hot sauce, optional
    • 4 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese
    • 4 ounces shredded pepper jack cheese
    • ½ cup diced red onion
    • ½ cup diced orange bell pepper
    • ½ cup diced cherry tomatoes
    • Sliced Jalapeño, for serving
    • Avocado, for serving
    • Sour Cream, for serving
    • Cilantro, for serving
    • Lime, for serving

    Instructions

    • Preheat your grill slowly, adjusting the flames to be between medium-low and medium. Allow to preheat to 425 degrees. (Alternatively, preheat your oven.)
    • While grill preheats, line a baking sheet (that you’re certain will fit in the grill) with foil and spray with baking spray. Spread the frozen tater tots into an even layer.
    • When grill or oven is preheated, add the pan of tater tots and bake. The tater tots will bake for approximately 20 - 25 minutes, total.
    • Meanwhile, set a cast iron pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 pound ground venison and cook, breaking the meat up into small bits, until nearly browned, about five minutes. When meat is almost browned, add 1 packet of taco seasoning, 14 ounces diced tomatoes with green chilies, ¾ cup water, and a few shakes of hot sauce, if desired. Cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce has reduced and is thick enough to coat the meat, about 10 minutes.
    • While the sauce thickens, give the tater tots a gentle shake and rotate the pan to ensure they’re baking evenly.
    • Once the meat is finished and the tots are golden brown, reduce the grill/oven heat to low. Sprinkle half of the shredded cheddar and pepper jack cheese on top of the tater tots, followed by the prepared venison, ½ cup diced red onion, and ½ cup diced orange bell pepper. Top with the remaining cheese.
    • Bake nachos until cheese is fully melted, about 5 minutes.
    • Immediately top melty nachos with diced tomatoes, sliced jalapeños, sliced avocado, a drizzle of sour cream, a sprinkle of cilantro, and a squeeze of lime to serve.

    Video

    Notes

    • See post for notes on baking these nachos in the oven.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 0.125pan | Calories: 437kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 1125mg | Potassium: 654mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1063IU | Vitamin C: 30mg | Calcium: 248mg | Iron: 3mg

    Browse More Recipes!

    • Cubes of venison steak that have been cooked in the air fryer are drizzled with melty garlic butter.
      Air Fryer Venison Steak Bites with Garlicky Butter
    • Ground Venison Taco Salad (Great for Leftovers!)
    • A spoon sits in a partially scooped out pan of venison tater tot casserole.
      Ground Venison Tater Tot Hotdish (Midwestern Casserole)
    • One Pan Venison Hamburger Helper
    48 shares
    • Share this Recipe!
    • Send this Recipe!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    No Comments

    Leave a rating and review! Cancel reply

    Did you love the recipe? Let me know! And let others know too by leaving a comment and star rating. Reviews are so useful in helping other people find my site and make my recipes. Your support means the world to me!

    Amanda

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hey, Yall!

    Amanda, a food photographer and recipe developer, leans against a kitchen counter. She is smiling and holding a camera. She wears a white shirt and black jeans.
    Hi! I'm Amanda, and I believe in good food for good people. I hope you enjoy the homemade recipes you'll find on my site.
    • instagram
    • facebook
    • pinterest

    Choose a Category

    Looking For Something?

    Recently

    • Air Fryer Venison Steak Bites with Garlicky Butter
    • Lemon Drop Jello Shots (Using Real Lemons!)
    • Ground Venison Taco Salad (Great for Leftovers!)
    • London Fog Latte with Lavender Syrup (Hot or Iced)
    • Ground Venison Tater Tot Hotdish (Midwestern Casserole)
    • Three Ingredient Mandarin Orange Jello Salad (No Cottage Cheese)
    • Sweet & Spicy Dirty Chai Espresso Martini
    • One Pan Venison Hamburger Helper
    • Strawberry Rosé Jello Shots (3 Ingredients!)
    • Old Fashioned Green Jello Salad with Pineapple and Cool Whip

    Archived Posts

    Meet Amanda

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Wisconsin Classics

    • Brandy slush cocktail 
    • Beer battered fish fry
    • Wisconsin brandy old fashioned
    • Grasshopper cocktail
    • Beer brats and onions
    • Pink squirrel with ice cream
    • Raspberry jello pretzel salad

    Venison Dinners

    • Seared venison tenderloin 
    • Venison dry rub 
    • Juicy venison burger
    • Red wine venison roast
    • Venison meat sauce 
    • Smoked venison backstrap
    • Grilled venison tenderloin

    Coffee at Home

    • Pumpkin cream cold brew 
    • Vanilla iced coffee
    • Dirty chai latte 
    • Pistachio cream cold brew
    • Maple syrup latte
    • Vanilla sweet cream cold brew
    • Homemade chai concentrate

    About / Contact / Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2025 Midwest Nice

    48 shares

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required