Copycat Cheesecake Factory loaded baked potato tots

I nominate myself for the longest blog post title of the year award. The Cheesecake Factory is one of the restaurants that we enjoy but have never lived close to. One of our go-to appetizers are the loaded baked potato tots. They have a nice crunchy and crispy coating and a filling of creamy mashed potatoes.

You can either make your potato filling from scratch, use leftover mashed potatoes, or grab a package of pre-made potatoes. Season them accordingly. You’ll combine them with all of the delicious baked potato toppings. You can adjust your topping based on what you prefer. I like shredded cheese, bacon, and green onions. Caramelized onions would also be delicious.

From there, you’ll shape the loaded baked potato tots and roll them in a crunchy topping. A dredging station with bowls of the eggs and the breadcrumbs will make your life a lot easier. If you can find them, I would really recommend using panko breadcrumbs. They’re a lighter texture, so they make a better and crispier crust. Then we’ll get to deep frying.

I’ll always tell you to invest in a deep fryer (here’s one similar to mine). If you don’t have a deep fryer, you can fry them in a dutch oven on the stove top. Fry them for about three minutes each. You’ll want the filling to be warm and the crust to be super crunchy. You can bake these, but they won’t get as crunchy as you’ll probably want.

As a general fan of Ranch dressing, I serve these with homemade Ranch dressing. You can also make the sriracha mayo that Cheesecake Factory serves as a dipping sauce. These would be a great side dish for another Cheesecake Factory recipe, Parmesan herb-crusted chicken.

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