If needed, preheat air fryer to 400°F. My air fryer doesn’t need preheating, so I skip this step.
Spray to coat air fryer basket. Pour ½ lb of tater tots into the air fryer basket.* Coat tots with cooking spray, shake basket, and coat again.
Optionally, sprinkle with seasonings—you can also do this after cooking, which I prefer to avoid burnt spice bits throughout.
Cook for 10-16 minutes, shaking halfway through. Cook on the longer end for extra crispy tots. Check and add on a few more minutes depending on the crispiness level desired.
*If you want super crispy tater tots, arrange tots in a single layer and bake in batches. If pressed for time or if you love softer tater tots, simply toss ½ lb into the basket.