Totchos replace tortilla chips with what potato product?

Totchos replace tortilla chips with tater tots.

The name “totchos” combines “tots” with “nachos.” Instead of arranging corn tortilla chips on a platter, cooks use deep-fried or baked tater tots as the crisp base, then add familiar nacho toppings such as melted cheese, jalapeños, meat, beans, salsa, or sour cream.

Totchos are generally described as a Pacific Northwestern variation. They belong to the broader family of loaded snack foods that preserve the nacho idea—an edible base covered with cheese and multiple toppings—while changing the base ingredient. Their texture is different from standard nachos: tater tots have a grated-potato interior and a browned, crunchy exterior.

The common mix-up is with potato wedges or hash browns. Those can serve as bases for other loaded potato dishes, but “totchos” specifically points to tater tots. Mashed potatoes do not provide the crisp, individual pieces normally associated with the dish.