Name: Loaded Tater Tot Cup Appetizers
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 12 Servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: cooking oil spray; 48 frozen tater tots; 3 slices bacon; 0.667 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese; 0.333 cup sour cream; 1 green onion; hot sauce

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Loaded Tater Tot Cup Appetizers

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Ingredients

Warning0 allergens identified

Loaded Tater Tot Cup Appetizers

cooking oil spray(or a little vegetable oil)

48 frozen tater tots(about half of a 32 oz bag)

3 slices bacon

⅔ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese(divided)

⅓ cup sour cream

1 green onion(large; sliced)

hot sauce(optional)

Instructions

Preheat oven oven to 450°F. Coat a 24-well mini muffin pan (or two 12-well pans) with cooking spray. Place 2 tater tots in each mini muffin cup.

Bake tater tots for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook bacon in a large frying pan over medium heat, turning occasionally, until browned and crispy, 12-14 minutes. Drain on paper towels and crumble.

Remove muffin pan from oven. Protecting hands, carefully use the bottom of a shot glass or a rounded tablespoon to smash the tater tots in each muffin indentation and create a cup shape. (The cups will hold together once baked.)

Bake until crispy, 5 more minutes. Remove pan from oven, immediately sprinkle tater tot cups with 1/2 cup cheese, and let stand until cheese melts, 2-3 minutes.

Using a small metal spatula or a table knife, remove tater tot cups from the muffin pan to a platter. Top each with a small spoonful of sour cream, some bacon, more cheese, and green onion. Serve with hot sauce on the side if you like.

Nutrition

My Calorie Intake

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Pre-Crisp Your Tots for Extra Crunch 🥔
Bake tater tots at 425°F for 5 minutes before pressing into muffin cups—this creates a golden exterior that stays crispy even after topping, preventing soggy bottoms.
Master the Smashing Technique 🔨
Use the bottom of a shot glass or measuring cup to gently press hot tots into muffin cups immediately after removing from oven—the heat makes them pliable and molds them into perfect cup shapes.
Render Bacon Perfectly for Optimal Texture 🥓
Cook bacon until it's just past medium-crispy, then crumble while still warm—this prevents it from becoming too brittle while ensuring it holds its texture when mixed with creamy toppings.
Layer Cheese Strategically for Even Melting 🧀
Add half the shredded cheddar before the final bake (5 minutes at 400°F) and sprinkle the remainder after baking—this creates melted cheese throughout while leaving some fresh, sharp flavor on top.
Prepare Toppings in Advance for Quick Assembly ⏱️
Cook bacon, chop green onions, and mix sour cream with hot sauce before baking the cups—this allows you to assemble all 24 appetizers in just 2-3 minutes while they're still warm from the oven.