Tater Tot Appetizer Cups Recipe
Introduction
Tater Tot Appetizer Cups are a fun and tasty way to serve a classic comfort food with a twist. Crispy potato cups filled with melted cheddar cheese, sour cream, bacon, and green onions make for the perfect party snack or appetizer.
Ingredients
- 48-60 frozen tater tots (16-oz bag)
- 3/4 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 2 green onions, sliced (green part only)
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 450ºF and spray muffin pan cups with cooking spray.
- Step 2: For a mini-sized muffin pan, place 2-3 tater tots in each cup. For a regular-sized muffin pan, place 4-5 tots in each cup.
- Step 3: Place the muffin pan on the bottom rack of the oven and bake for 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven.
- Step 4: Spray the bottom of a shot glass or small juice glass with cooking spray. Leave a small gap between the glass and the muffin cup opening. Twist the glass until the edges of the tater tots shape up close to the top of the muffin tin to form a potato cup. Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the tots are deep golden brown.
- Step 5: Add 1 tablespoon of shredded cheddar cheese to each potato cup. Bake for 4-5 minutes until the cheese has melted. Transfer the cups to a platter and let cool for 5 minutes.
- Step 6: Top each loaded tater tot cup with sour cream, crumbled bacon, and sliced green onions. Serve warm.
Tips & Variations
- Use flavored cheese blends or add a pinch of smoked paprika to the cheese for extra flavor.
- Try adding diced jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce for a spicy kick.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the bacon and add sautéed mushrooms or roasted red peppers instead.
Storage
Store leftover tater tot cups in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a preheated 350ºF oven for 10 minutes or until warmed through to maintain crispiness. Avoid microwaving to keep the texture crisp.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I make these ahead of time?
You can assemble the potato cups and add cheese before baking, then refrigerate them for up to a day. Bake as directed when ready to serve for best results.
What can I use instead of a shot glass to shape the cups?
If you don’t have a shot glass, a small, sturdy glass or a mini measuring cup works well to press and shape the tater tots into cups.
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Tater Tot Appetizer Cups Recipe
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 24–30 appetizer cups 1x
Description
These Tater Tot Appetizer Cups are a crispy and cheesy snack perfect for parties or game day. Made by baking frozen tater tots into mini muffin tins until golden brown, they’re then filled with melted cheddar cheese and topped with sour cream, crispy bacon, and fresh green onions for a flavorful bite-sized treat.
Ingredients
Base
- 48–60 frozen tater tots (16-oz bag)
Filling and Topping
- 3/4 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 2 green onions, sliced (green part only)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 450ºF and spray the cups of a mini or regular-sized muffin pan with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Place Tater Tots: For mini muffin pans, place 2-3 tater tots in each cup. For regular muffin pans, place 4-5 tots per cup to create the base for the cups.
- Initial Bake: Place the muffin pan on the bottom rack of the oven and bake for 10 minutes to partially cook and soften the tater tots.
- Shape the Cups: Remove pan from oven. Spray the bottom of a small glass (like a shot glass) with cooking spray. Use the glass to gently press and shape the edges of the tots upwards inside each muffin cup, creating a cup shape in the tater tots. Return the pan to the oven.
- Bake to Crisp: Continue baking the shaped tater tot cups for another 15 minutes or until they turn a deep golden brown and are crispy.
- Add Cheese and Melt: Place about 1 tablespoon of shredded cheddar cheese into each tater tot cup. Bake for an additional 4-5 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Cool and Garnish: Remove from oven and let the cups cool for 5 minutes. Then top each cup with a dollop of sour cream, crumbled bacon, and sliced green onions before serving warm.
Notes
- You can adjust the number of tater tots per muffin cup depending on the size of your muffin pan.
- Be careful when shaping the tater tot cups with the glass, as the tots will be hot after the initial bake.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the bacon or substitute with crispy fried mushrooms or vegetarian bacon.
- These cups are best served warm to enjoy the melty cheese and crispy texture.
- Leftovers can be reheated in the oven to retain crispiness rather than microwaving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 34-35 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: tater tot cups, appetizer, party snack, cheesy tater tots, bacon appetizer, finger food
