Description
Delicious and fun Cheeseburger Tater Tot Cups are perfect bite-sized appetizers or snacks that combine crispy tater tots with savory ground beef, tangy ketchup and mustard, and melted cheddar cheese. These easy-to-make cups are baked to golden perfection and can be garnished with pickles and green onions for extra flavor, making them ideal for parties, game day, or a kid-friendly treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Tater Tot Base
- 3 cups frozen tater tots
- Nonstick cooking spray
Cheeseburger Filling
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon pickle relish (optional)
Garnishes (Optional)
- Chopped pickles
- Chopped green onions
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare muffin tin: Set your oven to 425°F (220°C) and lightly spray a 12-cup muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Bake tater tots initially: Place 3 frozen tater tots into each muffin cup. Bake them for 10 minutes to start crisping the tots.
- Form tater tot cups: Remove the muffin tin from oven and press the tater tots down firmly into each cup using a small glass or spoon, shaping them into a cup base.
- Bake tater tot cups again: Return the muffin tin to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes until the tater tot cups are crispy and hold their shape.
- Cook cheeseburger filling: Meanwhile, heat a skillet over medium heat and cook the ground beef along with the finely chopped onions until browned and fully cooked. Drain excess grease from the pan.
- Season beef mixture: Stir in salt, black pepper, ketchup, and yellow mustard into the cooked beef for classic cheeseburger flavor. Optionally, add pickle relish if desired.
- Assemble tater tot cups: Spoon the seasoned beef mixture evenly into each crispy tater tot cup in the muffin tin.
- Add cheese topping: Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese generously atop the beef filling in each cup.
- Bake to melt cheese: Place the muffin tin back in the oven and bake for 5 more minutes or until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
- Cool and garnish: Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly before garnishing with chopped pickles and green onions if desired. Serve warm.
Notes
- You can prepare the beef mixture in advance to speed up assembly and serving time.
- Swap ground beef for ground turkey or plant-based crumbles to make a lighter or vegetarian-friendly version.
- Use your favorite type of cheese or add extra toppings like bacon bits for variation.
- These cups are great served with ketchup or your preferred dipping sauces on the side.
