Description
These Cheeseburger Tater Tot Cups are a fun and delicious twist on the classic cheeseburger, featuring a crispy tater tot crust filled with seasoned ground beef and melted cheddar cheese. Perfect as a hearty appetizer or a family-friendly meal, they bake up quickly and can be customized with your favorite burger toppings.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Mixture
- 1 lb Ground beef
- 1 small Onion, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp Garlic powder
- 1 tsp Onion powder
- 1/2 tsp Paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Tater Tot Cups
- 2 cups Frozen tater tots
- 1 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
Toppings (Optional)
- Ketchup, for serving
- Mustard, for serving
- Pickles, sliced
- Lettuce, shredded
- Tomato, diced
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and lightly grease a 12-cup muffin tin to prevent sticking.
- Cook the Beef Mixture: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and finely chopped onion for 5-7 minutes until the beef is browned and the onion is soft. Drain excess fat if necessary.
- Season the Beef: Add Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper to the beef mixture. Stir well to combine and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Form Tater Tot Crusts: Place frozen tater tots in an even layer at the bottom of each muffin cup. Press them down gently with the back of a spoon to form a compact crust.
- Bake the Tater Tots: Bake the tater tot crusts in the oven for 10-12 minutes until they are golden brown and crispy.
- Add Beef and Cheese: Remove the muffin tin from the oven and spoon the seasoned beef mixture on top of each tater tot crust. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the beef in each cup.
- Finish Baking: Return the muffin tin to the oven and bake for an additional 5-7 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Allow the cups to cool for a few minutes before carefully removing them from the tin. Serve warm with optional toppings such as ketchup, mustard, pickles, lettuce, and diced tomato.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for a leaner option.
- Feel free to add diced jalapeños or hot sauce to the beef mixture for extra heat.
- Make sure to press the tater tots firmly to ensure the crust holds together when removing from the tin.
- These cups can be assembled ahead of time and refrigerated before baking; just add a couple of extra minutes to the baking time if baking from cold.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven to retain crispiness.
