Loaded Tater Tot Cups Recipe (How to Make Tater Tot Appetizers)

This easy tater tot recipe takes just 45 minutes from start to finish, making it one of the quickest game day appetizers you can make. Everyone will love these loaded tater tots for game day or parties – the cups are stuffed with sour cream and bacon bits and topped with chives. These tater tot cups are some of the best finger foods for party gatherings – easy to grab, no utensils needed, and they stay warm in a slow cooker.

What Are Tater Tot Cups?

Tater tot cups are crispy potato shells made from frozen tater tots that are baked in a muffin tin and pressed into cup shapes. You might also see these called stuffed tater tots since you’re filling crispy potato shells with delicious toppings.

These handheld appetizers can be filled with your favorite toppings like cheese, bacon, and sour cream. They’re perfect for game day parties or any gathering where you need an easy appetizer. Believe me when I say, everyone will love these!

How to Make Tater Tot Cups (Video Tutorial)

Why We Love This Recipe

“Gimme your tots!” Do you remember that phrase from the movie Napoleon Dynamite? Tater tots have come a long way from being a last-minute freezer-to-oven side dish. They are super trendy for making appetizers, casseroles, and meals.

• They’re easy to make and perfect for Super Bowl parties! Our simple tater tot appetizer recipe uses frozen tots as the base for these beautiful cups.
• Handheld appetizers mean no mess! This crave-worthy game-day snack is a handheld version of tachos (loaded tater tots), with flavors similar to a loaded potato casserole but less messy!
• Indulgent but fun! Sometimes you need an indulgent, delicious, comforting, and satisfying snack. So, go ahead and splurge on some tater-tot cups!
• Perfect for Super Bowl parties and game day gatherings! These appetizers are easy to grab and eat while watching the game, and you can prep them ahead so you’re not stuck in the kitchen during kickoff.

One thing is for sure: they aren’t on any healthy foods list. But hey, that’s okay!

Perfect Finger Foods for Party Guests

Looking for easy finger foods for party occasions? Tater tot cups check every box. They’re handheld, mess-free, and can be customized with different toppings to please everyone at your gathering. Unlike other party appetizers that need plates and forks, guests can grab these with one hand and keep mingling. They’re especially popular as Super Bowl finger foods because they’re hearty enough to keep hungry sports fans satisfied throughout the game.

Looking for more game day recipes? Check out our collection of easy appetizers.

What You Need for This Game Day Appetizer

This incredible tater tot appetizers recipe uses a few simple ingredients, and we’ll share substitutions you can use:

• Frozen tater tots: There isn’t a substitution for these, but you can use shredded potatoes to make breakfast hash brown cups instead.
• Freshly shredded cheese: We use sharp cheddar, but any shreddable cheese you love will work here. I recommend shredding your own cheese instead of buying the pre-shredded kind. Those bags of pre-shredded cheese have anti-caking powder added to keep the shreds from clumping in the package, but that same powder prevents the cheese from melting smoothly. When you shred your own, you get that gorgeous, stretchy cheese pull that makes these cups so satisfying to eat.
• Sour cream: To reduce calories and fat, substitute with plain Greek yogurt or light sour cream.
• Toppings: This recipe uses chopped chives and bacon bits. Other garnish ideas are spicy dijon mustard or salsa with jalapeño.

How to Make Stuffed Tater Tot Cups

1. Spray muffin pan with cooking spray, then add 5-7 tots. The number of tots you place in each muffin tin depends on the size of the muffin pan you’re using.
   Bake the frozen tater tots in the oven. Let them cool before proceeding to the next step.

2. Make the cups: Depending on the size of your muffin tin, use a shot glass, small juice glass, or measuring cup. Press the glass or cup into the cooked tots to create stuffed potato cups
   I used a small Duralex juice glass to create deep impressions in each well like shown below.

3. Bake them for a few minutes until crispy. Then it’s time to fill them with cheese.
   Add shredded cheese to each cup. I used a small melon baller to measure and add the cheese.

4. Bake again for a few minutes until the cheese is melted. Remove from oven to add the toppings.
   

5. Garnish and serve! Top the cheese with chopped bacon bits, sour cream, sliced green onions, or chopped chives, and serve up this loaded tater tots recipe and be prepared for them to disappear!

Stuffed Tater Tot Variations

The beauty of this loaded tater tots recipe is how easy it is to customize. Here are some popular variations:

• Breakfast Tater Tot Cups: Fill with scrambled eggs, cheese, and crumbled sausage
• Pizza Tater Tots: Top with marinara, mozzarella, and pepperoni
• Buffalo Chicken Tots: Mix shredded chicken with buffalo sauce, top with blue cheese
• Taco Tater Tot Cups: Fill with seasoned ground beef, cheese, lettuce, and salsa

These tater tot recipe ideas work great for any occasion, from game day parties to brunch gatherings.

Get creative and add Tabasco sauce, a drizzle of ranch dressing, BBQ sauce, or even marinara dipping sauce on top!

These make ahead appetizers are perfect when you’re hosting a Super Bowl party or any gathering where you want to prep food in advance.

Make Ahead Instructions:

• Prepare the recipe as directed in steps 1-5, then refrigerate. Before serving, cover the muffin tin with foil and bake the tater tot cups at 400ºF for 10 minutes or until crispy and golden. Garnish with toppings (step 6) and serve.

Recipe FAQs

Consider These Easy Appetizer Recipes…

• Jalapeno Poppers Oven Recipe
• Recipe For Sausage Balls Using Bisquick
• Crab And Shrimp Dip

If you tried this loaded tater tots recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!