Picture this: It’s game day and your living room is packed, everyone is hungry but nobody actually wants to sit around a table and eat. These little appetizer cups are perfect for getting in a quick (and filling!) bite without slowing down the fun. This is why I keep making Loaded Tater Tot Cups and over again for family events. In just 45 minutes, you get crispy little cups packed with sour cream, bacon, and chives!
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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, BBQs, brunch, 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 delicious appetizer 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.
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 topping. Unlike other party appetizers that need plates and forks, guests can grab these with one hand and keep mingling.
Looking for more game day recipes? Check out our collection of easy appetizers.
What You Need for This Game Day Appetizer
- 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.
- Sour cream: You can 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 Tater Tot Appetizers
- Preheat oven to 450ºF. Spray muffin pan with cooking spray, then add about 5 tots in each cup for standard sized muffin tin. See recipe notes below for larger or smaller sized muffin cups.
- Bake the frozen tater tots on the lower rack in the oven for 10 minutes. Let them cool before proceeding to the next step.
- Spray bottom of shot glass or small juice glass with cooking spray. Leave a small gap between the glass and cupcake pan opening. Twist the glass or container until the edges of the potatoes are close to the top of the muffin tin opening to create a potato cup. Return to oven; bake additional 15 minutes or until deep golden brown.
- Add 1 tablespoon of cheese to each potato cup. Bake for 4-5 minutes, or until the cheese has melted. Transfer to platter and let cool for 5 minutes.
- Garnish and top the loaded tater tot appetizer cups with sour cream, bacon, and green onions. Serve warm.
🎯 TFN Pro Tip
Leave a small gap between the glass and cupcake pan opening. Twist the glass or container until the edges of the potatoes are close to the top of the muffin tin opening, but still leave enough potato to create a stable “wall” for your cup.
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
Get creative and add Tabasco sauce, a drizzle of ranch dressing, BBQ sauce, or even marinara dipping sauce on top!
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 400º F for 10 minutes or until crispy and golden. Garnish with toppings and serve.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! These tater tot cups are ideal for parties because they’re handheld, stay warm in a slow cooker, and guests can grab them easily. They’re especially popular for Super Bowl parties and game day gatherings since they’re hearty enough to keep everyone satisfied during the game.
I recommend keeping them in a crockpot on the warm setting or in the oven to keep them at 175ºF for serving.
You can. Follow steps 1-6 in the recipe, then refrigerate. Before serving, cover the muffin tin with foil and bake at 400ºF for 10 minutes or until crispy and golden. Add toppings and serve.
Store leftovers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Reheat in the oven or air fryer at 350ºF for 10 minutes or until warmed.
Consider These Easy Appetizer Recipes…
- Jalapeno Poppers Oven Recipe
- Recipe For Sausage Balls Using Bisquick
- Crab And Shrimp Dip
- Spicy Deviled Eggs
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!
Tater Tot Appetizer Cups (How to Make Tater Tot Appetizers)
Equipment
- non-stick cooking spray
- shot glass
Ingredients
- 48-60 frozen tater tots (16-oz bag)
- ¾ cup cheddar cheese, freshly shredded see notes for substitutions and tips
- ½ cup sour cream
- 4 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
- 2 green onions sliced (green part only)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450ºF. Spray muffin pan cups with cooking spray.
- For mini-sized muffin pan: Place 2-3 tots in each muffin cup. For regular sized muffin pan: Place 4-5 tots in each muffin cup.
- Place muffin pan on bottom rack of the oven and bake 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven.
- Spray bottom of shot glass or small juice glass with cooking spray. Leave a small gap between the glass and cupcake pan opening. Twist the glass or container until the edges of the potatoes are close to the top of the muffin tin opening to create a potato cup. See video below for a demonstration.Return to oven; bake additional 15 minutes or until deep golden brown.
- Add 1 tablespoon of cheese to each potato cup. Bake for 4-5 minutes, or until the cheese has melted. Transfer to platter and let cool for 5 minutes.
- Garnish and top the loaded tater tot appetizer cups with sour cream, bacon, and green onions. Serve warm.
Video
Notes
- 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.
- Store leftovers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Reheat in the oven or air fryer at 350ºF for 10 minutes or until warmed.
Nutrition
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Kim says
Made these for a brunch cruise. They were delicious! Made full muffin size. They held up well and had great crunch, flavor, and appealed to everyone! I will make these again, may try the mini version next time. 😋
Nancy W says
I need an appetizer for a party tomorrow, so I just did a test run of this recipe.
Oh my! I can’t believe I haven’t had this in my rotation before. It’s delicious and easy and will be a huge hit, I am sure. Thank you.
Renae says
They are so tasty! Enjoy this new tater tot recipe 😍
Cyd says
I must thank you for this incredible recipe!! I made them for my Mom’s 92nd birthday and she, my husband and I wished I had made TWO dozen instead of one. Delicious!!
Renae says
I’m so glad everyone loved it! Thanks for letting me know.
Colleen says
Made these tonight for the Super Bowl. Definitely our new favorite party recipe! So cute and totally yummy. Can’t wait to try other ingredients in these adorable tater tot cups.
Laura Haag says
Great recipe! I had to substitute “Simply Southwestern Potatoes ” as I didn’t have the hashbrowns. Still followed the recipe. I put some taco meat & cheese on some. Turned out great!!
Renae says
That sounds delicious! And, I’m glad to know that those potatoes worked for you.