Tater Tot Appetizer Cups

4.80 from 195 votes

Looking for easy finger foods for party guests? These loaded tater tots cups are crispy, cheesy, and stuffed with bacon and sour cream. They're handheld, mess-free, and disappear fast at any gathering!

Prep Time15

Cook Time30

Total Time45

Course: Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: tater tots, tater tots appetizer, muffin tin tater tots, tater tot appetizer

Servings: servings

Calories: 115kcal

Author: Renae Gerhardstein

Equipment

muffin pan
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 demostration.
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

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.

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.

Storing Instructions:

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