Description
Crispy golden tater tot appetizer cups bring party-perfect finger food magic to any gathering. Small potato bites deliver cheesy, savory goodness you cannot resist, promising delightful bites that spark conversation and satisfy hungry guests.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 36 frozen tater tots (about 3 per cup)
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) cooked bacon, crumbled
Topping Ingredients:
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) sour cream
- 2 green onions, chopped
Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Additional Ingredient:
- Cooking spray (for the muffin tin)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425F (220C), ensuring the rack is positioned in the center for even heating.
- Thoroughly coat a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray, creating a non-stick surface for easy removal of the appetizer cups.
- Arrange the tater tots in a single layer across the bottom of each muffin cup, pressing them gently to form a compact base.
- Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake the tater tot bases for 10 minutes until they begin to crisp and turn golden around the edges.
- Remove the tin from the oven and use the back of a spoon to create small wells in the center of each partially baked tater tot base, pushing the edges up slightly to form cup shapes.
- Layer crispy bacon pieces evenly across the bottom of each tater tot cup, distributing them carefully.
- Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese generously over the bacon, ensuring complete coverage.
- Return the muffin tin to the oven and bake for an additional 5-7 minutes, or until the cheese melts completely and becomes bubbly.
- Once melted, remove from the oven and let the appetizer cups cool for 2-3 minutes to set.
- Garnish each cup with a dollop of sour cream and finely chopped green onions.
- Serve immediately while warm and crispy, using a small offset spatula to help remove the cups from the tin.
Notes
- Swap frozen tater tots for homemade shredded potato patties for a fresher twist on this appetizer.
- Add extra crunch by sprinkling panko breadcrumbs on top before baking for a golden, crispy texture.
- Customize filling with vegetarian options like black beans, roasted vegetables, or plant-based protein crumbles for diverse dietary needs.
- Prepare filling ingredients ahead of time and assemble just before baking to save time during party prep or busy cooking sessions.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 360 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg