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You can never go wrong with a recipe that starts with tater tots, and these Loaded Tater Tot Cups prove it every time. They’re crunchy, cheesy, and topped with everything people love. Easy to make and impossible to resist!
Why you’ll love these Loaded Tater Tot Cups
I’ve cooked with tater tots so many times that, at this point, you could probably call it a habit. They’re delicious, crispy, and ridiculously easy to work with. If you’ve made my Big Mac Tater Tot Casserole or Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole, you already know I’m fully obsessed. So making an appetizer version felt inevitable!
And honestly, what’s not to love here? You get the best parts of a loaded baked potato with crispy potatoes, melty cheese, sour cream, salty bacon, and fresh chives, only with way less work!
What makes these loaded tater tot cups to crave-worthy!
❥ Crowd-Pleaser: Bite-sized, cheesy, crispy, and guaranteed to disappear fast at any party or game day.
❥ Simple Ingredients: You just need tots, cheese, bacon, sour cream, and chives! Everything is easy to find and even easier to assemble.
❥ Fun & Foolproof: Press, bake, fill, and done. The muffin tin does all the work for you!
❥ Endlessly Customizable: Swap the toppings, change the cheese, add spice, or go Tex-Mex. There’s truly a version for everyone.
Tater Tot Cups Ingredients
- Frozen Tater Tots: McCain Extra Crispy is my go-to, but any brand works. No need to thaw!
- Sour Cream: Squeeze sour cream makes filling easier, and smoothing the top with a spoon makes them look perfect!
- Cheddar Cheese: Shredded cheddar melts quickly and adds structure, both mild or sharp cheese work well.
- Real Bacon Bits: Use store-bought real bacon bits or crumbled freshly cooked bacon.
- Chives: Fresh chives add color and brightness.
- Salt: Just a sprinkle before the final bake helps season them to perfection!
How To Make The Best Loaded Tater Tot Cups
✱ Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact ingredients and full recipe instructions!
Step 1 | Bake & Shape
To prepare the Tater Tot Cups, preheat the oven to 425°F and grease a muffin tin with nonstick spray.
Next, place 3-5 tater tots in each muffin cup. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove the muffin tin from the oven.
Using the bottom of a shot glass or measuring cup, press the tater tots down in the center and up the sides to create small cups.
I like to give the tots a small sprinkle of salt before putting them back in the oven.
Step 2 | Bake Again & Add Cheese
Return the muffin tin to the oven and continue baking for 10-12 additional minutes, until the cups are golden brown and crisp.
Once done, remove the muffin tin from the oven and immediately sprinkle shredded cheese over the cups.
Return the cups to the oven for 1-2 minutes to melt the cheese and help them hold together.
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Step 3 | Cool & Add Toppings
Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Top each cup with a small dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of bacon bits and chives.
Allow the tater tot cups to sit for 2-3 minutes, then carefully remove them from the muffin tin and serve warm.
Variations and Substitutions
Loaded tater tot cups are super versatile, and you can adjust the toppings to your liking! Here are some toppings that would be delicious:
- Add some spice: Add diced jalapeños, pickled jalapeños, or a drizzle of buffalo or sriracha at the end!
- Tex-Mex: Top with taco meat, pepper jack cheese, or a little pico.
- Add some ranch: Mix ranch seasoning into the sour cream before dolloping!
- Veggies: Add finely diced bell peppers, green onions, or sautéed mushrooms.
- BBQ style: Swap the bacon for pulled pork and drizzle with BBQ sauce.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Place tots in silicone muffin liners, air-fry at 400°F for 8 minutes, shape the cups, then air-fry for another 5–6 minutes, until golden. Fill and serve as usual.
Definitely! If you prefer, feel free to use frozen sweet potato tater tots instead. I would cook them just for an extra minute or two, though, to make sure they crisp enough in the oven!
What to Serve with Loaded Tater Tot Cups
I usually serve these loaded tater tot cups as an appetizer, so when I think of what to pair them with, I automatically think of appetizer spreads that include things like toasted ravioli, lemon pepper wings, ground beef queso dip, and other game day snacks. You can also serve them as a side dish with air fryer burgers and an Olive Garden salad!
More Appetizer Recipes to Try
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Loaded Tater Tot Cups Recipe
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Ingredients
- 4 cups frozen tater tots
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup real bacon bits - fresh or store-bought, made from real bacon
- 2 tablespoons chopped chives
- salt - to taste
Instructions
- To prepare the Tater Tot Cups, preheat the oven to 425°F and grease a muffin tin with non-stick spray.
- Next, place 3-5 tater tots in each muffin cup (depending on the muffin cup size). Bake for 10 minutes, then remove the muffin tin from the oven.
- Using the bottom of a shot glass or measuring cup, press the tater tots down in the center and up the sides to create small cups. I like to give the tots a small sprinkle of salt before putting them back in the oven.
- Return the muffin tin to the oven and continue baking for 10-12 additional minutes, until the cups are golden brown and crisp.
- Once done, remove the muffin tin from the oven and immediately sprinkle shredded cheese over the cups. Return the cups to the oven for 1-2 minutes to melt the cheese and help hold the cups together.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes and top each cup with a small dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of bacon bits and chives.
- Allow the tater tot cups to sit for 2-3 minutes, then carefully remove them from the muffin tin and serve warm.
Notes
- I like McCain’s or Ore Ida Extra Crispy Tater Tots because they’re my favorite. A shot glass works better than a measuring cup for pressing; just be careful not to hit the sides of the muffin tin.
- You can use store-bought real bacon bits for convenience, but homemade crumbled bacon is my favorite.
- I used squeezed sour cream and smoothed it with the back of a spoon. Not necessary, but it makes filling them much easier.
- A fork was the easiest way to lift the cups out.
- I tested these with 3, 4, and 5 tater tots. My metal trays worked best with 5, while the white ceramic ones in the photo did best with 3. It may vary based on your tray, and brushing them with salted butter makes them extra savory.
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