Description
These Taco Tater Tot Cups are a fun and delicious appetizer or party snack combining crispy baked tater tots formed into cups and filled with seasoned ground beef and melted cheddar cheese. They are easy to prepare and perfect for game day, family gatherings, or any casual get-together.
Ingredients
Scale
Tater Tot Cups
- 48 frozen tater tots
- Nonstick cooking spray (for greasing the mini muffin pan)
Ground Beef Filling
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 (1-oz) package taco seasoning
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup salsa
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 425ºF (220ºC). Spray a mini muffin pan generously with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Bake Tater Tots Initially: Place 2 frozen tater tots into each cup of the prepared mini muffin pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes to start cooking and crisping the tots.
- Cook Ground Beef Mixture: While the tots bake, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook until it is no longer pink, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain any excess grease. Stir in the taco seasoning, water, and salsa. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 5 minutes until most of the liquid evaporates and the flavors meld.
- Form Tater Tot Cups: Remove the partially baked tater tots from the oven. Using a tamper or the back of a spoon, press down the tater tots in each muffin cup to form a cup shape that can hold the filling.
- Fill and Top Tater Tot Cups: Spoon the seasoned ground beef mixture evenly into each formed tater tot cup. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the top of each filled cup.
- Final Bake: Return the muffin pan to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the tater tot cups are fully cooked and crisped to your liking.
Notes
- For extra flavor, consider adding chopped onions or jalapeños to the beef mixture.
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for ground beef for a leaner option.
- Serve with sour cream, guacamole, or additional salsa on the side for dipping.
- Make sure to press the tater tots firmly to create a stable cup that won’t fall apart when filled.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven to maintain crispness.
