Loaded Cheeseburger Tater Tot Cups
These loaded cheeseburger tater tot cups are made with crispy smashed tater tots, seasoned ground beef, melted cheddar and homemade burger sauce. An easy game day appetizer ready in about 35 minutes!
Creator: Leslie Stokes
These Loaded Cheeseburger Tater Tot Cups have everything you love about a cheeseburger packed into a crispy, cheesy, bite-sized appetizer. Crispy smashed tater tots are filled with seasoned ground beef and melted cheddar, then finished with homemade burger sauce, pickles and diced onion.
They’re easy, fun and made for game day!
And I learned one very important thing while testing these: use a regular-size muffin pan, not a jumbo muffin pan. I originally made these in my large muffin tins while filming the recipe, and they just didn’t work as well. The regular muffin pan gives you the perfect ratio of crispy potato to cheeseburger filling—and a much sturdier little cup.
If you need an easy football appetizer, party snack or even a fun dinner the whole family will love, save this one!
Why You’ll Love These Cheeseburger Tater Tot Cups
I love a recipe that takes familiar ingredients and turns them into something a little more fun, and these are exactly that.
Instead of serving tater tots alongside cheeseburgers, we’re using the tots to create crispy little cups and loading them with all of our favorite burger flavors.
They’re:
- Crispy on the outside and cheesy in the middle
- Made with simple, family-friendly ingredients
- Easy to customize with your favorite burger toppings
- Perfect for football season and game day parties
- Easy to pick up and dip
- Ready in about 35 minutes
And because everything is made in a muffin pan, you get those crispy potato edges in every single bite.
Don’t Make the Same Muffin Pan Mistake I Did!
Here’s your warning from someone who already tested it the wrong way: don’t use a jumbo muffin pan for these.
When I filmed this recipe, I used my large muffin tins thinking bigger cheeseburger cups would be even better.
They weren’t.
The larger wells make it harder to create a sturdy tater tot shell, and you don’t get the same crispy potato-to-beef ratio. They end up feeling more like a pile of cheeseburger filling sitting inside potatoes rather than an actual handheld tater tot cup.
A standard-size 12-cup muffin pan works SO much better.
Four tater tots fit nicely into each well, they’re easy to smash up the sides, and the finished cups hold together better when you pick them up.
So learn from my mistake and grab the regular muffin tin!
Cheeseburger Tater Tot Cup Topping Ideas
This is where you can have fun and make them your own.
Try topping them with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, crispy bacon, jalapeños, caramelized onions, avocado, extra cheese, BBQ sauce or even a drizzle of hot honey.
For classic cheeseburger flavor, though, I love keeping it simple with burger sauce, pickles and finely diced onion.
Can I Make These Ahead of Time?
These are best straight from the oven because that’s when the tater tots are at their crispiest.
If you’re making them for a party, you can cook the ground beef and make the burger sauce ahead of time. Store both separately in the refrigerator.
Then all you need to do before serving is bake and smash your tater tots, fill the cups and finish them in the oven.
How to Reheat Tater Tot Cups
If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.
For the best texture, reheat them in the air fryer at 375°F for a few minutes or in a 400°F oven until hot and crispy.
I would avoid the microwave if possible because it will soften the tater tot crust.
Add the burger sauce and fresh toppings after reheating.
What to Serve with Cheeseburger Tater Tot Cups
For game day, serve these as part of a big appetizer spread with wings, veggies and dip, sliders or your favorite chips and salsa.
For dinner, pair them with a simple chopped salad or roasted vegetables. They’re also a really fun option for a family movie night or casual weekend dinner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to thaw the tater tots first?
No! Add them to the muffin pan straight from the freezer. The initial bake softens them enough to smash into cups.
Why are my tater tot cups falling apart?
They may need a little more time in the oven after smashing. You want the potato edges noticeably golden and crispy before adding the beef.
Also make sure you’re using a standard muffin pan rather than a jumbo pan.
Can I use ground turkey?
Absolutely. Ground turkey or ground chicken will both work, although beef gives you the most classic cheeseburger flavor.
Can I make these in a mini muffin pan?
I wouldn’t. A standard-size muffin pan gives you enough room for the tater tots to form a sturdy cup while still leaving space for plenty of beef and cheese.
Can I use a different cheese?
Yes. Pepper Jack, Colby Jack, American or a cheddar blend would all be delicious.
The Perfect Easy Game Day Appetizer
Football season always has me looking for recipes that are easy enough to throw together but still feel a little more fun than setting out another bowl of chips and dip.
These Loaded Cheeseburger Tater Tot Cups check all the boxes. They’re crispy, cheesy, beefy, dippable and easy to grab while you’re watching the game.
And after testing them in both sizes, trust me on this one: regular muffin tin all the way.
If you make these Loaded Cheeseburger Tater Tot Cups, tag me on Instagram @leslie_stokes_ so I can see them!
Tips for Extra Crispy Tater Tot Cups
Grease the pan well. You want those crispy edges to release easily after baking.
Don’t skip the first bake. The tater tots need time to soften before you try to smash them.
Press firmly. Really push the tots against the bottom and sides of each muffin well to create a sturdy cup.
Give them time to crisp. After smashing, bake them again before adding the beef. Adding the filling too early can leave you with soft potatoes instead of crispy cups.
Drain your ground beef. Excess grease can make the bottom of the cups soggy.
Let them rest before removing. Give them a few minutes after baking so the cheese and potatoes can set slightly.
I hope this appetizer helps you! Don’t forget to follow along on social media for more Meal Prep + healthy recipes!
Loaded Cheeseburger Tater Tot Cups
Ingredients
- 48 frozen tater tots
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 cup freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/3 cup finely diced pickles
- 2 tablespoons finely diced red or white onion
- Sliced green onions optional
Burger Sauce
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped pickles or relish
- 1 teaspoon pickle juice
Let's Make It
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Generously grease a standard-size 12-cup muffin pan.
- Place 4 frozen tater tots into each muffin cup. Bake for 10–12 minutes, until softened.
- Meanwhile, brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat. Season with garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt and pepper.
- Once the beef is completely cooked, drain off the excess grease. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce and yellow mustard. Cook for another minute and remove from the heat.
- Remove the muffin pan from the oven. Use the bottom of a small glass or measuring cup to firmly smash the tots into the bottom and up the sides of each muffin well.
- Return to the oven and bake for another 10–12 minutes, until golden and crispy around the edges.
- Divide the ground beef between the tater tot cups and top with shredded cheddar.
- Bake for another 4–5 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
- Meanwhile, combine the mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, pickles and pickle juice to make the burger sauce.
- Allow the cups to cool for a few minutes before carefully removing them from the muffin pan.
- Top with burger sauce, diced pickles, onion and green onions. Serve immediately with extra burger sauce for dipping.
Notes
- Use a regular muffin pan: Do not use a jumbo muffin pan. I tested these in the larger muffin tins while filming and found that a standard muffin pan creates a much sturdier, crispier tater tot cup.
- Drain the beef: Don’t skip this step. Excess grease can soak into the potatoes and prevent the bottoms from staying crispy.
- Don’t add toppings until serving: Burger sauce, pickles and onions should go on after baking so the cups stay crisp.
- Make ahead: The beef filling and burger sauce can both be made ahead and refrigerated separately.
Meal Prep in 1 Hour
You can use any two of the meals in this series to get your meal prep done in just about and hour, give or take!
Having your breakfast and lunch ready for the week helps you stay on track with your nutriton, saves you time and money! I truly beleive that meal prep does not need to be over complicated, take too much time or be boring!
I always get asked- “do you ever get tired of eating the same thing all week?” and the answer is, no! Not when the food taste good! I give plenty of variety in these preps and keep it simple!
As always, thanks for being here and remember, don’t over complicate the process! Take a deep breath, you got this!
