Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots are irresistibly delicious! Make in 3 simple steps with just 3 easy ingredients: bacon, tater tots, cheddar cheese. It doesn't get better than bacon-wrapped!
These bacon wrapped tater tots came from a test run at making loaded bacon tater tot skewers for the Super Bowl. My goal with party food is fast, easy, and as few steps as possible. So I realized that if I wanted to make the skewers (which I loved the idea of as fun finger food for both kids and the adults), it was going to take a few steps too many.
It as difficult to skewer the frozen tater tots and uncooked bacon, then top with cheese. I would have needed to cook the tots half way through, then skewer them along with the bacon, cook again for another 15 minutes so the bacon could crisp up, and sometime before they were all finished, sprinkle with cheese and then return to the oven. Too much time and too many steps!
So instead, bacon wrapped tater tot cups were created. They're a fun party finger food made in mini muffin tins and perfect for kids and adults. This recipe is great to make for holiday gatherings, game day, Super Bowl parties, and as a snack on the weekend.
The bacon is the glue that holds the cup together and once the bacon crisps, it retains a beautiful flower-like shape, like little bacon flowers.
DISCLAIMER: you will not just be able to eat just 1, or 2, or 3. These are so irresistibly delicious that you'll eat more than you wanted! Make enough to share, and serve them with these other delicious and simple party finger foods.
Ingredients
Bacon tater tot cups require only 3 ingredients: bacon, tater tots, cheddar cheese.
Make sure to use frozen tater tots for the best results. Since the bacon needs time to crisp, you don't want the tater tots to overcook before its done.
I find sharp or extra sharp cheddar cheese to be the best cheese alongside bacon. But, white cheddar, pepperjack, and swiss cheese are also good choices.
Step-By-Step Directions
Making bacon wrapped tater tots is incredibly easy. Here's how to do it.
First, cut the bacon into 3 pieces and place 2 pieces into a muffin tin cavity.
Second, put a frozen tater tot into the cavity. If you can fit 2, put both. The more the merrier!
Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 12-15 minutes, then remove from the oven and top with enough cheddar cheese to cover the tater tot.
Put back into the oven for 5 more minutes or until the cheese melts. Remove from the muffin tin with a spoon or fork and put on a paper towel for a few minutes so that any extra grease is absorbed.
Enjoy!
Tips
I've made bacon wrapped tater tots many times in an effort to get the recipe perfect in as few steps and in as little time as possible. Here are my expert tips.
Use the instructions for oven temperature and duration that are on your bacon package. For my uncured bacon, I had to cook for 15 minutes. You may need to increase the temperature and time, maybe even decrease it. If you are using a thick cut bacon, you likely will need to cook them longer.
You'll use roughly 2 teaspoons of cheese for each tater tot cup. Bagged shredded cheese is the quickest, but I think that a freshly shredded block of cheese melts faster.
If you notice that the bacon hasn't fully crisped when removing the tater tot cups from the muffin tin, remove all of them and transfer to a baking sheet. Then bake in 2 minute increments, until the bacon is crisped to your liking.
Recipe
Bacon Wrapped Tater Tot Cups
Ingredients
- 8 slices bacon
- 12-24 frozen tater tots
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Cut bacon slices into 3 pieces and place 2 pieces opposite ways into the cups of a 12 cup mini muffin tin.
- Put 1 to 2 frozen tater tots into each.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, until bacon is crisp (use the duration suggested on your bacon package).
- Top each cup with cheddar cheese. Bake for another 5 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
Notes
Nutrition
I hope you enjoy these bacon wrapped tater tots soon, and check out some more delicious and simple party foods around my blog.
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Terri
Do you serve this warm right out of the oven? Or could I make them ahead
and serve them at room temperature? Or make them the night before and chill them and then reheat them for a few minutes before serving?
Kristina
You could do any of these!
Connie Anthony
Can I make these in an air fryer?
Kristina
Yes! Start with 400 degrees for 7 minutes. I have had readers tell me that they've made them in air fryer, but the times range from 7-13 minutes.