Crispy tater tots filled with savory bacon and gooey cheese – the perfect appetizer or snack!
Ingredients:
- 1 (16-ounce) package frozen tater tots
- 6 slices bacon, cooked crispy and crumbled
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or your favorite cheese blend)
- 1/4 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives (optional, for garnish)
- Optional: Jalapenos diced very small for a bit of heat.
- Optional: Sour cream or dipping sauce of your choice.
Instructions:
- Cook the Bacon: Cook the bacon until crispy. Crumble it into small pieces and set aside.
- Prepare the Cheese Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the shredded cheddar cheese, softened cream cheese, and the crumbled bacon. If you want a bit of heat, mix in the diced jalapenos. Stir until well combined.
- Partially Cook the Tater Tots: Preheat your oven according to the package directions for the tater tots. Cook the tater tots for about half the recommended time. This will make them easier to hollow out.
- Hollow Out the Tater Tots: Remove the tater tots from the oven and let them cool slightly. Using a small spoon, melon baller, or the back of a small knife, carefully hollow out the center of each tater tot, creating a small cavity.
- Stuff the Tater Tots: Fill each hollowed-out tater tot with the bacon and cheese mixture. Pack it in firmly.
- Bake the Stuffed Tater Tots: Return the stuffed tater tots to the baking sheet. Bake them according to the remaining time on the tater tot package directions, or until they are golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the tater tots from the oven and let them cool slightly. Garnish with chopped chives, if desired. Serve immediately with sour cream or your favorite dipping sauce.
Tips and Variations:
- For extra crispy tater tots, you can use an air fryer instead of the oven. Follow the air fryer directions for your model.
- Experiment with different cheeses, such as pepper jack, mozzarella, or Monterey Jack.
- Add other fillings like cooked sausage, caramelized onions, or diced bell peppers.
- For a spicy kick, add a dash of cayenne pepper or hot sauce to the cheese mixture.
- If you do not want to hollow out the tater tots, you can make these into loaded tater tot bites. Simply bake the tater tots fully, and then top them with the cheese mixture, and broil until the cheese is melted.
Enjoy your delicious Bacon & Cheese Stuffed Tater Tots!