Taco Tater Tot Cups – Plain Chicken

Taco Tater Tot Cups Appetizer Recipe – crispy tater tots baked in a mini muffin pan and filled with cheesy taco meat! Top with your favorite taco toppings like sour cream, lettuce, salsa, and guac. Perfect for parties, game day, or a fun twist on taco night!

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Tater Tot Appetizer

Taco Tater Tot Cups are the perfect bite-sized mashup of two comfort food favorites—crispy tater tots and cheesy taco goodness. The tots bake up golden and crunchy in a mini muffin pan, creating the perfect little base to hold that savory taco meat and melty cheese. Every bite is crispy on the outside, warm and cheesy on the inside, and packed with bold taco flavor. They’re fun to eat, easy to serve, and totally addictive—perfect for game day, parties, or a fun twist on taco night.

How to Make Taco Tater Tot Cups

This recipe is super easy to make with only a few simple ingredients. Spray a mini muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray. Place two frozen tater tots in each muffin cup. Bake in a preheated oven for 15 minutes.

While the tater tots are cooking, prepare the filling. In a large skillet, cook ground beef over medium-high heat until no longer pink. Drain excess grease. Add taco seasoning, water, and salsa to the pan. Simmer until most of the liquid has been absorbed. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir shredded cheese into the meat mixture.

Remove tater tots from the oven. Using a tart tamper tool, press potatoes into the muffin cups. Spoon taco filling into the potato cups and top with more shredded cheddar cheese. Bake for an additional 10 minutes, until the tater tots are a deep golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool in the muffin tin for 5 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter and sprinkle with fresh chives or green onions.

Helpful Tips & Frequently Asked Questions

• Can substitute ground turkey for lower calories.
• You can use any shredded cheese you enjoy in this recipe. Sharp cheddar cheese, provolone, gouda, or a Mexican cheese blend. Anything goes!
• I use a tart tamper to form the tater tot cups. You can use a shot glass if you don’t have a tamper.
• Substitutions/Additions:
  • onions
  • bell peppers
  • mushrooms
  • olives
• Here is our recipe for Homemade Taco Seasoning made with chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, oregano, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper: https://www.plainchicken.com/homemade-taco-seasoning/

Storage Tips

• Can Tater Tot Cups be made in advance? Yes! Prepare the filling. Bake the tater tots and form the cups. Add the filling. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.
  • You may need to add a few minutes to the cooking time if baking straight for the fridge.
• Can Tater Tot Cups be frozen? Yes! Bake the tater tot cups and cool completely. Place the tot cups on a baking sheet and freeze them. Transfer frozen bites to a freezer bag and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
  • Reheat bites in the microwave, oven, or air fryer.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

What to Serve with Loaded Tater Tot Cups

These loaded tater tots are a family favorite. They are super versatile and pair perfectly with all your favorite taco night sides. 

• Set up a topping bar and let everyone customize their own.
  • Top them off with a little shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, jalapeños, sour cream, guacamole, or a drizzle of taco sauce to really bring the flavor.
• Serve them with chips and salsa, Mexican rice, or a simple black bean salad to round out the meal.
• Add a bowl of our favorite salsa ranch dressing for dipping! YUM!
• A big bowl of chips and queso or some street corn dip on the side wouldn’t hurt either.

Whether you’re doing a full-on taco spread or just looking for a fun snack, these little cups are always a hit. Looking for more easy appetizer recipes?

Steph