Description
Delicious and fun Cheeseburger Stuffed Tater Tot Cones topped with a molten cheddar cheese ‘volcano’ for a playful twist on the classic cheeseburger. Crispy tater tot shells are baked around cone molds and filled with seasoned ground beef and onions, then crowned with melted cheddar cheese. Perfect as a party appetizer or a kid-friendly meal.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Tater Tot Cones
- 2 cups frozen tater tots
- Cooking spray or oil for greasing
For the Cheeseburger Filling
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Toppings and Serving
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup pickles, chopped (optional)
- Ketchup for serving
- Mustard for serving
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Cones: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Grease a cone-shaped mold or fashion cones from aluminum foil to hold the tater tots while baking.
- Form the Tater Tot Shell: Press frozen tater tots gently around each cone mold, creating a shell that covers and encases the cone shape evenly.
- Bake Tater Tot Cones: Place the tater tot cones in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until they turn golden and crispy, turning them halfway through cooking to ensure even crisping.
- Cook Cheeseburger Filling: While the cones bake, heat a skillet over medium heat and cook the ground beef and finely chopped onion together until the beef is browned. Season with garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Drain any excess fat from the pan.
- Fill Cones with Cheeseburger: Once baked, carefully remove the tater tot cones from the molds. Fill each cone generously with the cooked cheeseburger mixture and add chopped pickles if you like.
- Add Cheese Volcano Topping: Top each stuffed cone with a generous amount of shredded cheddar cheese, creating a volcano-like mound on top.
- Final Bake for Melting Cheese: Return the filled cones to the oven and bake for an additional 5-7 minutes until the cheese melts and becomes bubbly.
- Serve: Serve the cheeseburger stuffed tater tot cones hot with ketchup and mustard on the side for dipping.
Notes
- Use aluminum foil cones if you don’t have a cone mold to shape the tater tots.
- For extra crispy cones, turn them carefully halfway through the initial bake.
- Drain excess fat from the cooked beef to prevent sogginess in the cones.
- Customize the filling by adding diced tomatoes or cooked bacon bits.
- Serve immediately for best texture and flavor.
