Mini Loaded Tater Tots Recipe 425

LOADED TATER TOTS®

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Arrange potato nuggets in a single layer on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until lightly golden, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain bacon slices on paper towels and chop coarsely.
• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat; add shallot and cook until fragrant. Stir in flour and cook until light golden, about 2 minutes. Whisk in milk and 2 tablespoons sour cream; stir until smooth and thick, about 5 minutes. Season with black pepper and nutmeg. Stir in 1 cup Cheddar cheese until fully melted.
• Transfer potatoes to a 9x13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle bacon on top. Pour cheese sauce over the potatoes. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven just until cheese melts, about 7 minutes. Remove from the oven; top with green onions and 2 tablespoons sour cream.

MINI LOADED TATER TOTS® APPETIZERS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450ºF.
• Place 2 TATER TOTS in each of 24 mini muffin pan cups sprayed with cooking spray; place on bottom oven rack. Bake 10 min.
• Spray bottom of shot glass with cooking spray. Use (in twisting motion) to press TATER TOTS in each muffin cup to make potato cup. Return to oven; bake additional 15 min. or until deep golden brown.
• Add cheese to potato cups; bake 1 min. or until melted. Transfer to platter; fill with remaining ingredients.

LOADED BAKED POTATO TOTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a large mixing bowl, add the hash browns, eggs, flour, green onions, steak seasoning salt and some salt and pepper and mix. Scoop 1/4 cup of the hash-brown mixture into your hand and form it into a disk. Press some broccoli, a few pieces of bacon and some Cheddar into the center of the disk and form into a cylinder. Place the stuffed potato tots on to a baking sheet lined with parchment and brush with melted butter.
• Bake until the potato tots are golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes, flipping halfway through.
• Loosen the sour cream slightly with a tablespoon of water and squirt or drizzle over the tots. Garnish the tots with the chives. Serve hot, with the sour cream on the side.

LOADED TATER TOTS APPETIZER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450ºF. Spray muffin pan cups with cooking spray.
• For mini-sized muffin pan: Place 2-3 tater tots in each muffin cup.
• For regular sized muffin pan: Place 4-5 tater tots in each muffin cup.
• Place tater tots muffin pan on bottom rack of the oven and and bake 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven.
• Spray bottom of shot glass or small juice glass with cooking spray. Use it (in a twisting motion) to press the tater tots in each muffin cup to make potato cup. Return to oven; bake additional 15 minutes or until deep golden brown.
• Add 1 tablespoon of cheese to each potato cups. Bake for 4-5 minutes, or until the cheese has melted. Transfer to platter and let cool for 5 minutes.
• Add sour cream, bacon, and green onion to each tater tot cup, and other garnishes. Serve warm.

TATER TOTS

Steps:

• If necessary, cook the bacon according to one of my easy methods listed below. Once cool, dice into small pieces.
• Increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees F. Scrub and peel the potatoes. Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with 1 inch of cold water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 6 minutes (the potatoes should be about halfway cooked). Drain and let cool for 15 minutes.
• Once cooled, grate the potatoes into a large bowl.
• Add the olive oil, flour, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper. Gently combine by hand so that the ingredients are as evenly distributed as possible.
• Add the bacon, cheese, and chives.
• Stir to combine.
• Generously coat two 24-cup mini muffin tins with nonstick spray, or make the tots in two batches. With a spoon, scoop about one heaping tablespoon of the potato mixture into each muffin cavity, then with your fingers, press each scoop flat.
• Bake until the potatoes are brown at the edges, about 15 minutes, then remove from the oven and coat the tops with cooking spray. With a small offset spatula or table knife, flip each tot. Coat tops with nonstick spray once more, then return the pan to the oven and bake until browned, 12 to 15 additional minutes until golden brown. Let cool in the pan for 2 minutes, then serve with Greek yogurt or sour cream.