A Perfect Party Appetizer or Family Favorite Snack
These Mini Tater Tot Cheeseburgers are a genius twist on your classic cheeseburger—with crispy tater tots acting as the buns! Packed with juicy ground beef, melty cheese, and your favorite burger toppings, they’re a guaranteed hit at parties, game nights, or even as a fun dinner for kids and adults alike.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 48 frozen tater tots
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 12 slices dill pickle, cut into quarters
- 1/4 cup ketchup or burger sauce (for topping)
- Optional: sliced cherry tomatoes, shredded lettuce, chopped onions
- Toothpicks for assembling
How to Make Mini Tater Tot Cheeseburgers
Step 1: Bake the Tater Tots
Bake tater tots according to package instructions until golden and crispy. Let them cool slightly. These will serve as the “buns” for your mini burgers.
Step 2: Prepare the Cheeseburger Filling
In a skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef until browned. Drain any excess fat. Add garlic powder, onion powder, ketchup, salt, and pepper. Stir and cook until well combined and flavorful.
Sprinkle in the shredded cheddar cheese and stir until melted and gooey.
Step 3: Assemble the Mini Burgers
Place one tater tot on a serving tray. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the cheeseburger mixture on top. Add a small piece of pickle or your favorite topping. Top with a second tater tot to form a mini sandwich.
Secure with a toothpick. Drizzle a small dot of ketchup or burger sauce on top if desired.
Why You’ll Love These
- Fun, bite-sized, and easy to serve
- Perfect for parties, potlucks, or game day
- Kids love them, and adults do too
- Easy to customize with your favorite burger toppings
- Ready in under 30 minutes
Delicious Variations
- Make them spicy with jalapeños or pepper jack cheese
- Use ground turkey or plant-based meat for a healthier twist
- Top with bacon crumbles for extra flavor
- Swap tater tots with hash brown rounds for a different texture
- Serve with dipping sauces like ranch, mustard, or BBQ
Make-Ahead and Storage Tips
- Assemble just before serving for best crunch
- Store the cheeseburger mixture separately in the fridge for up to 3 days
- Reheat tater tots in the oven or air fryer for crispy results
- Not ideal for freezing once assembled, but individual components can be frozen
Final Thoughts
These Mini Tater Tot Cheeseburgers are everything you love about burgers in a fun, poppable form. Crispy, cheesy, juicy, and easy to customize—they’re bound to be the life of any gathering.
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Mini Tater Tot Cheeseburgers: Bite-Sized, Cheesy, and Irresistibly Fun
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
Salt and pepper, to taste
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
24 tater tots, cooked and crispy
6 slices cheddar cheese, cut into small squares
12 small pickle slices
6 cherry tomatoes, sliced
Lettuce leaves, cut into small pieces
Mayonnaise, for serving
Ketchup, for serving
Toothpicks, for assembly
Instructions
1. In a bowl, mix the ground beef with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Shape the mixture into small patties, about 1 inch wide.
2. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and cook the patties for 2-3 minutes on each side until fully cooked. Add a square of cheddar cheese on each patty in the last minute to melt.
3. To assemble, take a tater tot and add a dollop of mayonnaise on top. Layer with lettuce, a cheeseburger patty, a slice of cherry tomato, and a pickle slice. Finish with another tater tot on top. Secure with a toothpick.
4. Arrange the mini tater tot cheeseburgers on a platter and serve with ketchup and extra mayonnaise for dipping.
Enjoy your fun and tasty Mini Tater Tot Cheeseburgers!