Bacon Cheeseburger Tater Tot Cones with Cheddar and Bacon (Print version)

Crispy tater tot cones filled with seasoned ground beef, melted cheddar, smoky bacon, pickles, and burger sauce.

# Ingredients:

For the tot cones

01 - 48 to 56 frozen tater tots, thawed until pliable
02 - 1 tablespoon neutral oil or cooking spray
03 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

For the cheeseburger filling

04 - 1 lb (450 g) lean ground beef
05 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
06 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
07 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
08 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
09 - 2 tablespoons ketchup
10 - 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
11 - 1 cup (115 g) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
12 - 6 slices cooked bacon, crumbled

For serving

13 - 1/4 cup finely chopped dill pickles
14 - 2 tablespoons finely diced onion, optional
15 - 1/2 cup burger sauce, ranch, or ketchup for dipping

# Instructions:

01 - Heat the oven to 425°F. Shape heavy-duty foil into 8 small cone molds, about 3 inches tall, and coat the outside lightly with oil or cooking spray.
02 - Press 6 to 7 thawed tater tots around each foil mold, compacting them into an even cone shell. Sprinkle lightly with salt and set the molds upright or on their sides on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
03 - Bake for 18-22 minutes, turning the pan once, until the shells are deep golden and firm. Cool for 3 minutes, then gently slide out the foil molds.
04 - While the shells bake, brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it into small crumbles. Cook until it reaches 160°F and no pink remains, then drain excess fat.
05 - Stir salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, ketchup, and mustard into the beef. Cook for 1 minute so the filling tastes like a cheeseburger but stays thick.
06 - Spoon the beef into the crisp tot cones. Top with cheddar and crumbled bacon, then return to the oven for 4-6 minutes until the cheese is melted.
07 - Top with chopped pickles and onion if using. Serve hot with burger sauce, ranch, or ketchup for dipping.

# Good to know:

01 - Best served hot, shortly after the second bake.
02 - For easier shaping, use muffin cups instead of foil cone molds.
03 - Nutrition is an estimate per serving, based on 2 cones.

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