Description
These Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Cups are a fun and delicious twist on the classic sandwich, combining savory ground beef sloppy joe filling with crispy baked tater tot cups. Perfect as a party appetizer or family-friendly snack, they’re easy to prepare and baked to golden perfection with a cheesy topping.
Ingredients
Scale
Tater Tot Cups
- 48 frozen tater tots
- Nonstick cooking spray (for mini muffin pan)
Sloppy Joe Filling
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 (8-oz) can tomato sauce
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp chili powder
- Salt and black pepper (to taste)
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 2 tsp water
Topping
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Muffin Pan: Preheat your oven to 425ºF (220ºC). Spray a mini muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Bake Tater Tots: Place 2 frozen tater tots into each cup of the mini muffin pan. Bake them for 15 minutes until they’re partially cooked and starting to crisp.
- Cook Ground Beef: While the tots bake, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned and no longer pink, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain excess grease from the skillet.
- Add Sauce Ingredients: Stir in the tomato sauce, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, and season with salt and black pepper to taste. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and most of the liquid to reduce.
- Thicken Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water to make a slurry. Pour it into the beef mixture and cook until the sauce thickens, stirring constantly. Remove the skillet from heat once thickened.
- Form Tater Tot Cups: Remove the partially baked tater tots from the oven. Using a tamper or the back of a spoon, gently press the tots down in each muffin cup to form a cup shape ready to hold the filling.
- Assemble Cups: Spoon the sloppy joe beef mixture evenly into each tater tot cup, then sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top.
- Bake Until Melty and Crisp: Return the muffin pan to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the tater tots are crispy on the edges.
Notes
- Use a mini muffin pan for perfectly sized tater tot cups.
- Worcestershire sauce and apple cider vinegar add a tangy depth to the sloppy joe sauce.
- Pressing down the tots after partial baking helps them form a sturdy cup shape.
- Feel free to add diced onions or bell peppers when cooking the beef for added texture and flavor.
- Leftover sloppy joe mixture can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
