Crispy Tater Tot Meatball Cups
These are pure fun food, and honestly, every family needs recipes like that sometimes. The crispy tater tot crust, saucy meatball center, and handheld format make these wildly popular with kids, teens, and adults alike. Whenever I make them, they disappear almost immediately.
I also love that they’re practical for real life. They work great for easy dinners, casual parties, homeschool co-op events, or those nights when everyone is eating at slightly different times. And because the meatballs are already cooked, this recipe comes together with surprisingly little effort. That’s always a win in my kitchen.
Crispy Tater Tot Meatball Cups
Ingredients
- Frozen tater tots about 4 per cups
- Refrigerated meatballs fully cooked-if you’re using frozen meatballs, let them defrost in the fridge before making this!
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Place 4 frozen tater tots into each muffin cup.
- Bake for 10–12 minutes, until the tots are soft and just starting to release oil.
- Remove the pan and use the bottom of a small glass or spoon to press the tots firmly into a cup shape, pushing up the sides.
- Return to the oven and bake another 15–20 minutes, until deeply golden and crispy.
- Remove from oven and place one refrigerated meatball into each tater tot cup.
- Brush sauce over each meatball
- Return to the oven and bake 8–10 minutes, until meatballs are heated through and sauce is bubbly.
- Let cool for a few minutes, then carefully remove from the pan.
Did you make this recipe?
Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below.