Bacon Cheeseburger Stuffed Tater Tot Cones with Colossal Cheese Volcano

Here’s how to make it..

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Ingredients:

For the Tater Tot Cones:

• 30-40 frozen tater tots (depending on the size of your cones)

• 1/4 cup vegetable oil (for frying)

• Salt (to taste)

For the Bacon Cheeseburger Filling:

• 1 lb ground beef (preferably 80/20)

• 1/2 medium onion, finely chopped

• 4 slices of bacon, chopped

• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

• Salt and pepper, to taste

• 4 slices of cheddar cheese (or American cheese)

• 1/4 cup pickles, finely chopped (optional)

• 1/4 cup ketchup or special sauce (optional)

For the Colossal Cheese Volcano:

• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

• 1 cup heavy cream

• 2 tablespoons butter

• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1 tablespoon cornstarch (optional, to thicken the sauce)

• Salt and pepper to taste

For Garnishing:

• Fresh chives, chopped

• Extra crispy bacon crumbles

• Lettuce or microgreens (optional)

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Instructions:

Step 1: Prepare the Tater Tot Cones

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).

2. Shape the tater tots into cones: Place a piece of aluminum foil on a flat surface and roll it into cone shapes. Alternatively, you can use an ice cream cone or waffle cone as a mold. Lightly grease the inside of the cone if you’re using metal molds.

3. Arrange the tater tots: Line the tater tots along the mold. For a perfect cone shape, you can place a piece of parchment paper underneath and layer the tots, placing them vertically to create a cone.

4. Bake: Arrange the tater tot cones on a baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and crispy. If needed, lightly drizzle them with vegetable oil to ensure crispiness.

Step 2: Make the Bacon Cheeseburger Filling

1. Cook the bacon: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until crispy. Remove from the skillet, set aside on paper towels to drain, and crumble into small pieces.

2. Brown the beef: In the same skillet, add the ground beef and cook over medium-high heat, breaking it apart as it cooks. When the beef starts to brown, add the finely chopped onion. Continue cooking until the beef is fully browned and the onions are soft.

3. Season: Add Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to the beef mixture. Stir well and cook for another 2-3 minutes.

4. Add cheese: Once the beef mixture is cooked, reduce heat to low. Lay the cheese slices on top and allow it to melt, stirring to combine. Stir in the crumbled bacon, pickles, and ketchup/special sauce (if using).

Step 3: Make the Colossal Cheese Volcano Sauce

1. Melt butter: In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the garlic powder and stir for about 30 seconds until fragrant.

2. Make the cheese sauce: Slowly add the heavy cream while stirring constantly. Bring it to a simmer.

3. Thicken the sauce: If you prefer a thicker sauce, mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with a little cold water and stir into the simmering cream. Continue to cook until the sauce thickens, about 2-3 minutes.

4. Add cheese: Gradually add both mozzarella and cheddar cheese, stirring continuously until melted and smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Step 4: Assemble the Tater Tot Cones

1. Stuff the cones: Once the tater tot cones are baked and crispy, carefully stuff each cone with the bacon cheeseburger mixture, pressing it down gently.

2. Top with cheese volcano: Pour the colossal cheese volcano sauce over the top of each stuffed cone, letting it drip down the sides for maximum gooeyness.

Step 5: Garnish and Serve

1. Garnish: Sprinkle fresh chives and extra crispy bacon crumbles over the top for added flavor and crunch.

2. Serve: Optionally, you can garnish with lettuce or microgreens for a fresh touch. Serve immediately while the cheese is still molten!

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Tips:

• Make it spicy: Add a few slices of jalapeños to the bacon cheeseburger mixture or mix a bit of hot sauce into the cheese sauce for some heat.

• Tater Tot Alternatives: If you don’t want to use frozen tater tots, try using crispy hash browns or even potato wedges for a different texture.

• Prep Ahead: You can prep the bacon cheeseburger filling and cheese sauce ahead of time, storing them in the fridge. When you’re ready to serve, reheat and stuff the cones.