Cheeseburger Loaded Tots
These Cheeseburger Loaded Tots are an easy family dinner recipe made with crispy tater tots, seasoned ground beef, melted cheddar cheese, fresh toppings, and a simple homemade burger sauce.
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This is one of my favorite meals to make on busy weeknights, game days, or even casual family movie nights. It also works great for birthday parties, potlucks, or when the kids have friends over.
Best served with a salad or baked fries on the side to balance the richness and make it a full meal.
How to Make Cheeseburger Loaded Tots
Ingredients you’ll need for this recipe
Ingredients you’ll need for burger sauce
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a 9×13” baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Spread the tater tots in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake according to package instructions (about 25–30 minutes), until golden brown and crispy.
3. Meanwhile, heat a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and break it apart. Cook until browned and fully cooked through, about 7–10 minutes. Drain excess grease.
4. Stir in salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. Mix well and set aside.
5. Remove the tots from the oven and reduce the oven temperature to 400°F.
6. Evenly spoon the beef over the crispy tots. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the top.
7. Return to the oven and bake for 10–12 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
8. In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, and pickle juice to make the burger sauce.
9. Once tots are done, remove from the oven and immediately top with shredded lettuce, diced onion, diced tomato, and pickles. Drizzle generously with burger sauce and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
Serve & Enjoy!
Important Recipe Notes
- Bake the tots until very crispy. Don’t rush this step. The tots need to be golden and firm before adding the beef and cheese, or they can turn soft underneath.
- After cooking the ground beef, remove any extra grease so the tots don’t get soggy.
- Add fresh toppings last. Lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles should always go on after baking. If added too early, they will wilt from the heat.
- This recipe is best enjoyed fresh from the oven while the cheese is melted and the tots are still crisp.
- If you have leftovers, reheat in the oven or air fryer at 375°F until hot and crispy again. Avoid the microwave if possible, as it makes the tots soft.
- You can swap cheddar for Colby Jack, add cooked bacon, or leave off certain toppings if serving picky eaters.
Cheeseburger Loaded Tots
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 2 lb bag frozen tater tots
- ½ cup hamburger dill chips
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- ½ white onion diced
- 1 medium tomato diced
- ½ tsp sesame seeds
Burger Sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tsp yellow mustard
- 1 tsp pickle juice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a 9×13” baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Spread the tater tots in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake according to package instructions (about 25–30 minutes), until golden brown and crispy.
- Meanwhile, heat a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and break it apart. Cook until browned and fully cooked through, about 7–10 minutes. Drain excess grease.
- Stir in salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. Mix well and set aside.
- Remove tots from the oven and reduce oven temperature to 400°F.
- Evenly spoon the beef over the crispy tots. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the top.
- Return to the oven and bake for 10–12 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, and pickle juice to make the burger sauce.
- Once tots are done, remove from the oven and immediately top with shredded lettuce, diced onion, diced tomato, and pickles. Drizzle generously with burger sauce and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
