The first time I made Bacon Cheeseburger Stuffed Tater Tot Cones With Colossal Cheese Volcano, my son’s classmates were here for a Friday game night. My daughter had suggested something fun and shareable after seeing cone-shaped snacks on Pinterest. I grabbed a box of frozen tater tots from the grocery store, thinking, “If this works, it’ll be epic.”
While the kids set up board games in the living room, I cooked up ground beef, bacon, onions, and that classic cheeseburger flavor in my skillet. Then came the fun, hollowing out each tater tot into a little cone, filling them with the burger mix, and topping them with cheddar. As they baked, the cheesy aroma filled the kitchen, and my husband peeked in, asking when dinner would be ready.
When I pulled them out of the oven, the cones were golden and crisp, cheese melted and bubbling. The finale was easy, the mozzarella “volcano” topping created dramatic cheesy eruptions over each cone. The kids cheered, adults reached for seconds, and it turned our family night into something memorable.
This recipe is playful, satisfying, and surprisingly simple, just the kind of show-stopping snack I love sharing with fellow parents looking for real-world food that wows.
Short Description
A playful, crowd-pleasing snack, Bacon Cheeseburger Stuffed Tater Tot Cones With Colossal Cheese Volcano are crisp tater tot cones filled with cheesy bacon-beef goodness, topped with a bubbling mozzarella “volcano”—perfect for game nights, potlucks, or family fun.
Key Ingredients
Filling
- 1 lb ground beef
- 6 slices bacon, cooked & crumbled
- ½ cup diced onions
- ¼ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup mustard
- Salt & freshly ground black pepper
Tater Tot Cones
-
24 frozen tater tots
Cheese Toppings
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Tools Needed
- Baking sheet
- Large skillet
- Spatula
- Small spoon or melon baller (to hollow tater tots)
- Measuring cups and spoons
Cooking Instructions
Step 1: Prep & Preheat
Preheat oven to 425°F. Cook bacon until crisp, crumble, and set aside. Dice onions.
Step 2: Cook the Filling
In a skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef until fully browned (about 6–8 minutes), breaking it up. Drain excess fat.
Step 3: Add Flavor
Stir in bacon, onions, ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard. Season with salt and pepper. Cook 2 more minutes. Remove from heat.
Step 4: Shape the Cones
Carefully hollow out each frozen tater tot using a small spoon or melon baller, shaping into cones. Place upright on a baking sheet.
Step 5: Stuff & Top
Fill each tater tot cone with cheeseburger mixture. Sprinkle tops with cheddar cheese.
Step 6: Bake Cones
Bake for 15–20 minutes until tater tots are crisp and cheddar has melted.
Step 7: Cheese Volcano Finish
In a bowl, mix mozzarella cheese with any leftover burger filling. Remove cones, top each with mozzarella mixture, and return to oven 5–10 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden.
Step 8: Serve Hot
Serve immediately while the cheese is molten and the cones are crisp.
Troubleshooting tip: If filling starts to overflow, bake on a rimmed baking sheet to catch spills.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Flavor Explosion: Classic cheeseburger combo in a fun, biteable cone.
Kid-Approved: Playful cones are perfect for picky eaters.
Show-Stopping: That erupting mozzarella volcano brings drama to any table.
Easy Prep: Simple ingredients, mostly pantry or freezer staples.
Perfect for Gatherings: Great for game nights, potlucks, or casual parties.
Mistakes to Avoid & Solutions
Soggy cones: Bake long enough for tots to crisp—don’t underbake.
Cone collapse: Hollow gently and keep an intact base to hold filling.
Overflowing cheese: Spoon extra filling into bowl; save overflow topping.
Uneven baking: Space cones evenly; rotate tray midway through baking.
Burned cheese: If cheese starts browning too fast, lower oven to 400°F.
Serving and Pairing Suggestions
Line cones in a shallow tray or muffin tin to stay upright.
Serve buffet-style with dipping options like ketchup, ranch, or mustard.
Pair with celery sticks, carrot fries, or a crisp green salad.
Ideal finger food for family movie nights or weekend sports games.
Storage and Reheating Tips
Store: Refrigerate cooled leftovers in an airtight container up to 2 days.
Reheat: Bake at 350°F for 8–10 minutes until warmed and cheese re-melted.
Don’t freeze: Tater tots lose crispiness when frozen.
FAQs
1. Can I use turkey or plant-based meat?
Yes, cook according to package instructions, then mix with bacon and toppings.
2. Are these spicy?
No, but add a pinch of chili powder or chopped jalapeño for heat.
3. Can I prep filling ahead?
Yes, make filling up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerate.
4. What if cones fall over while baking?
Use a muffin tin to hold them upright.
5. Can I make smaller cones?
Absolutely, adjust baking time accordingly for bite-size cones.
Tips & Tricks
Use pre-crumbled bacon to speed up prep.
For uniform cones, thaw tots 2 minutes on counter before hollowing.
Choose cheddar with a bold flavor—it balances the richness.
Sprinkle cones with chopped parsley for a fresh touch.
Bake on parchment-lined tray for easy cleanup.
Recipe Variations
Jalapeño Popper Cones:
Add chopped jalapeño to filling, top with pepper jack cheese.
BBQ Cheeseburger Style:
Use BBQ sauce instead of ketchup-mayo mustard, top with crispy onion strings.
Mini Slider Cones:
Use smaller tots to make bite-size cones—great for cocktail parties.
Greek-Inspired Cones:
Use lamb meat, tzatziki instead of mayo, feta cheese, and chopped olives.
Final Thoughts
Making Bacon Cheeseburger Stuffed Tater Tot Cones With Colossal Cheese Volcano brought us laughs, happy messes, and a full table by the end of the night. It’s playful enough for a kiddo’s birthday and comforting enough for adults craving that classic burger flavor.
Every cone came with oohs and ahhs, and even my picky husband went back for thirds. If you’re looking for a snack that feels special without spending hours, this is the one to try. Serve it up, watch the smiles, and let the cheesy volcano do the rest.
Bacon Cheeseburger Stuffed Tater Tot Cones With Colossal Cheese Volcano
Ingredients
Filling
- 1 lb ground beef
- 6 slices bacon cooked & crumbled
- ½ cup diced onions
- ¼ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup mustard
- Salt & freshly ground black pepper
Tater Tot Cones
- 24 frozen tater tots
Cheese Toppings
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Cook and crumble bacon. Dice onions.
- Brown ground beef in a skillet (6–8 mins). Drain fat. Add bacon, onions, ketchup, mayo, mustard, salt, and pepper. Cook 2 mins.
- Hollow out frozen tater tots into cone shapes. Stand them upright on a baking sheet.
- Stuff each cone with beef mixture. Sprinkle with cheddar.
- Bake 15–20 mins until crispy and cheese melts. Top with mozzarella mixed with extra filling. Bake 5–10 mins until bubbly.
- Enjoy hot while cheesy and crisp.
