Cheesy Ranch Tater Tot Sausage Bites
Delight in these irresistible Cheesy Ranch Tater Tot Sausage Bites, a perfect fusion of crispy tater tots and savory Italian sausage. Each cup is generously filled with a blend of rich Colby and cheddar cheeses, a touch of tangy ranch dressing, and colorful roasted red peppers topped with fresh scallions. Ideal for breakfast, brunch, or as a crowd-pleasing appetizer at your next gathering, these tasty bites will have everyone coming back for more!
12
Servings
198
Calories
12
Ingredients
Ingredients
Frozen tater tots
60
Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix
2 tablespoons
Mayonnaise
1/3 cup
Sour cream
1/2 cup
Cooked Italian sausage
1 lb (crumbled)
Shredded Colby cheese
2 cups
Shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup
Finely grated parmesan cheese
1/4 cup
Chopped roasted red pepper
1/2 cup (drained if from jar)
Scallions
3 (whites finely chopped and green parts thinly sliced)
Chili flakes
1 tablespoon (for garnish)
Nonstick cooking spray
as needed
Instructions
1
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and generously spray a 12-well muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray.
2
Evenly distribute 5 tater tots into each muffin well and bake for 20 minutes, until the tater tots are soft.
3
Once removed from the oven, use the bottom of a shot glass or your fingers to gently press the tater tots down to form a base, ensuring they spread up the sides of each well.
4
Return the muffin tin to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes, until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy.
5
In a large mixing bowl, combine crumbled sausage, Colby cheese, cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, roasted red peppers, mayonnaise, sour cream, ranch seasoning, and the chopped white parts of the scallions. Mix well.
6
Spoon the cheesy sausage mixture into each tater tot cup, filling them to the top.
7
Bake for another 6-8 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
8
Carefully remove the cups from the muffin tin and garnish each with a sprinkle of scallion greens and a pinch of chili flakes.
Nutrition Information
13.5g
Fat
13.75g
Carbs
7.6g
Protein
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Cheesy Ranch Tater Tot Sausage Bites?
They are a savory appetizer or breakfast dish made with crispy tater tot cups, cooked Italian sausage, ranch seasoning, and a blend of Colby and cheddar cheeses.
What oven temperature is required for this recipe?
The oven should be preheated to 400°F (200°C).
How many tater tots go into each muffin well?
You should distribute 5 tater tots into each muffin well.
How long do the tater tots bake initially?
The tater tots bake for an initial 20 minutes until they are soft.
How do I form the tater tot cups?
After the first bake, use the bottom of a shot glass or your fingers to gently press the tots down and up the sides of the well.
How long is the second bake for the empty tot cups?
Bake the pressed cups for an additional 15 minutes until they are golden and crispy.
What kind of sausage is used?
The recipe calls for 1 lb of cooked and crumbled Italian sausage.
What types of cheese are included in the filling?
The filling uses shredded Colby cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, and finely grated parmesan cheese.
What ingredients make the filling creamy?
The creaminess comes from a mixture of mayonnaise and sour cream.
How is the ranch flavor added?
The flavor is added using 2 tablespoons of Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix.
What vegetables are inside the filling?
The filling includes chopped roasted red peppers and the chopped white parts of scallions.
How long do the bites bake after being filled?
They bake for another 6-8 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
What should I use for garnish?
Garnish the bites with sliced scallion greens and a pinch of chili flakes.
How many servings does this recipe make?
This recipe yields 12 servings.
How many calories are in one serving?
Each serving contains approximately 198 calories.
What is the fat content per serving?
There are 13.5g of fat per serving.
How much protein is in each bite?
Each serving provides 7.6g of protein.
How many carbohydrates are in a serving?
There are 13.75g of carbohydrates per serving.
Is a specific brand of ranch mentioned?
Yes, the recipe specifies Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix.
Do I need to grease the muffin tin?
Yes, you should generously spray a 12-well muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray.
How many total tater tots are needed?
You will need 60 frozen tater tots in total.
How much Colby cheese is required?
The recipe uses 2 cups of shredded Colby cheese.
How much cheddar cheese is required?
The recipe uses 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese.
What is the total amount of Italian sausage?
You need 1 lb of cooked, crumbled Italian sausage.
Are these suitable for breakfast or brunch?
Yes, they are ideal for breakfast, brunch, or as a party appetizer.
How many scallions are used?
The recipe uses 3 scallions.
Can I use chili flakes?
Yes, 1 tablespoon of chili flakes is recommended for the garnish.
How much roasted red pepper is needed?
You need 1/2 cup of chopped roasted red pepper, drained if from a jar.
What is the preparation for the parmesan cheese?
The parmesan cheese should be finely grated.
What is the amount of mayonnaise used?
The recipe calls for 1/3 cup of mayonnaise.