Loaded Gameday Tater Tots and A BIG Announcement!

It’s been a while. I’ve missed blogging and posting recipes, but I disappeared for a good reason:

We’re having a baby!! Getting pregnant was not easy or quick for us, so so we are especially grateful, thankful and excited about our announcement.

But, my first trimester was not exceedingly pleasant. I was nauseous all day, every day, and eating became the biggest chore of my day. Plus, the smell of meat was nauseating – my husband had to cook all meat on the grill for months because I couldn’t stand the smell of it in the house. It’s still very iffy.

And coffee. The smell of my wonderful coffee made me completely sick. So I couldn’t drink it at all and my husband had to drink the pre-made, refrigerated stuff, which just isn’t good. 

For the entire summer, I couldn’t use technology, because looking at a screen – phone, t.v., computer or tablet – made me completely sick too.

It was rough.

But still. So worth it. And now we’re well into the second trimester and things are so. much. better. Still no coffee, but at least food is edible and I don’t spend 99% of my day feeling sick. Actually, I feel pretty great every day!

All this to say: I’m back. Finally. I’m in the kitchen again, cooking and baking some amazing things that I can’t wait to share with you all (loaded tator tots for football season, anyone? Or brownies chock-full of peanut butter and Reese’s?? Yeah, those are coming soon.). I’m so glad to be back. I’ve missed you all.

Now. Let’s Talk. It’s college football season. And around here, that’s serious time. In this house, we are Iowa Hawkeye fans (well, okay. I’m a diehard Iowa fan, because it’s my school, and my husband enjoys football and supports my obsession. But still. We’re a Hawkeye house.).

And every good football game needs good food. Right? Right. 

So I present: Loaded Gameday Tater Tots.  There’s bacon. And cheese. And sour cream (please add more on the side! Every bite should have cold, creamy sour cream on it.). 

Plus, the recipe is quick and easy. I cooked bacon, but you could definitely use the pre-cooked stuff to speed up your prep time even more. 

My husband and I couldn’t stop eating these. They’re so simple, but a huge crowd pleaser. I promise, there will be no leftovers for you to deal with. 

Print

Loaded Game Day Tater Tot Football

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

20 mins

Total Time

30 mins

 

Tater tots are shaped like a football, then loaded up with cheddar cheese, crunchy bacon and sour cream. What football fan wouldn't be happy with these?

Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients

• 1/2 bag tater tots or tater coins
• 1 c. sharp cheddar, shredded
• 1/2 c. sour cream
• 3 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. 

2. Lay tater tots out in the shape of a football. This was easiest to do when I made the outline first and then filled in the middle, adjusting as I filled. 

3. Bake tots for 15 minutes.

4. Sprinkle  1/2 c. shredded cheese over hot tater tots, then top with bacon. Top with remaining cheese (to hold bacon on).  Bake for 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted and gooey.  

5. Put 1/4 c. sour cream in a ziploc bag and cut off the corner. Draw a line down the middle of the football and strings off of either side of the line (see picture). 

6. Place remaining sour cream in a dipping container to serve alongside tater tot football. 

Recipe Notes

• I used tater coins instead of tots. Truthfully, I bought the 'wrong' bag, but it turned out to be so much easier to arrange them without anything rolling around. 

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