Turkey Bacon Cheeseburger Stuffed Tater Tot Cones

Let’s talk comfort food meets serious fun—because that’s exactly what’s happening with these Turkey Bacon Cheeseburger Stuffed Tater Tot Cones. If you’ve never eaten a cheeseburger out of a cone made entirely of crispy tater tots, you’re in for a real treat.

These stuffed cones are everything we love about a turkey bacon cheeseburger—savory, cheesy, smoky, and just a little bit messy—served in a way that’s both playful and genius. Whether you’re planning a casual get-together, want something different for game day, or just need to wow the family with a creative weeknight dinner, this recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Now, I first came up with this idea after seeing some viral cone-style meals online, and I thought, “What if we swapped out the regular bread cone and used crispy tater tots instead?” You guys, it worked so well. The tots crisp up beautifully in the oven, and once they’re packed with that cheesy turkey bacon burger filling? It’s game over.

Let’s dive into the first part of the recipe so you can get these on your table ASAP.

this recipe

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Tater Tot Cones:

• 4 cups frozen tater tots, thawed

• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

For the Cheeseburger Filling:

• 1 lb ground beef

• 1 tsp salt

• ½ tsp black pepper

• ½ tsp garlic powder

• ½ tsp onion powder

• 1 tbsp ketchup

• 1 tbsp yellow mustard

• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

• 6 strips cooked turkey bacon, crumbled

Optional Toppings:

• Pickles, chopped

• Diced tomatoes

• Shredded lettuce

• Extra cheese or turkey bacon

STEP 1: PREP THOSE MOLDS

Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Now, here’s where the fun starts—grab some metal cone molds if you have them, or just make your own by shaping sturdy aluminum foil into cone shapes. Grease them lightly so the tots don’t stick later on.

STEP 2: FORM THE TATER TOT CONES

Take your thawed tater tots and start pressing them onto the molds. It helps to overlap the tots a bit and press them together tightly so they stick during baking. Once you’ve got a full cone shape, sprinkle some shredded cheddar over the outside. That melted cheese acts like edible glue and helps the tots hold their shape once baked.

STEP 3: BAKE TO GOLDEN PERFECTION

Carefully place your filled molds on a baking sheet and pop them in the oven for 25-30 minutes. You want the cones to be golden brown and crisp. They’ll firm up as they cool, so don’t worry if they feel a little soft when you first pull them out.

Let the cones cool for a few minutes before you try to remove them from the molds—this makes them a lot easier to handle and less likely to break apart.

STEP 4: START THE CHEESEBURGER FILLING

While those cones are baking away, heat up a skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook it until it’s nicely browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Once it’s fully cooked, drain off the excess grease—nobody wants a soggy cone!

Now season the meat with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Stir in your ketchup and mustard and let it all simmer for a few minutes. This step brings in that classic cheeseburger flavor that pairs perfectly with the tater tot cone.

Now that we’ve got our golden, crispy tater tot cones ready and that seasoned ground beef is smelling amazing on the stovetop, it’s time to put everything together. This is the part where the magic really happens—when melty cheese meets turkey bacon and that crunchy potato shell brings it all home.

I’ve made these a few times now for different occasions—once for a family movie night, once for a birthday party, and even just because I had a craving. Every time, they disappear faster than I expect. The best part? They’re super customizable, so you can play around with the toppings or even the filling.

Let’s finish building these savory cones of goodness.

STEP 5: MELT THE CHEESE AND ADD BACON

With your seasoned beef still in the skillet (and heat turned off), stir in the shredded cheddar cheese. It will melt quickly and blend beautifully with the warm beef. Once that cheese is fully incorporated, go ahead and fold in the crumbled turkey bacon.

What you’re left with is a thick, cheesy, savory filling that’s just waiting to be scooped into those crispy cones. Don’t worry if it seems a bit gooey—it’ll firm up just enough once it’s spooned into the cones, but still stay rich and cheesy.

STEP 6: STUFF THE CONES

Now for the fun part: fill each tater tot cone with a generous amount of the turkey bacon cheeseburger mixture. I like to pack it in so that every bite is loaded with flavor, and you can even press the filling down gently with the back of a spoon to fit a little more in.

This step is great if you have kids helping in the kitchen—they love being in charge of stuffing the cones!

STEP 7: ADD YOUR FAVORITE TOPPINGS

At this point, the cones are ready to serve, but you can absolutely take things up a notch with some classic burger toppings. Here are a few of my favorites:

• Chopped pickles – adds a crunchy, tangy bite

• Diced tomatoes – freshens things up

• Shredded lettuce – for that burger-shop feel

• Extra cheese or turkey bacon – because why not?

You could also go wild with spicy jalapeños, a drizzle of ranch, or even some BBQ sauce. The base of the recipe is so solid that it really holds up to whatever toppings you throw at it.

MAKE-AHEAD TIPS & VARIATIONS

One of the reasons I keep coming back to this recipe is because it’s easy to prep ahead of time. If you’re making these for a party or game day, here’s how to do it without stress:

• Make the cones ahead: Shape and bake the tater tot cones a few hours (or even a day) in advance. Let them cool completely, then store them in an airtight container. Reheat in the oven at 375°F for about 10 minutes before serving to bring back that crispiness.

• Prepare the filling early: Cook the cheeseburger mixture and refrigerate it in an airtight container. Reheat in a skillet before stuffing the cones.

Want to switch things up?
You totally can. Try swapping out the ground beef for ground turkey or plant-based meat for a lighter or vegetarian version. Use pepper jack cheese if you want more of a kick. You could even stir in sautéed onions or mushrooms into the filling for extra depth.

And if you don’t have cone molds? Don’t stress it. You can form little tater tot “cups” using a muffin tin—just press the tots into each well and bake until crispy, then fill as you would the cones. Still super fun and just as tasty.