Tater Tot Cheeseburger Bites

This recipe is quick to prepare thanks to the cookie cutter patty method. Tater crowns (the flatter rounds) are preferable to traditional tots, as their flat surface provides the perfect base for the patty stack. Assembly is easiest with two people, though one person can manage with a little more time. Tater tot burgers are best served immediately but hold at room temperature for about an hour.

Total Time: 50 minutes

Servings: 8–12

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Tater Tot Cheeseburger Bites Ingredients

• 1 pound Pre's 85% Lean Ground Beef

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

• 1 tablespoon pickle juice

• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

• 1 bag frozen tater rounds or crowns, flatter rounds work best

• American cheese, each slice cut into 9 squares

• Pre's Special-er Burger Sauce

• 1 cup dill pickle chips, drained and diced

• 1/4 sweet onion, diced

• Small skewers or toothpicks

Instructions

1. Squash beef with hands and add salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and pickle juice. (Why: keeping ground beef cold and handling it minimally keeps the fat firm, which helps patties hold their shape when cooked.)

2. Roll beef into a ball and place on a cutting board lined with parchment paper.

3. Place cutting board in refrigerator for about 15 minutes while preparing the tater crowns.

4. Cook tater crowns according to package directions.

5. Roll ground beef with a rolling pin into an 11x11 inch square on a piece of parchment paper.

6. The meat should be thin, and the square does not need to be perfect.

7. Use a small 2-inch cookie cutter or shot glass and cut out as many burger patties as possible.

8. Gather the remaining meat as you would cookie dough and reroll into a thin layer.

9. Cut more patties until all meat is used, forming the last few patties by hand.

10. Place patties on a wire rack insert of a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and return to the refrigerator.

11. Blitz diced dill pickle chips and diced onion in a food processor until the consistency of pickle relish.

12. Cut American cheese slices into 9 equal-sized squares.

13. Remove tots from the oven and increase temperature to 400º F.

14. Place burger patties on the wire rack and bake for 6 minutes.

15. Turn broiler to high and broil for 1 minute.

16. Remove from oven.

17. While burger patties cook, put burger sauce in a small shallow bowl.

18. Dip the bottom of each prepared tot in sauce and add a small spoonful of the pickle-onion mix and place on a serving plate.

19. When patties are cooked, place one patty on each prepared tot and top with another tot.

20. Secure each tater tot burger with a toothpick.

21. Serve immediately.

Burger Sauce Ingredients

• 1 yellow onion, diced

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

• 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided

• Pinch of granulated sugar

• 1/3 cup mayonnaise

• 1/4 cup ketchup

• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

• 2 small dill pickles, finely diced

Instructions

1. Melt butter in skillet over low heat.

2. Add 1 teaspoon salt, then sauté onion about 15 minutes, until golden brown. (Why: low, slow heat draws out the onion's natural sweetness and develops complex caramelization.)

3. Remove from heat and let onion cool completely.

4. Transfer cooled onion to bowl with remaining 1 teaspoon salt, sugar, mayonnaise, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce and diced pickles.

5. Mix until smooth.

6. Chill burger sauce at least 30 minutes before serving.

Notes

This sauce makes more than enough for the Tater Tot Cheeseburger Bites recipe. Leftover sauce keeps refrigerated for up to one week and works equally well on grilled steaks, burgers, or as a sandwich spread. For a spicier version, add a pinch of cayenne or a dash of hot sauce to the finished mixture.