Do you have a repertoire of appetizers that you make for every small plates occasion or one that friends and family ask you to make for SuperBowl parties and TGIF events? This recipe for Bacon Cheese Potato Cups is one of those appetizers that seems to fit that bill, suits every occasion and is just darned delicious. This particular appetizer was probably the hands-down favourite in my Appetizer classes.
The appetizer class is a hands-on lively three-hour jam-packed course where we make an entire sample menu of appetizers. Typically, we then debrief with a glass of wine and enjoy the feast together at the end of the class. These Bacon Cheese Potato Cup appetizers never, ever made it to the table at the end of the class. We hovered over the baking sheet as they came out of the oven and demolished them in seconds. Luckily, I took a photo or two before they disappeared.
Bacon Cheese Potato Cups are super easy to make and do not require any obscure ingredients. The trick is finding the perfect size potato – these potatoes fit in the palm of my hand, so small but not as small as nugget size. The reason is you will be working with half of a potato for each potato cup with the intention of a two or three bite appetizer.
BACON CHEESE POTATO CUPS
CHEF TALK: These roasted potato cups are delicious appetizers that are easily made ahead of time. Serve them with sour cream and a sprinkle of sliced green onion. Try the Dressed Up Sour Cream topping recipe below.
Yield: Makes several – resist the urge to eat them before your guests arrive!
INGREDIENTS:
For the Potato Cups:
- 1 lb. small whole russet potatoes
- Olive Oil
- Sea Salt
For the Potato Appetizer Filling:
- 2 Tablespoons butter, melted (try browning the butter first for extra flavour)
- 1 – 2 green onions, chopped
- 3 oz. Cheddar or Gruyere cheese
- 2 tablespoons crispy bacon bits
- Salt and pepper to taste
METHOD:
- Preheat oven to 375oF
- Wash and dry the potatoes and cut them in half, widthwise. Cut off a bit off the bottom so that they can stand up on their own like little barrels. Rub them with olive oil and sprinkle them with sea salt.
- Then, place them, narrow end down on a parchment-lined baking sheet. (the potatoes are standing upright)
- Bake them until they are cooked through (depending on their size, this takes about 40 minutes)
- Cool slightly before you scoop out the centre of the potatoes and place this in a bowl. Mash them up a bit coarsely, but not too much. These appetizers are rustic.
- Meanwhile, prepare the filling: Shred the cheese and thinly slice the green onion. Add these to the scooped out potato mixture. Add the melted butter, some of the bacon bits and season to taste.
- Stir all of the ingredients together and place back into the potato cups.
- Top with more bacon bits and a little more cheese. MAKE AHEAD: You can refrigerate the prepared potatoes at this point if you are making them ahead of your event.
- When you are ready, bake the potato cups for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Garnish with a little more green onion.
- Serve warm with tzatziki or some Dressed Up Sour Cream (recipe below) if desired.
Don’t these Bacon Cheese Potato Cups hot from the oven look wonderfully delicious? Trust me, they are addictive. And really, isn’t that what it is all about?
Dressed Up Sour Cream
CHEF TALK: I make this sour cream recipe at any time of the year. If I have fresh herbs in my garden, I use those, of course. If fresh is not available, dried herbs and spices are also delicious. Choose from the options below.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup full-fat sour cream (Greek Yogurt works well too)
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon fresh dill or 1/2 teaspoon dried dill
- 1 Tablespoon finely sliced green onion or 2 teaspoons chopped chives or 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 Tablespoon parsley, chopped finely
- 1 small clove garlic, finely minced or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 2 teaspoons fresh basil, finely shredded or 1/2 teaspoon dried, optional
- a drop or two of hot sauce, optional
METHOD
- Combine the ingredients for Dressed Up Sour Cream, including any of the options you choose. Taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary.
- Serve with Bacon Cheese Potato Cups. Enjoy!
GARNISH: choose any of these to garnish the Dressed Up Sour Cream: a pinch of paprika; a little sliced green onion or chopped chives, a sprig of parsley or basil, etc.
Please CLICK the link above to access my UrbnSpice LEARNING TIPS, which are listed alphabetically on the Learning Tips blog post under the following subheadings:
- Parchment
- Crème Fraiche
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Enjoy your Bacon Cheese Potato Cup appetizers! Share them with someone you like – a lot! (That way, you may save them one or two)
As always, if you give these Bacon Cheese Potato Cup appetizers a try, please come back and leave me a comment below with your feedback. You can find me on social media too. Be sure to tag @urbnspice and #urbnspice so I’m sure to see it. Enjoy!
Denise Pare-Watson
The Urbnspice Chef
More Appetizer Ideas:
Arancini – Italian Risotto Balls
Chicken and Spinach Appetizers
I can certainly see why these get devoured right off the baking sheet! They include all those favourite indulgent flavours we love: starchy potatoes, gooey cheese and crisp salty bacon. Delicious!
Gosh, you are making me hungry for these Bacon Cheese Potato Cups with your wonderful description, Elaine. They are super tasty little morsels of deliciousness – indulgent for sure but. as Julia Child always said: “Everything in moderation…including moderation.” 🙂
This recipe looks so good, Denise! Who can turn down bacon and cheese??
For sure, Lisa. Bacon and Cheese cannot be beat and these Bacon Cheese Potato Cups are gluten-free as a special bonus to your family. 🙂
These look HEAVENLY!! Who cares about Superbowl, I’m totally making these for dinner 😉 Yum! I’ve got a smashed potato recipe that I really love, but I’m thinking these will take those flavors to a whole other level!
I think these Bacon Cheese Potato Cups might just trump your smashed potato recipe, Katherine. They are that good! 🙂 If you try them, let me know. I would love your feedback.
Denise, these look incredibly yummy! You can never go wrong with the combo of bacon, cheese, & potatoes. I have all the family showing up this weekend, and we always do an appetizer dinner, so your recipe showed up at the perfect time. Can’t wait to wow them all with this one. Thank you!
Thanks so much, Colleen! I hope your family enjoys this appetizer as much as we do. Cheers!
Love this appetizer, perfect quick bite to get the party started.
Thank you, Kristen! It sure is a yummy appetizer. 🙂
Bacon, cheese, and potatoes – there isn’t anything more to ask for! What a delicious recipe for potlucks and parties! Although they’re so good I may not make it out of my house before they are all gone ;).
I have to admit that we have been guilty of demolishing an entire tray hot from the oven of these Bacon Cheese Potato Cups between the two of us. Don’t be surprised if it happens to you, as well! Enjoy! Thanks so much for stopping by Urbnspice.
These definitely wouldn’t make it to the table if I was in that class. I love finger food like this, especially for Friday night movie night. They look amazing, Denise!
Thanks so much, Terri! Yes, I am the same as you. These appetizers never seem to make it to the table. They are so delicious hot from the oven.
Yum!!! I love bacon and cheese and these are addicting little bites. They worked great as a party appetizer! Thanks:-)
Thank you Sabrina! They are awesome little appetizers – and addicting, too! 🙂
Oh my goodness yum! the ultimate comfort food! Potatoes, bacon, and cheese. Sign me up! Thanks for sharing such a fun recipe!
Thank you, Kelly! We make these tasty appetizers often – once you taste them, you will want to make them often too!