Loaded Tots with Coca-Cola Glazed Bacon
I’ve partnered with Coca-Cola to create these Loaded Tots with Coca-Cola Glazed Bacon. These loaded tots are the perfect snack for your college basketball parties!
This post may contain paid links. For more information, please see our disclosure policy.
In the words of the great William Shakespeare, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances…” Although I suspect that ole Bill was not a huge college basketball fan (the game wasn’t even invented until about 200 years later), his words ring particularly true at this time of the year. Think about it. The college bball tourney is kinda like a stage. It starts as a stage with 68 players. All of the big teams are there, but so are the champions from the mid-major conferences. Over the course of 3-weeks, they battle it out and, one by one, teams make their exits. Who knew that William Shakespeare had so much in common with college basketball?
If you’re like me, then you probably filled out your tournament bracket weeks ago. You sat and stared at it. You thought long and hard about which #12 team to pick for a Round 1 upset. You debated which #1 seed would go down earlier than expected. And chances are, you probably ended up crumpling up that bracket and throwing it across the room after just Day 1. Don’t be hard on yourself. That’s what makes selecting the bracket so much fun! (After all, you can research and debate for days…and sometimes it just comes down to one team getting a lucky break at the end of the game. You can’t predict that.)
I read somewhere that 40 million Americans filled out a bracket for this year’s tournament. And the chances of correctly picking all of the games? Somewhere around 1 in 128,000,000,000 (and that’s assuming you start with a passing knowledge of college basketball). Heck, I’d consider it a win just to pick more than half of the games correctly.
Loaded Tots with Coca-Cola Glazed Bacon
Loaded Tots with Coca-Cola Glazed BaconSince the chances of you picking the perfect bracket are slim, I suggest spending the time on making some delicious snacks to enjoy during the games instead. We’re down to just 4 teams left out of the original 68, and that means it’s time for some epic basketball food. It’s time for Loaded Tots. But we’re not just stopping there…we’re adding Coca-Cola Glazed Bacon on those tots. Think about that for a moment. You’ve got the sweet glazed bacon combined with cheesy tater tots, jalapenos and green onions. I’m pretty sure it’s gonna be hard to focus on the game with this delicious snack sitting on the table in front of you!
While it’s hard to pick out my favorite part of these Loaded Tots, I think I have to go with the bacon. (Isn’t bacon always the answer to that question?) But this isn’t just bacon. It’s bacon basted with a brown sugar and Coca-Cola reduction. Sounds fancy, right? It’s super easy…and unlike your bracket, this one is a guaranteed win!
I had some guys from the curling club come over to watch some of the games last weekend, and I grabbed some 12-packs of Coca-Cola at Walmart for our little get-together. Truthfully, I was planning on just setting out a cooler full of cans, but I had the idea of combining the Coca-Cola with the bacon. Maple glazed-bacon is delicious, so it stands to reason that Coca-Cola glazed bacon should be delicious, too, right? The answer: yes! I’m not sure the guys would have been too amused if I told them I ate all of the bacon before it ever made it to the loaded tots.
Did you make a batch of these Loaded Tots with Coca-Cola Glazed Bacon at home? Leave a comment. Or snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@Spicedblog)!
Loaded Tots with Coca-Cola Glazed Bacon
Ingredients
For the Coca-Cola Glazed Bacon
- 1 12 oz. can regular Coca-Cola (see note)
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ½ pound thick-cut bacon ~8 slices
For the Queso
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp cumin
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup Monterey jack cheese shredded
- 1 cup mild cheddar cheese shredded
- ½ cup sour cream
For the Loaded Tots
- 2 28-oz. packages tater tots
- ¼ cup pickled jalapenos
- 1 cup Mexican-blend cheese shredded
- ¼ cup green onions thinly sliced
Instructions
For the Coca-Cola Glazed Bacon
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Place the Coca-Cola in small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until liquid reduces to ~1/3 cup. Remove from heat and stir brown sugar into the reduced Coca –Cola. Set aside. (Note: This will take ~15-20 minutes.)
- Meanwhile, line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place bacon in 1 layer on foil. Bake for 15 minutes, or until bacon just begins to turn brown.
- Remove pan from oven and carefully drain grease. Brush the bacon slices with the reduced Coca-Cola.
- Return bacon to oven and bake for 3 minutes.
- Remove pan and brush bacon again with the reduced Coca-Cola.
- Return bacon to oven and bake for 3-5 more minutes, or until bacon is fully cooked.
- Brush bacon once again with the reduced Coca-Cola. Transfer bacon from pan to a plate; set aside until bacon has cooled.
- Cut bacon into small pieces; set aside.
For the Queso
- Using a medium sauté pan, add butter and place over medium-low heat.
- Once butter has melted, add flour and cumin. Cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Add milk, shredded Monterey Jack and shredded cheddar. Continue cooking for 4-5 more minutes, or until mixture thickens and cheese is fully melted.
- Remove mixture from heat and stir in sour cream.
For the Loaded Tots
- Bake tater tots according to package directions.
- Place tater tots on a large plate and top with pickled jalapenos, shredded cheese and green onions. Drizzle Queso over the top of the tater tops. Sprinkle with crumbled Coca-Cola Glazed Bacon.
- Serve hot.
Notes
Looking for other tasty game day appetizers? Check out some of my other favorite recipes:
Dude, I am a huge fan of your blog and usually I love reading about all the shenanigans you and your better half have been upto – but today I have been so distracted by this “bacon basted with a brown sugar and Coca-Cola reduction” you have going on! I’ve never ever heard or tried bacon like this before!!! I haven’t had bacon since February 18th and ooh – I now know how I am gonna break my meatless Lent fast – with this coca cola glazed bacon! Though I might have to go with Vanilla Coke! Lil Shashi would love those loaded tots too!
Haha…I think you nailed to it a “T” there, Shashi. Shenanigans. That pretty much describes my activities on a daily basis. 🙂 Vanilla Coca Cola Glazed Bacon would be a perfect flavor profile! It’s funny, I actually almost went with vanilla, but in the last second I switched to regular. Now I want to go back and make it again with vanilla Coke! There are 3 more games this weekend…that means 3 more opportunities for loaded tots and Coca Cola Bacon! 🙂
I’m having trouble concentrating on Monday morning. Who doesn’t love bacon? And tots + coca cola + bacon? What a creative idea…and I might have this for breakfast.
I wouldn’t blame you one bit if you wanted to have loaded tots for breakfast, Linda. I mean tots are kinda like hash browns, and bacon is commonly served for breakfast…so it totally makes sense!
Ultimate game day food, I wouldn’t be able to stop eating these!
Haha…we couldn’t stop eating this, Matt! We turned the game on, and the next thing I knew was that the tots were all gone!
Now this is the real deal “dude food”! Loving your glazed bacon idea buddy. And out of curiosity… how many teams have you picked correctly so far?!
Oh geez, you had to call me out on my brackets! I didn’t count up how many games I’ve won correctly, but I’m only at the 51st percentile in the national pool. That’s not good. I clearly didn’t watch enough college basketball this year! How is your bracket doing? #WolfpackBracketBusters
Mmm my mouth is actually drooling! Tots are good, but then you make them loaded and add that Coca-Cola glaze, yum-my!! Pinned 🙂
Thank you so much, Christina! I’m pretty sure loaded tots are my latest basketball game snack addiction. The only problem is that there are just 3 games left in the season…I wonder if loaded tots can be a baseball snack, too??
Tots, bacon and cheese…. what’s not to love here. And the glaze was a great idea!
Thanks, Kevin! These loaded tots were pretty much perfect for watching lots and lots of college basketball! 🙂
Dang this is a comfort food delight. Coca cola glazed bacon is an award winning idea. haha. sweet!
Wait, does that mean I won an award, Kelsey?? Ooo Ooo…what award? 🙂 But yes, this Coca Cola Bacon was insanely delicious. I almost ate it all before it made it onto the tots!
haha ‘SORRY THIS PROMOTION IS NOT AVAILABLE IN YOUR AREA’
oh just you wait and see, widget. So game day needs to be a thing here in Australia purely to eat goodness like this. You’ve combined everything delicious possible…I need to try that bacon, if Australia sells coke still. I mean, we are all low carb.
What? That’s just rude! We need to show our Aussie brothers some love! Either that, or our Aussie brothers just need to move to the States. And yes, we need to get game day to become a thing down there. I love March Madness. I mean you gotta love college basketball, but how can you go wrong with back-to-back-to-back-to-back (get my drift) games all day long? And those games require tasty snack foods like loaded tots!
Cola glazed bacon?!! OK, I’m sold! So delicious.
Thank you so much, Ashley! I must admit that this bacon almost didn’t make it onto the tots. It almost got entirely eaten by me before I could take the photos! 🙂
These look incredible. Bacon and cheese is such a great flavour pairing! Need to make a batch of these ASAP and get my American food fix! Thanks for sharing, David! 😀
Thank you so much, Jess! Yes, America has been overrun by college basketball lately…and that means delicious snacks are everywhere. 🙂
My husband will go insane over your loaded tots! These are a must-add to my game-day party menu. And they can definitely carry over into baseball season.
Yes! I love the way you think, Alli! We definitely need to carry these loaded tots on into baseball season. There’s only 3 basketball games left…and that’s not nearly enough time for loaded tots. 🙂
OMG! Whaaaatttt?!?!?! Coca-Cola Glazed Bacon and tator tots? What an epic genius stroke of creativity! Do I have to watch basketball to have these? Can I make them and watch Dancing With the Stars? Or Nashville? 🙂
Hahaha! You may absolutely eat loaded tots while watching Dancing with the Stars, Rachelle! Heck, you can pull a double and make 2 plates of loaded tots and then watching DWTS and Nashville back-to-back. 🙂
David this is another hit recipe from your kitchen!! Your recipes are amazing and they never stop from making me hungry at odd hours!! Yummy!
Haha! Thanks, Ami. You are too kind! Although now I feel kinda bad about making you hungry at random hours of the day. But that’s nothing that a plate of loaded tots can’t fix, right? 😉
I want that Ultimate Basketball Kit. I need that Ultimate Basketball Kit. I deserve that Ultimate Basketball Kit.
Alpha demands that Ultimate Basketball Kit. Are we clear?
Oh btw those loaded tots look seriously legit, like “I need them now!” legit
#WolkpackLegit
I read you loud and clear, Alpha! You need the Ultimate Basketball Kit. I’ll send you some good internet vibes…maybe your prophecy will come true. Or maybe it will just be an April Fool’s Day joke. 🙂
David the pictures are so tempting that i am afraid i might turn into non-vegetarian:)
Not a fan for basketball, but reading the post was sooo much fun 🙂
Thank you so much for commenting, Shweta! As a vegetarian non-basketball watcher, I’m pretty sure this post didn’t resonate much with you. However, now that I think about it, I bet that Coca-Cola reduction would be pretty tasty brushed over roasted Brussels sprouts. The brown sugar and Coke caramelizes nicely, and I’m thinking it would be the perfect pair with some roasted veggies. How’s that for a compromise? 🙂
Yes bacon is always the answer! Wow these Tater Tots look pretty amazing David! My team (the UCLA Bruins) made it farther than we thought they would so that was kind of cool. Now they are out of this so I may have to tend to my sorrows with these! 🙂
Thank you so much, Raquel! UCLA did indeed do pretty well in the tourney this year…especially considering there was discussion of whether they should have even been in it! I think tots with bacon are always a good way to tend to your sorrows. 🙂