Ingredients

32 frozen coin-shape tots

2 tbsp. vegetable or peanut oil

1/2 lb. 85% lean ground beef

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

4 slices American cheese

Ketchup, for topping

Mustard, for topping

16 gherkins

Preparation

Step 1Preheat the oven to 450°. Step 2Place the tots on a rimmed baking sheet and drizzle them with the oil. Toss the tots gently to coat evenly with the oil, then spread them out in an even layer. Bake, undisturbed, until they are browned on the bottom, about 15 minutes. Flip the tots with a spatula and bake until they are browned and crisp on top, about 10 minutes. Step 3Meanwhile, form and cook the burgers: Line a clean work surface with a sheet of wax paper and put the ground beef on top. Put another sheet of wax paper of the beef and press it down into a 4-by 6-inch rectangle. Remove the top piece of wax paper and season the meat with salt and pepper to taste. Cut the meat into sixteen 1- by 1 1/2-inch rectangles. Step 4Break each slice of cheese into quarters, and fold each quarter over to make 16 pieces of double-thick cheese. Set aside. Step 5Cook the burgers in a large nonstick frying pan over high heat, until browned on one side, about 5 minutes. Flip the burgers, lay a piece of double-thick cheese on each, and cook until the burgers are cooked through and the cheese has melted, about 5 minutes more. (You may have to do this in two batches if you don’t have a big enough pan.)Step 6Remove the tot “buns” from the oven and top half with the cooked cheeseburger patties. Squeeze a tiny bit of ketchup and mustard onto each cheeseburger, then top with the gherkin. Finally, poke a food pick through the center of each of the remaining tot buns. Place one on top of a cheeseburger stack and stab the food pick all the way down through the center to make a sandwich. Repeat with the remaining tot buns, toppings, and cheeseburgers. Step 7Serve hot. If not serving immediately, reheat them on a baking sheet in the oven at 200° for 5 minutes.

BUY NOW Tots!: 50 Tot-ally Awesome Recipes from Totchos to Sweet Po-Tot-O Pie, $12.95, amazon.com