Bacon and Rotel Cups are an easy appetizer that will fly off the plate on game day! You’ll be hooked on these tasty little bacon, tomato and cheese bites! The best part? The best part is you can prep ’em ahead of time so you don’t miss time with friends and family!

*Originally posted on May, 20th, 2013

You guys know that I’m a big fan of football. I love watching the game and my Cowboys play, but I also love having friends over to watch with us! The perfect spread of bite-sized appetizers and warm cheesy dips, along with delicious pitchers of margaritas make the day perfect!

The perfect game-day spread needs variety. My friends will usually bring a tasty bite to share but I usually try to make a few myself. It’s super important that what I serve is crazy easy to make and I can get them ready ahead of time.

I’m usually running around at the last minute trying to clean after the trash monsters, I mean boys, I live with! 🙂 That means I need to be able to just pull the food out and plate it in a matter of minutes.

Bacon and Rotel Cups are the perfect appetizer for game day or any other day that calls for yummy bites! Mini phyllo shells, bacon, cheese, mayo, and a can of Rotel is all it takes to make these bite-sized delights! There are so many creative and delicious recipes that you can make with a can or two of Rotel. One of my favorite easy Rotel recipes is Sausage Cream Cheese Dip!

Balance out your appetizer spread with this fresh shrimp ceviche. It’s light, citrusy, and packed with crisp veggies – a great cool-and-bright contrast to the warm, cheesy bacon cups everyone’s already grabbing.

BACON AND ROTEL CUPS
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What’s in a can of Rotel?

Rotel is a popular brand of canned diced tomatoes with peppers. There are several different varieties of peppers and heat in their product line. I like to use the mild diced tomatoes with green chilies for this appetizer recipe.

A can of mild Rotel contains classic Mexican flavors. The combination of tomatoes, green chilies, water, salt, cilantro, and Mexican spices is SO good!

Rotel is the perfect addition to these incredible cheesy bacon appetizers!

Ingredients in Bacon and Rotel Cups

Mini phyllo shells
A can of mild Rotel
Crumbled bacon
Colby Jack cheese
Mayonnaise

You can find the mini phyllo shells in the frozen aisle of your favorite grocery store. Look for them near the frozen puff pastry and pie crust. You’ll need three packages for this Rotel recipe.

How to Make Bacon and Rotel Cups

Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F and arrange the mini phyllo shells on a baking sheet.
After that, grab and large bowl and mix the Rotel tomatoes, bacon pieces, and mayo. Then fold in the shredded cheese.
Next, take the Rotel mixture and scoop it evenly into the cups so they’re all full, but not overflowing.
Bake for 30-35 minutes until crispy.

What can I substitute for Rotel?

It doesn’t take much work to recreate the canned stuff in your favorite Rotel recipes at home. If you’re in a pinch or can’t find Rotel at your local grocery store, you can whip up a homemade substitute.

Homemade Rotel Substitute

Combine diced tomatoes (canned or fresh) with chopped green chili peppers or canned green chilies. Then add a little salt, and spices such as cumin, coriander, and chili powder. Add some chopped cilantro if you like, and you’ve got a great homemade substitute for canned Rotel!

Add your homemade Rotel to the other filling ingredients, and follow the recipe directions below. It’s that easy!

Need some other Rotel recipes in your life? Look no further!

Tools used to make this Bacon and Rotel Cups recipe

Mixing Bowl: Everyone needs a good mixing bowl! This glass mixing bowl is the perfect size for stirring up delicious creations in the kitchen.

Baking Sheet: I love these baking sheets and use them nearly every day! They’re sturdy and great for baking delectable cookies, yummy appetizers, and filling sheet pan dinners.

*This post originally posted on 05/20/2013.