Description
Comfort cuisine reaches new heights with chicken tater tot casserole, a hearty dish blending crispy potato gems and succulent chicken in a creamy, cheesy embrace. Midwestern home cooking shines through this simple yet satisfying meal that promises warm, nostalgic flavors you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 3 cups shredded cooked chicken
- 1 cup chopped cooked bacon
Dairy and Creamy Base:
- 2 cups sour cream
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 can (10.5 ounces / 298 grams) cream of mushroom soup
Seasonings and Tater Tots:
- 2 tablespoons ranch seasoning mix
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 bag (32 ounces / 907 grams) frozen tater tots
- 1/2 cup chopped green onions (optional for garnish)
Instructions
- Thoroughly mix shredded chicken, sour cream, cream of mushroom soup, ranch seasoning, garlic powder, and onion powder in a spacious mixing vessel.
- Fold chopped bacon and most of the cheddar cheese into the creamy chicken blend, ensuring uniform distribution.
- Transfer the mixture into a prepared 9×13 inch baking dish, creating an even, smooth layer across the surface.
- Arrange frozen tater tots uniformly over the chicken mixture, covering the entire surface completely.
- Scatter remaining cheese across the tater tot layer, ensuring balanced coverage.
- Place the casserole in a preheated 350F (175C) oven, positioning the rack in the center position.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes, monitoring until tater tots transform into a crisp, golden-brown exterior and the cheese melts completely.
- Remove from oven and allow the casserole to rest for 5-7 minutes, enabling the ingredients to settle.
- Optional: Garnish with freshly chopped green onions just before serving to add a vibrant, zesty finish.
Notes
- Swap tater tots for cauliflower tots to make the dish lower-carb and gluten-free.
- Use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream to reduce fat and increase protein content.
- Crisp up bacon separately to control crispiness and drain excess grease before adding to mixture.
- Ensure chicken is thoroughly shredded and evenly distributed for consistent flavor in every bite.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 485 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 710 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg