The BEST Chicken Tater Tot Casserole Recipe (2024)

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Looking to try a tater tot casserole with chicken? Much like the classic ground beef version, this chicken tater tot casserole recipe is super simple to make, with easy-to-find ingredients. Great for a quick weeknight dinner or a way to use leftover chicken.

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The BEST Chicken Tater Tot Casserole Recipe (1)

If you love the classic tater tot casserole with ground beef, this chicken version is one you’ll want to try. Made with simple ingredients, this easy chicken casserole recipe is fantastic for when you want to throw something together quickly for dinner.

Ingredients for this casserole are easy to find and economical. You can use leftover chicken, rotisserie chicken or frozen chicken for this recipe. The tater tots, and vegetables can come right from the frozen foods section.

In this post I’ll show you how to quickly and easily prep this casserole in the time it takes to preheat the oven. I’ll also give you tips on which tools to use and ingredient swaps.

The BEST Chicken Tater Tot Casserole Recipe (2)

What do I need to make chicken tater tot casserole?

  • Pre-cooked chicken – for this recipe, you can either use shredded chicken, store-bought rotisserie chicken or frozen pre-cooked chicken (pictured below). I personally like to use the hand-pulled rotisserie chicken breast meat from Costco (pictured below). Check out all the 15 Things I Buy at Costco for Healthy Meals and Snacks.
  • Frozen tater tots – these are found in the frozen foods section with the rest of the frozen potatoes and French fries.
  • Frozen peas and carrots – if you would prefer to use another vegetable other than peas and carrots, you could also use broccoli, cauliflower, carrots or a mix of all three.
  • Cream of Chicken Soup – a traditional base in most casseroles, Cream of Chicken soup can also be substituted with Cream of Mushroom soup as well.
  • Milk – any dairy milk, like skim, 2% or whole milk can be used.
  • Shredded Cheddar Cheese – I used a mild cheddar cheese, however, feel free to use sharp cheddar, white cheddar, Monterrey Jack or any other cheddar blend.

For exact ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the post for the recipe. Thanks!

The BEST Chicken Tater Tot Casserole Recipe (3)

What chicken is best to use in a casserole?

I have found that pre-cooked rotisserie chicken or diced frozen chicken works the best for baked chicken casseroles. These are quick to prep, economical and can be easily frozen for later.

The hand-pulled rotisserie chicken breast meat is from Costco, and the Tyson’s Oven Roasted Diced Chicken Breast meat is found in the frozen foods section at Target.

The BEST Chicken Tater Tot Casserole Recipe (4)
The BEST Chicken Tater Tot Casserole Recipe (5)

How do I make tater tot casserole with chicken?

The prep for this casserole is quick and can be done in less than 10 minutes, or in the time it takes to preheat the oven.

Begin by mixing together the cream of chicken soup with the milk, salt and pepper. Add in the chicken and vegetables. Stir the ingredients together so everything is well coated.

The BEST Chicken Tater Tot Casserole Recipe (6)
The BEST Chicken Tater Tot Casserole Recipe (7)

Pour the chicken mixture into the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish or pan. Top the mixture with shredded cheddar cheese. Add on the frozen tater tots.

Bake the casserole. About 10 minutes before being done, top the tater tots with the reserved cheddar cheese. Bake for another 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

Ingredient Substitutions and Recommendations:

  • Vegetables – instead of the frozen peas and carrots, you could use frozen broccoli, cauliflower, carrots or a vegetable mix. Canned vegetables can also be used.
  • Soup – instead of cream of chicken soup, you could use another creamed soup option, like cream of mushroom, onion or celery. Rather use a home soup instead of canned? Check out this Homemade Cream of Chicken recipe by A Mind Full Mom.
  • Tater Tots – if tater tots are unavailable, you could also use mini tots or frozen hash brown patties.
  • Cheese – instead of shredded cheddar, you could also use sharp cheddar, shredded jack or any other shredded cheddar blend, like Mexican blend. You can also shred your own cheeses, if you prefer.

For exact ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions be sure to scroll down to the recipe at the bottom of the post. Thanks!

Love a side dish casserole recipe? Check out our recipes for Ruth’s Chris Sweet Potato Casserole and our Slow Cooker Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole.

The BEST Chicken Tater Tot Casserole Recipe (8)
The BEST Chicken Tater Tot Casserole Recipe (9)

What pan is best for chicken tater tot casserole recipe?

For this tater tot casserole with chicken I recommend using a 9 x 13 baking dish, like this 9 x 13″ Pyrex Baking Dish. It’s ideal for baking casseroles and comes with a lid for easy refrigeration and storage. You could also use a metal 9 x 13″ pan.

The BEST Chicken Tater Tot Casserole Recipe (10)

What can I serve with tater tot casserole?

This comfort food dish is great served with a cold, crisp side salad. Here are some of our favorite side salad ideas:

  • Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad
  • Blueberry Spring Mix Salad
  • Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe
  • Kale Apple Salad
  • Side Salad with one of our homemade dressings, like Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing, Healthy Caesar Dressing, Lemon Olive Oil Dressing, Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing Recipe or Healthy Homemade Italian Dressing Recipe.

Love a great casserole recipe? Here are more of our casserole recipe ideas:

The BEST Chicken Tater Tot Casserole Recipe (17)

Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

Erin Indahl-Fink

Want to try a tater tot casserole with chicken? This simple, delicious chicken tater tot casserole recipe is the perfect comfort food recipe.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Course Dinner/Main Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 6

Calories 299 kcal

Equipment

  • 9 x 13" Baking Dish This classic Pyrex 9 x 13" glass baking dish is a must-have tool in every kitchen!

  • Mixing Bowls These stainless steel mixing bowls are an essential cooking tool for every kitchen.

  • Rubber Scrapers These Cuisinart rubber scraper spatulas are fantastic for fillings, batters, and so much more!

Ingredients

  • 2 (10.5 oz. cans) cream of chicken soup
  • 1/2 cup milk skim, 2% or whole milk can be used
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 3 cups pre-cooked chicken diced or shredded
  • 1 (16 oz. pkg.) frozen peas and carrots thawed
  • 1 (8 oz. pkg.) shredded cheddar cheese divided
  • 1 (32 oz. pkg.) frozen tater tots

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly spray a 9 x 13" baking dish with non-stick spray. Set prepared baking dish aside.

  • In a mixing bowl, combine the soup, milk, salt and pepper until combined. Add in the chicken and thawed peas and carrots. (Frozen peas and carrots can be microwaved for 2-3 minutes until no longer frozen.) Stir ingredients together until well coated in the soup mixture.

  • Pour the chicken and soup mixture into the prepared baking dish. Spread evenly with a rubber scraper into the bottom of the pan. Top the chicken mixture with 1 1/2 cups of the shredded cheese, reserving the remaining 1/2 cup for topping the casserole. On top of the cheese layer, add on the package of frozen tater tots into an even layer. (Tots don't need to be thawed.)

  • Bake the casserole for 28-30 minutes or until the tater tots are golden brown. Remove from oven and sprinkle on the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheese on top of the tater tots. Bake for another 5 minutes until the cheese is melted.

  • Remove from oven and let cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Notes

Storage: Store baked and cooled casserole in the pan covered with press-and-seal wrap refrigerated. Casserole can also be stored in individual containers refrigerated. Kept refrigerated, casserole will keep for up to 5 days.

Freezing: Casserole can be prepped and frozen in aluminum freezer pans. Cover top with press-and-seal wrap and aluminum foil. Kept frozen, casserole will keep for up to three months. Thaw casserole completely before baking.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 299kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 17gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 2gCholesterol: 51mgSodium: 196mgPotassium: 310mgFiber: 0.03gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 74IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 0.3mg

Keyword chicken tater tot casserole, tater tot casserole with chicken, chicken tater tot casserole recipe

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

The BEST Chicken Tater Tot Casserole Recipe (18)

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The BEST Chicken Tater Tot Casserole Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my Tater Tot casserole soggy? ›

Why is my tater tot casserole soggy? If your casserole is soggy, it's likely either because there was too much moisture or it has not baked long enough. Be sure to sauté the onions thoroughly, and bake until the filling is bubbly.

What is the difference between a Tater Tot Hotdish and a Tater Tot casserole? ›

All hotdishes are casseroles, but not all casseroles are hotdishes. But the main difference between hotdish and other casseroles is where you make it. What someone in Minnesota or North Dakota would call hotdish, a person in Indiana would simply know as tater tot casserole.

What goes good with a Tater Tot casserole? ›

What can I serve this with? This tater tot casserole could be served as a side dish itself alongside roasted meats such as roast chicken, turkey, beef or ham. If you're serving this as the main dish then why not try serving this tater tot casserole with green beans, spinach, or a bountiful fresh salad.

How to get crispy tots in the oven? ›

Brush/mist each tot with olive oil, be generous. Transfer to the oven and bake 10-12 minutes, slide a spatula underneath the tots, then flip and bake 10 more minutes. Flip once to the uncooked side, bake 10-12 minutes, until golden and crisp.

Should you thaw tater tots before baking? ›

In fact, it's recommended to bake them from frozen to ensure they cook evenly and become crispy on the outside. What temperature should I bake frozen tater tots at? Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) before baking the frozen tater tots. This high temperature will help them become crispy without becoming soggy.

How do you keep a casserole moist? ›

Pro Tip: Avoid Dry Casserole.

The best way to prevent it from drying out is to add a little bit of water, around ¼ cup, to the top of it. Allow the water to seep between the food and the sides of the baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil to seal in the moisture.

Why is it called John Wayne casserole? ›

John Wayne first wrote the casserole recipe, but it looks a little different today. John Wayne Casserole was first popularized by the 1979 cookbook, "Cooking with Love from Cara and Her Friends," a collection of different celebrities' favorite dishes.

What state is known for Tater Tot Casserole? ›

If you grew up in the Midwest or even if you're new to the area, chances are you've heard about the Minnesota tater tot hotdish. Hotdish is the unofficial state cuisine of Minnesota and a go-to for busy families.

What is a tater tot slang? ›

(US, baseball, slang) A home run.

What sauce goes good with tater tots? ›

Ketchup or malt vinegar. Some people like hot sauce, BBQ sauce, or cheese sauce. Why are French fries the only potato food we put ketchup on?

How long can you keep a Tater Tot casserole out? ›

TWO HOURS is the MAXIMUM time perishable foods should be at room temperature (ONE HOUR at temperatures 90 degrees F and higher). This INCLUDES the time they're on the table during your meal. Just ONE bacterium, doubling every 20 minutes, can grow to over 2,097,152 bacteria in 7 hours!

What meat goes good with tater tots? ›

Just pile tots and your favorite nacho toppings onto romaine lettuce. Add protein with shredded rotisserie chicken, or leftover chili or pulled pork.

Why aren't my tater tots getting crispy? ›

You want them crispy, tater tots need to be cooked at a high temperature for this to happen. 375-400F is great, I find 375F the sweet spot to get them crispy but to also cook the inside before the outside burns.

Why do my tater tots fall apart when I fry them? ›

Avoid stirring too much when frying. Try frying raw potatoes in enough oil (I usually pour ~0.3 cm of oil for a full pan of potatoes) on medium-high or high heat WITHOUT the lid and WITHOUT salt/pepper. Stir them not often (but don't let them burn, indeed) till they are crispy enough on all sides.

How long to cook tater tots at 350? ›

Preparation Instructions:

Do not overcook. When cooking smaller amounts, reduce cooking time. Convection: 425 °F cooking time: 8 to 12 minutes. Deep fry: 350 °F cooking time: 2-1/2 to 3 minutes.

How do you make a casserole not soggy? ›

To prevent a soggy top and a firm or crunchy bottom, it's important to use a shallow baking dish, to cook the casserole at the correct oven temperature and for the appropriate amount of time, and to be mindful of the amount of liquid used in the recipe.

Why is my hash brown casserole soggy? ›

Frozen hash browns will leak moisture during cooking, which could leave a soggy, sad mess behind. For the best results, let the frozen hash browns thaw overnight in the fridge, then thoroughly pat them dry to remove as much moisture as possible before cooking them to crispy.

Why are my tater tots not crispy? ›

For extra crispy tater tots, you can lightly spray them with cooking spray or drizzle some oil over them before baking. If you're short on time, you can increase the oven temperature to 450°F (230°C) and reduce the cooking time by a few minutes.

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