Description
This Cheddar Ranch Chicken Tater Tot Bake is a comforting and crowd-pleasing one-dish meal perfect for busy weeknights. Featuring tender cooked chicken mixed with a creamy ranch-flavored sauce, topped with crispy tater tots and melty sharp cheddar cheese, this casserole combines classic flavors into a hearty family favorite.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Mixture
- 2-3 cups cooked, shredded or diced chicken
- 1 ounce packet dry ranch seasoning mix
- 10.5-ounce can condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
- 1/2 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup milk
- Pinch of garlic powder
- Pinch of onion powder
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- Optional: 1 cup frozen peas, corn, or mixed vegetable blend
- 2-3 cups shredded sharp or medium cheddar cheese, divided
Topping
- 32-ounce bag frozen tater tots
- Remaining 0.5 to 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese for topping
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare the baking dish: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Cook the chicken if needed: If your chicken isn’t already cooked, cook and shred or dice it to yield about 2-3 cups of cooked chicken.
- Make the creamy base: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the undiluted condensed cream of chicken soup, sour cream or Greek yogurt, and milk until smooth and well combined.
- Season and combine: Add the ranch seasoning mix, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper to the creamy mixture. Stir well to combine. Then fold in the cooked chicken, optional frozen vegetables if using, and about 1.5 cups of shredded cheddar cheese, mixing until everything is evenly coated.
- Assemble in baking dish: Pour the chicken mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread it out evenly to form the casserole base.
- Add tater tot layer: Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer evenly over the top of the chicken mixture for a crispy topping.
- Top with cheese: Sprinkle the remaining 0.5 to 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the tater tots to add extra cheesiness and color.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 30-40 minutes, until the chicken mixture is bubbly and the tater tots are golden brown and crispy.
- Rest before serving: Allow the bake to rest for 5-10 minutes after removing from the oven before slicing and serving, so it sets up nicely.
Notes
- Using Greek yogurt instead of sour cream can lighten the dish and add protein.
- Feel free to substitute the frozen vegetables with your favorite mix or omit them entirely.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven for best texture.
- For extra crispiness, broil the bake for 2-3 minutes at the end of baking but watch carefully to prevent burning.
