This Chicken Tater Tot Casserole is a one-dish dinner that’s simple to mix up and put in the oven, and the whole family will love it!
This weekend I was so excited to reach 15,000 Facebook fans (thank you!!) that I ran an impromptu giveaway. To enter, folks just needed to comment on a post telling me one of their favorite things to have for dinner. Reading all the responses made me so hungry! I think tacos and steak were the most common answers, but one reader named Pam answered Cheesy Chicken Tater Tot Casserole. I was in love just reading the name of that dish! Cheese, chicken, and tots? What’s not to like? I don’t know what Pam’s version is like, but I knew I needed to make my own because it just sounded too good.
Why I love this casserole recipe
Of course it needed to be easy, flavorful and I wanted it to be an all-in-one dish so I wouldn’t have to make a side to go with it. I hope you’ll love the casserole that I came up with. It’s sort of a cross between chicken pot pie and tater tot casserole, but with more cheese and taco seasoning. Check the recipe instructions for options to cut down on prep or bake time depending on which you have more time and energy to do.
Speaking of bake times, the fact that I’m bringing you this recipe this week really proves that I love you guys. I made it in the middle of a 90-degree day in San Francisco! That was just poor planning on my part, but if I didn’t want to hurry and get the recipe to you, I wouldn’t have gone through with it. When the weather cools down, we’ll be having this on the regular I’m pretty sure. Let me know when you get a chance to try the recipe!
Tater Tot Casserole Ingredients, Substitutions and Modifications
This recipe has only six ingredients and almost no prep making it a very easy all in one dinner option. I know sheet pan dinners are really popular but casseroles like this one with chicken and tater tots are the original single pan dinners.
Chicken breast is one of the most common meats in casseroles because it is easy, inexpensive and has a mild flavor. It works great in this recipe but you can also use chicken thighs, ground turkey, ground beef or ground pork.
Frozen mixed vegetables are added to make this a true all in one dinner. You can use any vegetable mix you like or simply frozen peas or frozen corn. If you want to use fresh vegetables I like the combination of diced broccoli and tomatoes.
Sour cream makes the dish rich and creamy. If you don’t have sour cream, you can substitute 1/2 cup mayonnaise and 1/2 cup of plain yogurt.
Shredded Mexican cheese blend is an easy option but you can use shredded cheddar for more flavor or shredded jack or mozzarella for something milder. Just be sure to use a good amount of cheese on top of the casserole.
Taco seasoning is an easy ready to go seasoning blend. It also helps thicken the sauce that naturally results from cooking the meat and vegetables mixed with the sour cream. If you do not want to use taco seasoning you can use 2.5 tablespoons of creole or cajun seasoning.
Tater tots are the ideal topping as they get nice a crispy on top while staying tender inside. However, you can substitute frozen home fries or even crinkle cut French fries.
Cheesy Chicken and Tater Tot Casserole Recipe Tips and Tricks
To make this recipe even faster try some of these tips and tricks.
To cut down on bake time and get a creamier filling, saute the chicken and frozen vegetables together in a skillet until heated through, then drain. Stir in taco seasoning, cheese, and sour cream with those hot ingredients and bake uncovered for 30 minutes total.
Substitute the raw chicken breast with rotisserie chicken and the frozen mixed vegetables with one can of corn, drained, and mix the chicken and corn with the taco seasoning, cheese and sour cream, top with tater tots and the remaining cup of cheese and bake for 30 minutes, uncovered.
Can you freeze tater tot casserole?
Yes, this casserole works great as a freezer meal. I recommend making and baking the casserole in a disposable metal pan so your regular casserole pan is not stuck in your freezer. I also recommend fully cooking the casserole before letting it cool, wrapping and then freezing. When you are ready to enjoy it simply remove and allow to thaw in the fridge for 2 days and then bake uncovered for 30 minutes at 350 degrees to reheat and make the tater tots crispy. If baking from frozen, I recommend covering the casserole with foil and baking for 60 minutes at 350 degrees and then removing the foil and baking another 30 minutes to crisp up the tots.
A one-dish dinner that’s simple to mix up and put in the oven. The whole family will love it!
Total Time:1 hour 10 minutes
Yield:81x
Ingredients
UnitsScale
16ounces boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces
16ounces frozen mixed vegetables
1cup sour cream (reduced fat is OK)
1 1/2cups shredded Mexican blend cheese divided
1 packet reduced-sodium taco seasoning
28ounces frozen tater tots
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 9 x 13″ pan with cooking spray.
(See notes at the bottom for alternate directions to reduce baking time.) Stir together uncooked chicken, vegetables, sour cream, ONE cup of cheese, and taco seasoning until evenly combined. Spread mixture into prepared baking dish.
Arrange frozen tater tots evenly over the chicken mixture. You probably don’t need the whole bag, but I made them all fit. Cover with foil, and bake 30 minutes in preheated oven.
Remove foil, and bake 20 minutes longer. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup of cheese over tots, and bake 5 minutes more before serving.
Notes
To cut down on bake time and get a creamier filling, saute the chicken and frozen vegetables together in a skillet until heated through, then drain. Stir in taco seasoning, cheese, and sour cream with those hot ingredients and bake uncovered for 30 minutes total.
This casserole is great leftover. If you reheat it in the microwave in an broiler-safe bowl, you can place the bowl under the broiler for 3-5 minutes to make your tater tots crispy again.
Andi Gleeson is a passionate blogger and mom based in San Francisco who focuses on easy and delicious dinner recipes.
26 comments
Alexis mull
9 years ago
I’m making this for my son’s marching band competition tomorrow. I’m the chairman and need to feed roughly 100 people! Wish me luck….this looks yummy.
Andi Gleeson
9 years ago
That’s a lot of tater tots! How did it go? I hope it turned out well, Alexis! I was in the marching band in school too. I would have loved someone to make me tater tot casserole at a competition. I think we just got McDonald’s ;)
Alexis
9 years ago
It went very well, except for last minute changes due to the weather. Thanks to your great recipe my casserole dishes were empty! Pretty impressive!
Andi Gleeson
9 years ago
Oh this makes my day, Alexis!! Thank you!!
Kathy
9 years ago
This sounds so great & easy. We love using tater tots, not very expensive we always have them on hand. Great for seniors. Thanks
Andi Gleeson
9 years ago
Glad you like it, Kathy! Thank you!
Cathy Pollak ~ Noble Pig
9 years ago
OMG the ultimate comfort food.
Andi Gleeson
9 years ago
My favorite kind of food ;) Thanks, Cathy!
Joanie @ Zagleft
9 years ago
Wow, Andi! This sounds and looks so good. I know my family would love this for dinner and I’d love how easy it was to put together!
Andi Gleeson
9 years ago
Thanks, Joanie!
Jamie @ Love Bakes Good Cakes
9 years ago
This sounds like total comfort food! :)
Andi Gleeson
9 years ago
My favorite kind of food :) Thanks, Jamie!
Des @ Life's Ambrosia
9 years ago
It doesn’t get more comforting than tater tot casserole! Perfect for busy nights!
Andi Gleeson
9 years ago
Yes! Thank you!
Sheena @ Tea and Biscuits
9 years ago
This looks like great comfort food, my boys would love it!
Andi Gleeson
9 years ago
Thank you, Sheena!
Gerry Speirs
9 years ago
This is my kinda food!!#
Andi Gleeson
9 years ago
Ours too :) Thanks, Gerry!
Carrie @Frugal Foodie Mama
9 years ago
I just LOVE tater tot casseroles! Such perfect comfort food. This one looks delicious! :)
Andi Gleeson
9 years ago
Who can resist tater tots?? Thank you, Carrie!
Beth
9 years ago
Awww! I love how you made something suggested by a reader! I bet you made them feel famous :)
Andi Gleeson
9 years ago
Famous might be strong, but I hope she likes what I came up with. I might have butchered her favorite dish ;) Thanks, Beth!
Michele @ Alwayzbakin
9 years ago
This looks and sounds amazing! I LOVE tater tots! Delicious!
Andi Gleeson
9 years ago
We love them at our house too. Thanks, Michele!
Cate | Chez CateyLou
9 years ago
Congrats on 15K on FB!! That’s so exciting! This tater tot casserole is such a great idea – I would love to eat this for dinner tonight! And thanks for cooking for us on a 90 degree day! It is 90 here in NYC too and it needs to end!!
Andi Gleeson
9 years ago
Thank you, Cate! It’s starting to cool down here, and I hope you get a break from the heat this weekend too. Hang in there!
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26 comments
I’m making this for my son’s marching band competition tomorrow. I’m the chairman and need to feed roughly 100 people! Wish me luck….this looks yummy.
That’s a lot of tater tots! How did it go? I hope it turned out well, Alexis! I was in the marching band in school too. I would have loved someone to make me tater tot casserole at a competition. I think we just got McDonald’s ;)
It went very well, except for last minute changes due to the weather. Thanks to your great recipe my casserole dishes were empty! Pretty impressive!
Oh this makes my day, Alexis!! Thank you!!
This sounds so great & easy. We love using tater tots, not very expensive we always have them on hand. Great for seniors. Thanks
Glad you like it, Kathy! Thank you!
OMG the ultimate comfort food.
My favorite kind of food ;) Thanks, Cathy!
Wow, Andi! This sounds and looks so good. I know my family would love this for dinner and I’d love how easy it was to put together!
Thanks, Joanie!
This sounds like total comfort food! :)
My favorite kind of food :) Thanks, Jamie!
It doesn’t get more comforting than tater tot casserole! Perfect for busy nights!
Yes! Thank you!
This looks like great comfort food, my boys would love it!
Thank you, Sheena!
This is my kinda food!!#
Ours too :) Thanks, Gerry!
I just LOVE tater tot casseroles! Such perfect comfort food. This one looks delicious! :)
Who can resist tater tots?? Thank you, Carrie!
Awww! I love how you made something suggested by a reader! I bet you made them feel famous :)
Famous might be strong, but I hope she likes what I came up with. I might have butchered her favorite dish ;) Thanks, Beth!
This looks and sounds amazing! I LOVE tater tots! Delicious!
We love them at our house too. Thanks, Michele!
Congrats on 15K on FB!! That’s so exciting! This tater tot casserole is such a great idea – I would love to eat this for dinner tonight! And thanks for cooking for us on a 90 degree day! It is 90 here in NYC too and it needs to end!!
Thank you, Cate! It’s starting to cool down here, and I hope you get a break from the heat this weekend too. Hang in there!