This post may contain affiliate links, please see the privacy policy for details.
Shredded chicken, cheddar, bacon, ranch, and tater tots! This chicken bacon ranch tater tot casserole recipe (aka crack chicken casserole) is simple to make and it’s wonderful comfort food. The cheesy, creamy filling in this chicken tater tot casserole is packed with juicy chicken and a buttery topping with tater tots. You can whip up this cheesy chicken casserole for a quick weeknight dinner using rotisserie chicken, game day, or take it along to your next potluck and see how fast it goes!
Make this creamy, cheesy chicken casserole with a buttery, crunchy tater tot topping for dinner tonight. It’s a cozy, satisfying meal that will delight the whole family.
Casserole fans might also like cowboy meatloaf potato casserole and cheesy vegetable casserole, or what about hash brown breakfast casserole?
Why You’ll Love It
Real comfort food: You simply can’t go wrong with something this creamy and cheesy! The melted cheddar, crispy bacon pieces, creamy sauce, and crispy tater tots on top make this a joy to eat.
Easy to prepare: You just have to layer the ingredients in a casserole dish and pop the whole thing in the oven. That’s all!
Family-friendly: Not only will everyone enjoy this easy chicken tater tot casserole, but they’ll probably want a second helping too. This is the kind of meal that appeals to the whole family, even picky kids!
Chicken and Tater Tot Casserole Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Soup: Condensed soup (one can of mushroom soup and one can of chicken soup) makes the casserole tasty and creamy.
Chicken: Use rotisserie chicken or canned chicken, or cook your own.
Sour cream: For creaminess and a tasty tang.
Ranch dressing mix: Use regular or spicy, as you prefer.
Corn: Adds a pop of sweetness and some nutrients. Use frozen or canned.
Bacon: Bacon makes everything better! Use freshly cooked crumbled bacon (preferred) or bacon bits (these are a brand to try)
Cheddar cheese: Use another kind of cheese if you prefer.
Frozen tater tots: Use any brand you prefer. They don’t have to be thawed before making this casserole.
How to Make Rotisserie Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Assemble the casserole: Combine the soup, sour cream, milk, and ranch dressing mix in a large mixing bowl, then stir in the chicken and corn. Spread into a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Add the bacon on top and then the cheese, and finally the tater tots.
Bake the chicken tater tot casserole: Bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly and hot.
Serve: Sprinkle with cilantro or parsley, and serve immediately.
Substitutions and Variations
Gluten-free option: If you want a gluten-free version, ensure your soups and tater tots are gluten free.
Spice it up: Add sliced jalapenos to the chicken mixture.
Another cheese: Cheddar cheese is always good but you can use any kind of shredded cheese.
Extra bacon: Throw in some extra cooked bacon if you love it as much as I do!
Another topping: Swap the tater tots for hash browns or even crushed tortilla chips.
Sour cream swap: Use plain Greek yogurt in place of the sour cream.
Add onions: Chopped green onion is good in this chicken tater tot casserole, or you could use shallots or even sweet onion.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizers: Start the meal with smoked spiced shrimp or chips with homemade mango salsa.
Side dishes: Roasted rainbow carrots or sweet potato kale salad would be good.
Dessert: Finish up with gingerbread apple cake.
How to Store Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole
Store: Keep leftovers in a covered container and eat within 4 days.
Freeze: Freeze chicken tater tot casserole in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Thaw: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Reheat: Cover with foil and bake in a preheated oven at 350ºF for 30 to 40 minutes, until heated through. Don’t microwave the leftovers because this can make the tater tots rubbery.
Top Tips
Keep the tater tots crisp: Spray them with nonstick cooking spray before cooking and give the casserole an extra couple of minutes.
Don’t overcook: The chicken dries out if you cook the casserole for too long. If the chicken is cooked but the tater tots aren’t crisp enough, broil the casserole to crisp them up without overcooking the chicken.
Shred your own cheese: Prepackaged shredded cheese has anticaking agents to stop the shreds sticking together. They also make the cheese harder to melt, so it’s best to shred the block yourself.
Crack Chicken Tater Tot Casserole FAQs
Yes, you can assemble it and then keep it covered and refrigerated and bake it later. Or you can bake half and freeze half for a future meal.
You can if you like but you don’t have to. It seems to come out great whether or not you thaw them first.
Yes, swap the cream of chicken soup for another kind (maybe cheese soup or celery soup, or even a second can of mushroom soup). Swap the chicken for thickly sliced mushrooms and omit the bacon bits. You can add a few drops of liquid smoke if you’re omitting the bacon.
Chicken Tater Tot Casserole Recipe
Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
Equipment
- Ceramic Baking Dish 9 x 13-inch
Ingredients
- 1 Can condensed cream of mushroom soup, 10½ Ounce
- 1 Can condensed cream of chicken soup, 10½ Ounce
- ½ Cup sour cream
- ½ Cup milk
- 1 Package ranch dressing mix, regular or spicy
- 3 Cups chicken, cooked, diced or shredded
- 2 Cups corn, frozen or canned
- 1 Cup bacon, cooked, chopped
- 2 Cups cheddar cheese, shredded
- 30 Ounces tater tots, frozen or thawed
- 1 Tablespoon cilantro or parsley, chopped, for optional garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large bowl, combine the soup, sour cream, milk and ranch dressing.
- Stir in the chicken and corn, then spread evenly in a 9 x 13-inch pan.
- Sprinkle the bacon over the chicken, then add the cheese.
- Lay the tater tots over the cheese.
- Bake for 30 minutes, until hot and bubbly.
- Remove from the oven, sprinkle with parsley or cilantro, and serve immediately.
Notes
Don’t overcook: The chicken dries out if you cook the casserole for too long. If the chicken is cooked but the tater tots aren’t crisp enough, broil the casserole to crisp them up without overcooking the chicken.
Shred your own cheese: Prepackaged shredded cheese has anticaking agents to stop the shreds sticking together. They also make the cheese harder to melt, so it’s best to shred the block yourself.
Nutrition
Treat yourself and the whole family to this delicious cracked out chicken tater tot casserole. The creamy sauce is made with 2 kinds of soup, sour cream, dried ranch dressing mix, cheddar cheese, and milk, and then you also have juicy chicken and smoky bacon in there, along with a crispy tater tot topping. This is the kind of meal nobody ever gets tired of!
Other Recipes to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
I made this chicken bacon ranch tater tot casserole, and it was amazing! Total comfort food.
So easy to make with rotisserie chicken. This one disappeared fast.