Pic Credit: plainchicken.com
You will absolutely love this cracked out chicken tater tot casserole as it is delicious, filling and has a great mix of chicken, tater tots and the amazing cheese sauce. This casserole is great for weeknight dinner, or any gathering when comfort food is desired and required.
The two layers including the crispy tater tots on the top and juicy chicken filling create the both tasty and eye catching meal. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or just your family, this dish is sure to become a favorite in your home.
RECIPE INGREDIENTS
Ingredients
- 1 kg shredded cooked chicken
- 1 (10.5 oz) can cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 packet ranch dressing mix
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 8 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
- 1 (32 oz) bag frozen tater tots
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Chopped green onions for garnish (optional)
MEASURES & PRECAUTIONS
- Chicken Preparation: Make sure that the chicken is thoroughly cooked and then shredded before following the recipe. You can use ready to go rotisserie chicken, but it’s important that you don’t except any skin or bones.
- Bacon Cooking: Fry the bacon until it is crispy and then use it in the casserole. This helps to add flavor and to also avoid cases in which it will be too moist to be baked properly.
- Cream of Chicken Soup: It’s recommended to use a good cream of chicken soup since it provides the best flavor. It is also important to use homemade soup when preparing the vegetables, in order to achieve a fresher taste.
- Tater Tot Layering: There is no need to let the tater tots you place on top of the gravy thaw before using them. Preparing them from the freezer state makes it possible to achieve a crispy end product.
- Baking Dish Size: The 9×13 inch baking dish has been recommended for this recipe. It has been identified that if you use a smaller dish, the time it takes could be longer as it takes some time to heat.
Cracked Out Chicken Tater Tot Casserole Recipe
INGREDIENTS NOTES
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Shredded Chicken: For the chicken you can either roast your own and use up the leftovers in the recipe or use bought rotisserie chicken. When chopped chunkier, ribs will introduce more taste than breast meats.
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Sour Cream: For the full-fat option, you should use the sour cream to give the texture to the sauce, but you can use Greek yogurt if you want a lighter version.
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Cheddar Cheese: You can use any other cheese and can also try Monterey Jack or pepper jack cheese.
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Ranch Dressing Mix: Adding ranch dressing mix gives it an out of the ordinary flavor; but you can mix your own combination of dill, parsley and garlic powder if you so choose.
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Tater Tots: Here, tater tots that are a traditional type but can be replaced with sweet potato tater tots or any frozen potato for diversity.
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
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Preheat the Oven: In order, start by preparing the oven, by setting it to 180°C or 350°F degree of heat. Preheating also plays a big role because it’s always important to preheat the casserole before cooking it to ensure that it cooks well to the middle. Heat is important when creating that perfect crispy outside layer in tater tots that consumers really enjoy.
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Prepare the Baking Dish: Prepare the baking dish by oiling it with the usage of cooking spray or butter, fill the dish to 9×13 size. This step is very important in order to avoid the casserole stick to the dish and it becomes very easy to serve after cooking. You can also use parchment paper so that clean up is a lot easier.
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Mix the Chicken Filling: To a large bowl, add 1 kilogram cooked and shredded chicken, 1 can cream of chicken soup, 1 cup of sour cream, 1 pack of ranch dressing and 1 cup of cheddar cheese set aside 1 cup for the final stage. Also, please stir in 8 slices of cooked bacon which has been crumbled. Mix all the ingredients, including the chicken, with a spatula or wooden spoon until the chicken is coated with a creamy layer that will improve the taste in the casserole.
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Transfer the Mixture to the Baking Dish: Spoon the chicken mixture into the dish you have chosen for baking. Spoon it out onto the bottom of the dish layering it evenly using a spatula. This make sure that there is a controlled flavors and texture in every bite that is taken.
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Layer the Tater Tots: Now, take up your frozen tater tots and place them in a single layer on top of the chicken mixture. Throw them in frozen, do not thaw, as baking them frozen keeps them from becoming soft when baked. Ensure that they cover the entire surface area for even cooking.
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Add Cheese Topping: Finally spread the reserved 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the tater tots. This layer of cheese will also brown nicely when baking and add to flavor and texture a nice gooeyness.
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Bake the Casserole: Put your baking dish in the preheated oven and bake the dish for approximately 40-45 minutes. Monitor the time; you need the tater tots to be brown and crispy, and the chicken filling to atleast developed a slightly brown crust and the edges of the filling to be slightly booth.
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Check for Doneness: Preheat the oven at 375°F After 45 minutes, test the casserole by inserting a fork or knife in the middle, it should be hot clean. In case it requires some extra time, bake for increments of 5 minutes until done.
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Rest Before Serving: After baking allow the casserole to stand for 10 minutes before serving. This resting period helps the different layers to set and to make it easier to cut or slice it and even after slicing it should not fall apart.
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Garnish and Enjoy: For enhancement of color, it is recommended to garnish with chopped green onions before you serve it. Best served hot, either with the contents scooped directly from the baking dish, or garnished attractively on individual plates.
RECIPE TIPS & VARIATIONS
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Add Vegetables: If you desire to add nutritional value, consider adding frozen vegetables such as peas or corn to the chicken before baking.
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Spicy Variation: For those of you who like a little spice, you can also stir in jalapeños into the chicken mixture or use hot sauce.
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Make Ahead Option: This casserole can be prepared a day ahead baking it, it is better if assembled but not baked. Sprinkle with plastic wrap and put the dish into the refrigerator for several hours or overnight; bake as desired.
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Freezing Instructions: This casserole freezes well! Combine it in a baking dish without cooking, cover it securely with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and it is good to freeze for up to 3 months. It may be baked from frozen and only require extra cooking time to be added.
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Serving Size Adjustments: For smaller serving sizes serving in half and using an 8×8 inch pan may be necessary; in this case use less cooking time.
EQUIPMENT
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Large mixing bowl
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Measuring cups
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Measuring spoons
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Whisk or spatula
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9x13-inch baking dish
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Cooking spray or butter
Note
SERVING TIPS 💡
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Place immediately on individual plates or bowls and eat immediately; hot is the ideal serving temperature.
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Serve it accompanied by a simple green salad to obtain a balanced meal.
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Bring chips or hot sauce and any accoutrements like extra cheese to the table to be added.
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Prepare availed leftovers in a different manner to prepare wraps or sandwiches.
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It is more advisable to accompany the meal with unsuitable bread in order to cleanse the plate of any remaining sauce.
If you're looking for a quick and flavorful meal, check out this easy Spicy Chicken Noodle Soup recipe.
