Chicken Tater Tot Casserole | Easy Chicken Bacon Potato Bake

This Chicken Tater Tot Casserole recipe is the comfort food your family dreams of. Not only is it easy to make and absolutely delicious, but it is a protein-packed twist on a classic.

What Makes This Casserole A Family Favorite?

• Flavorful ingredients. Using ingredients that are absolutely packed with flavor make this Chicken Tater Tot Casserole absolutely irresistible.
• Easy to make. Throw some frozen tater tots in a casserole dish and layer it with precooked proteins and a creamy filling. Bake it all until golden brown and bubbly before digging in.
• Customizable. Use a variety of frozen potatoes, proteins, or even pack in some veggies for a perfectly customized bite.

Whether you’re wanting a quick meal that will feed a crowd or want a twist on a classic comfort food, this Chicken Tater Tot casserole is guaranteed to please!

Why Is My Tater Tot Casserole Soggy?

The texture of the tater tots in this Chicken Tater Tot Casserole recipe will not have the same classic crispy flavor of those fast food deep fried tater tots you know and love. Since they are combined with juicy chicken, creamy filling, and gooey cheese, they will have a softer consistency.

If you want to give a crispy crunch to your casserole bite, consider omitting the final layer of tater tots in your casserole before baking. When you’re ready to serve the dish, fry up some fresh and crispy tater tots and use them to garnish the top of your casserole.

Should I Thaw Tater Tots Before Baking?

Thawing tater tots before you assemble and bake this casserole isn’t necessary. The ample cooking time for this casserole allows the tater tots to cook through from frozen.

If you want to speed up the cooking time, you CAN use defrosted tater tots. Keep in mind they become very fragile when defrosted before they are cooked. This can lead more of a tater tot mash at the bottom of your casserole when you layer on the other ingredients.

Ingredients To Grab

Check your kitchen for the following ingredients before you get started:

• Tater tots– They provide a crispy, potatoey layer at the bottom and top of the dish, adding texture and flavor.
• Rotisserie chicken– Adds a savory, cooked chicken flavor to the casserole without the hassle of cooking and shredding chicken yourself. It’s convenient and adds protein to the dish.
• Precooked bacon– Adds a smoky, salty flavor to the casserole. It’s precooked to save time and adds another layer of flavor to the dish.
• Cream of chicken soup– The creamy, flavorful base of the casserole. It adds richness and helps bind the ingredients together while providing a comforting, chicken-flavored sauce.
• Sour cream– Adds tanginess and creaminess to the casserole. It helps balance the richness of the cream of chicken soup.
• Shredded Colby Jack cheese– Adds a gooey, melty layer to the casserole.
• Spices– Salt, pepper, minced garlic, and parsley are used to season the casserole, enhancing the overall flavor profile and adding depth to the dish.

How To Make Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

Prepare the chicken and bacon. Shred the rotisserie chicken into bite-sized pieces and place it in a medium sized bowl. Crumble the precooked bacon and place it in a separate small bowl.

Create the creamy chicken filling. Add the cream of chicken soup, sour cream, half of the crumbled bacon, and spices to the same bowl as the shredded rotisserie chicken. Mix until well combined.

Layer the casserole. Prepare a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick spray. Place a single layer of tater tots in the bottom of the pan. Spread the creamy chicken mixture on top of the tater tots. Add a final layer of tots and sprinkle with half of the shredded cheese.

Bake to perfection. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake at 375F for 30 minutes. Remove the foil, top with the remaining shredded cheese and bake uncovered for an additional 15 minutes until the casserole is golden brown and bubbly.

Garnish, serve, and enjoy! Garnish with fresh parsley and the remaining crumbled bacon and serve with your favorite steamed or roasted veggies, and enjoy!

Tips And Tricks

Looking for tips and tricks to ensure your Chicken Tater Tot Casserole recipe turns out perfectly every time? Check these out before you get started:

• Use precooked proteins. Using precooked proteins is essential to the success of this dish. The cooking time is not sufficient to cook the proteins completely and can result in an unsafe dish. The chicken and bacon will also release excess moisture and fat into the dish while cooking, making it very soupy and unappetizing.
• Cheese is key. The cheese is what works as the glue of this casserole. For a more cohesive serving experience, don’t be afraid to go all-in with the cheese.
• Don’t forget to cover. Covering the casserole at the beginning of the cooking process will prevent the top layer of the tater tots from cooking too quickly. While the casserole can be left uncovered, the top layer of tater tots can burn, leaving a unpleasant appearance and bite.

Variations

Love this recipe but want some ways to switch it up next time it’s in your dinner rotation? Check out some of these delicious ideas to customize it:

• Switch up the protein. For a leaner take on the dish you can swap out the rotisserie chicken with shredded turkey breast and swap regular bacon for turkey bacon. Of course you can swap the protein for cooked ground beef for a more traditional take on the dish.
• Skip the canned soups. If you’re not a fan of canned “cream of something” soups, you can leave it out and mix together a combination of 4 ounces of cream cheese and 1/4 cup of heavy cream instead.
• Add in some veggies. For a more nutritious bite, add in some broccoli, cauliflower, onions, peppers, corn, or even peas to the creamy filling before baking.
• Use ranch. For a chicken bacon ranch casserole, swap out the sour cream for ranch dressing.

What To Pair With Tater Tot Casserole

Not sure what to pair with Chicken Tater Tot Casserole to make it a complete meal? Try some of these tasty side dish suggestions next time you’re preparing your menu:

• Steamed or roasted veggies
• Dinner rolls
• Corn on the cob
• Side salad

Storage And Reheating

As with most of my recipes, Chicken Tater Tot Casserole recipe is a great option for meal prep! When stored in an airtight container, it will last for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.

When you’re ready to reheat it, place it in the oven at 375F for 20 minutes or until heated through. Alternatively, you can pop a single portion in the microwave for about 90 seconds for a quick lunch.

With the deliciously creamy filling, it is best to enjoy the casserole within 3-4 days. The texture of the casserole can change and become gritty when frozen and defrosted. If you don‘t mind the texture change, you can store it in a freezer-safe container for up to 6 months. Place the frozen casserole in the refrigerator overnight to allow it to defrost and reheat it according to the instructions listed above.

More Comforting Casseroles

• Chicken Pot Pie Casserole
• Chicken Enchilada Casserole
• Lazy Enchiladas
• BBQ Chicken and Rice Casserole
• Million Dollar Spaghetti

If you love this Chicken Tater Tot Casserole recipe as much as we do, make sure you share it with your friends on social media so they can try it too! Don’t forget to save it so you can make it next time you need a serious dose of comfort food.