Crispy Cheddar Ranch Chicken Tater Tot Bake Easy Family Favorite Recipe
A quick and easy casserole combining crispy tater tots, shredded chicken, sharp cheddar, and tangy ranch seasoning for a comforting family favorite.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Total Time: 45-50 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced (rotisserie chicken works great)
- 32 ounces (about 4 cups) frozen tater tots (Ore-Ida recommended)
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 packet ranch seasoning mix (or 2 tablespoons homemade ranch seasoning blend)
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup milk (whole or 2%)
- 3–4 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Olive oil or cooking spray for greasing the baking dish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and allow it to reach temperature for 10-15 minutes.
- Prepare the chicken by shredding or dicing into bite-sized pieces (about 2 cups).
- In a large bowl, whisk together sour cream, mayonnaise, milk, ranch seasoning, garlic powder, and onion powder until smooth.
- Stir in the shredded chicken and sliced green onions. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with olive oil or cooking spray.
- Spread half of the tater tots evenly on the bottom of the dish.
- Pour the creamy chicken mixture over the tater tots and spread gently to cover.
- Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the creamy layer.
- Arrange the remaining tater tots in a single layer on top of the cheese.
- Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
- Bake uncovered for 30-35 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden and tater tots are crisp and browned.
- If desired, broil for 2-3 minutes to crisp the top further, watching closely to avoid burning.
- Let the bake rest for 5-10 minutes before serving to set.
Notes
Use frozen tater tots straight from the freezer for best crispiness. Avoid mixing tots into the creamy mixture to prevent sogginess. Cover loosely with foil halfway through baking if cheese browns unevenly. For gluten-free, ensure ranch seasoning and tater tots are certified gluten-free. Freshly shredded cheese melts better than pre-shredded. Let bake rest before serving for easier portioning.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8th of the cassero
- Calories: 380
- Fat: 22
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 25
Keywords: tater tot casserole, cheddar ranch chicken bake, easy family dinner, comfort food, quick casserole, chicken tater tot bake