I will be honest when I say that I had never made this before. But I am also being honest when I say that I dream up recipes constantly and have no fear to just try them out! And I am a lover of all things Buffalo Chicken! Sometimes (most of the time actually), they work out like I picture in my head. But since we’re being honest, I have also had plenty of failed ones as well! This one was a HUGE HIT with my family! Yay for mom!
One of the most wonderful things about cooking is that there are really no set rules. I realize that there are people who need to have exact measurements and follow a recipe to the tee. And I get it! I am that way when it comes to certain things as well. And since I have started sharing recipes online, one of my biggest challenges has been to measure while I am cooking so that the recipe I make and the one I share are the same.
So even though I “threw this together”, I did remember to measure and if you follow the recipe, I am sure it will be a hit with your family just as it was with mine. And if you like this recipe be sure to check out this classic tater tot casserole recipe here: https://whatsmomcookin.com/tater-tot-casserole/
What Ingredients are needed?
I suppose that is the most obvious first question for any recipe! This one requires just a few. You will need 3 cups of shredded chicken. I used a rotisserie chicken and shredded it in my stand mixer. You could certainly use any kind of cooked chicken you want. My son suggested that next time I use the frozen Tyson breaded tenderloins, which I think was a great suggestion.
You could boil and shred some, or you could even pan fry some! Just keep in mind that it needs to be cooked. In addition to the chicken, you will need some Buffalo Sauce, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, ranch dressing mix, sharp cheddar and pepper jack cheeses and of course tater tots!
Can this be made ahead?
Yes! This can be assembled the night before, or it can even be assembled, then frozen. If you assemble the night before, just take it out of the fridge and bake. If you freeze it, make sure to wrap it tightly (it will keep for 2-3 months), then let it thaw in the fridge for 2-3 days then bake. I do not recommend baking then freezing, as the tots do not hold up well.
Everything is going to be mixed together in one large bowl. I find it easiest to use my stand mixer but a hand mixer or good old spoon will also work. You’ll have 3 cups of shredded chicken, 1 cup of sour cream, 1 cup of buffalo sauce, 1 can cream of chicken, and 1 packet of Ranch dressing seasoning. You will then add 4 oz each of grated sharp cheddar and pepper jack cheeses.
Then you want to blend that up until it’s well incorporated, and spread into an 11×13 baking dish. Place the tater tots on top and bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes in the oven, top with 4 oz more of both cheeses. Bake for about 15-20 more minutes until that cheese is beautifully brown and bubbly. Let stand for at least 10-15 minutes before serving.
I like to garnish with some fresh parsley just for color, and I like to top with a little Ranch dressing as well. You can serve with a side salad or some veggies or even some garlic bread, but we found it to be quite filling on its own. I hope you enjoy this dish as much as we did!
Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients
- 3 Cups Shredded Chicken
- 1 Cup Sour Cream
- 1 Cup Buffalo Sauce
- 1 Packet Ranch Dressing Mix
- 1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup
- 32 oz Bag of Frozen Tater Tots
- 8 oz Sharp Cheddar Cheese, grated divided
- 8 oz Pepper Jack Cheese, grated divided
- Parsley, for garnish optional
- Ranch or Blue Cheese Dressing optional for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees
- In a large bowl mix all of the ingredients except for the tater tots and half the cheeses
- Spread into a greased 11×13 baking dish, top with the tater tots and bake for 30 minutes
- Top with the remaining cheese and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes
- Let stand for 10-15 minutes to cool before serving
