Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole
Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole: A Budget-Friendly Family Favorite
If you’re a busy parent looking for a delicious and easy meal that the whole family will love, look no further than this Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole. This dish is not only simple to prepare, but it also combines all the flavors kids adore—chicken, bacon, ranch, and tater tots—into one hearty casserole. Plus, it’s budget-friendly, making it the perfect choice for families wanting to save a few bucks without sacrificing taste.
And it is no secret that we love tater tot casserole in this house! Check out these other great recipes while you are here!
Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole
Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients:
- Â pound cooked chicken (chopped)
- 1 pound cooked bacon (crumbled, plus 2 tablespoons reserved for topping)
- 16 ounces sour cream
- 1 can cream of chicken soup
- 1 packet ranch seasoning mix
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 32 ounces frozen tater tots
- 2 tablespoons sliced green onions (for garnish)
What You Will Love About This Recipe:
- Quick Prep Time:** This casserole can be thrown together in just a few minutes. With only a few ingredients and minimal prep work, it’s perfect for those busy weeknights.
- Kid-Friendly:** The flavors in this dish are sure to please even the pickiest eaters. The combination of chicken, bacon, ranch, and tater tots is a guaranteed hit with kids.
- Budget-Friendly:** Utilizing ingredients like frozen tater tots, canned soup, and ranch seasoning makes this casserole an economical option. It’s easy to make a large batch, providing leftovers for lunch or dinner the next day.
Cooking Your Chicken:
- 1.**Rotisserie Chicken:** One of the easiest methods is to buy a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken from the grocery store. Simply remove the skin, pick the meat off the bones, and chop it up. This method saves time and adds fantastic flavor to your dish.
- 2. **Pan-Fried Chicken:** For a fresh option, season boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs with salt and pepper. Heat a bit of oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook the chicken for about 6-7 minutes on each side, or until fully cooked. Allow it to rest before chopping it into bite-sized pieces.
- 3. **Boiled Chicken:** Another method is to boil chicken breasts in a pot of salted water. Bring the water to a boil, add the chicken, and cook for about 15-20 minutes until the chicken is no longer pink. Let it cool, then shred or chop it.
- 4. **Baked Chicken:** Season chicken pieces with your favorite herbs and spices, then bake them in a preheated oven at 375°F for about 25-30 minutes or until cooked through. Once cooled, chop the chicken into pieces.
- 5. **Grilled Chicken:** For a smoky flavor, marinate chicken breasts in your favorite seasoning or a simple olive oil and lemon juice mix. Grill the chicken over medium heat for about 6-8 minutes per side until cooked through, then chop it up for the casserole.
Directions:
This is just a summary, the full recipe is below. Begin by preheating your oven to 400°F. This ensures that your casserole cooks evenly and achieves that perfect golden brown finish.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the chopped cooked chicken and crumbled bacon (setting aside 2 tablespoons for later). Next, add the sour cream, cream of chicken soup, ranch seasoning mix, and shredded cheddar cheese. Mix everything together until well combined.
Spread the mixture evenly into the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish. This forms the delicious base of your casserole. Take the 32-ounce bag of frozen tater tots and spread them evenly over the top of the chicken and bacon mixture. This layer will become crispy and golden as it bakes. Bake for approximately 40 minutes. Keep an eye on it and remove it once the tater tots are golden brown and crispy.
Once your casserole is out of the oven, sprinkle the reserved bacon and sliced green onions on top for an extra burst of flavor and color. This is such a hearty meal on its own that I do not serve it with anything else. But a green vegetable, a dinner salad or even some rolls or garlic bread would pair well with this!
If you do make this recipe, please leave a comment and a rating! I love hearing from you and it helps so much! Thank you!
Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 lb Cooked and chopped or shredded chicken See notes above on how to prepare the chicken
- 1 lb Cooked, crumbled bacon set aside about 2 tbsp for topping
- 16 oz Sour Cream
- 1 Cream of Chicken Soup
- 1 Packet Ranch Seasoning Mix
- 2 Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese or any flavor of cheese you like
- 32 oz Frozen Tater Tots
- 2 tbsp Sliced Green Onions optional for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
- In a large bowl, mix together all of the ingredients except for the reserved bacon, the green onions and the tater tots.
- Spread that into a 9×13 baking dish and top with the tater tots.
- Bake for approximately 40 minutes or until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy. Top with the reserved bacon and the green onions. Serve hot and enjoy!
