Description
Comfort meets indulgence in this chicken bacon ranch tater tot casserole, where crispy potatoes, tender chicken, and savory bacon mingle with creamy ranch goodness. Hearty and satisfying, you’ll savor every cheesy, flavorful bite of this irresistible midwestern-style comfort dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 3 cups shredded cooked chicken
- 4 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
Dairy and Seasoning:
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 1/2 cups shredded colby jack cheese (divided)
- 1/2 cup milk
- 10.5 ounces (298 grams) can condensed cream of chicken soup
- 2 tablespoons dry ranch seasoning
Topping and Garnish:
- 5 cups frozen tater tots
- 1/4 cup sliced green onions (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the kitchen workspace and set oven temperature to 375F (190C), lightly coating a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Create a creamy mixture by thoroughly blending shredded chicken, condensed cream of chicken soup, sour cream, milk, dry ranch seasoning, and a portion of Colby Jack cheese until smooth and uniform.
- Distribute the chicken mixture evenly across the greased baking dish, ensuring complete coverage of the bottom surface.
- Scatter the first half of crumbled bacon pieces over the chicken layer, providing initial flavor depth.
- Carefully arrange frozen tater tots in a precise, overlapping grid pattern to maximize coverage and crispiness.
- Place the casserole in preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes, allowing ingredients to meld and cook thoroughly.
- Sprinkle remaining cheese over the tater tots, returning the dish to the oven for an additional 10 minutes until cheese melts and tots turn golden brown.
- Remove casserole from oven and immediately garnish with remaining bacon crumbles and freshly sliced green onions.
- Let the dish rest for 3-5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to settle and casserole to slightly cool.
Notes
- Swap bacon for turkey bacon or tempeh bacon to create a lighter, healthier version that still delivers incredible flavor and crunch.
- Use gluten-free cream of chicken soup and ranch seasoning to make this dish celiac-friendly without compromising taste.
- Enhance nutrition by adding diced vegetables like broccoli or spinach directly into the chicken mixture for extra vitamins and color.
- For a spicier kick, sprinkle red pepper flakes or add diced jalapeños before baking to give the casserole a zesty twist.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 445 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 29 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg