Looking to try a tater tot casserole with chicken? Much like the classic ground beef version, this chicken tater tot casserole recipe is super simple to make, with easy-to-find ingredients. Great for a quick weeknight dinner or a way to use leftover chicken.
If you love the classic tater tot casserole with ground beef, this chicken version is one you’ll want to try. Made with simple ingredients, this easy chicken casserole recipe is fantastic for when you want to throw something together quickly for dinner.
Ingredients for this casserole are easy to find and economical. You can use leftover chicken, rotisserie chicken or frozen chicken for this recipe. The tater tots, and vegetables can come right from the frozen foods section.
In this post I’ll show you how to quickly and easily prep this casserole in the time it takes to preheat the oven. I’ll also give you tips on which tools to use and ingredient swaps.
What do I need to make chicken tater tot casserole?
- Pre-cooked chicken – for this recipe, you can either use shredded chicken, store-bought rotisserie chicken or frozen pre-cooked chicken (pictured below). I personally like to use the hand-pulled rotisserie chicken breast meat from Costco (pictured below). Check out all the 15 Things I Buy at Costco for Healthy Meals and Snacks.
- Frozen tater tots – these are found in the frozen foods section with the rest of the frozen potatoes and French fries.
- Frozen peas and carrots – if you would prefer to use another vegetable other than peas and carrots, you could also use broccoli, cauliflower, carrots or a mix of all three.
- Cream of Chicken Soup – a traditional base in most casseroles, Cream of Chicken soup can also be substituted with Cream of Mushroom soup as well.
- Milk – any dairy milk, like skim, 2% or whole milk can be used.
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese – I used a mild cheddar cheese, however, feel free to use sharp cheddar, white cheddar, Monterrey Jack or any other cheddar blend.
For exact ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the post for the recipe. Thanks!
What chicken is best to use in a casserole?
I have found that pre-cooked rotisserie chicken or diced frozen chicken works the best for baked chicken casseroles. These are quick to prep, economical and can be easily frozen for later.
The hand-pulled rotisserie chicken breast meat is from Costco, and the Tyson’s Oven Roasted Diced Chicken Breast meat is found in the frozen foods section at Target.
Need more chicken recipe ideas? Be sure to check out my post for 30 Easy One Pan Chicken Recipes where I highlight ideas for cooking chicken breasts, thighs, pre-cooked rotisserie chicken and chicken sausage.
How do I make tater tot casserole with chicken?
The prep for this casserole is quick and can be done in less than 10 minutes, or in the time it takes to preheat the oven.
Begin by mixing together the cream of chicken soup with the milk, salt and pepper. Add in the chicken and vegetables. Stir the ingredients together so everything is well coated.
Pour the chicken mixture into the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish or pan. Top the mixture with shredded cheddar cheese. Add on the frozen tater tots.
Bake the casserole. About 10 minutes before being done, top the tater tots with the reserved cheddar cheese. Bake for another 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
Ingredient Substitutions and Recommendations:
- Vegetables – instead of the frozen peas and carrots, you could use frozen broccoli, cauliflower, carrots or a vegetable mix. Canned vegetables can also be used.
- Soup – instead of cream of chicken soup, you could use another creamed soup option, like cream of mushroom, onion or celery. Rather use a home soup instead of canned? Check out this Homemade Cream of Chicken recipe by A Mind Full Mom.
- Tater Tots – if tater tots are unavailable, you could also use mini tots or frozen hash brown patties.
- Cheese – instead of shredded cheddar, you could also use sharp cheddar, shredded jack or any other shredded cheddar blend, like Mexican blend. You can also shred your own cheeses, if you prefer.
For exact ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions be sure to scroll down to the recipe at the bottom of the post. Thanks!
Love a side dish casserole recipe? Check out our recipes for Ruth’s Chris Sweet Potato Casserole and our Slow Cooker Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole.
What pan is best for chicken tater tot casserole recipe?
For this tater tot casserole with chicken I recommend using a 9 x 13 baking dish, like this 9 x 13″ Pyrex Baking Dish. It’s ideal for baking casseroles and comes with a lid for easy refrigeration and storage. You could also use a metal 9 x 13″ pan.
What can I serve with tater tot casserole?
This comfort food dish is great served with a cold, crisp side salad. Here are some of our favorite side salad ideas:
- Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad
- Blueberry Spring Mix Salad
- Kale Apple Salad
- Side Salad with one of our homemade dressings, like Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing, Healthy Caesar Dressing, Lemon Olive Oil Dressing, Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing Recipe or Healthy Homemade Italian Dressing Recipe.
Love a great casserole recipe? Here are more of our casserole recipe ideas:
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Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
Equipment
- 9 x 13" Baking Dish This classic Pyrex 9 x 13" glass baking dish is a must-have tool in every kitchen!
- Mixing Bowls These stainless steel mixing bowls are an essential cooking tool for every kitchen.
- Rubber Scrapers These Cuisinart rubber scraper spatulas are fantastic for fillings, batters, and so much more!
Ingredients
- 2 (10.5 oz. cans) cream of chicken soup
- 1/2 cup milk skim, 2% or whole milk can be used
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 3 cups pre-cooked chicken diced or shredded
- 1 (16 oz. pkg.) frozen peas and carrots thawed
- 1 (8 oz. pkg.) shredded cheddar cheese divided
- 1 (32 oz. pkg.) frozen tater tots
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly spray a 9 x 13" baking dish with non-stick spray. Set prepared baking dish aside.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the soup, milk, salt and pepper until combined. Add in the chicken and thawed peas and carrots. (Frozen peas and carrots can be microwaved for 2-3 minutes until no longer frozen.) Stir ingredients together until well coated in the soup mixture.
- Pour the chicken and soup mixture into the prepared baking dish. Spread evenly with a rubber scraper into the bottom of the pan. Top the chicken mixture with 1 1/2 cups of the shredded cheese, reserving the remaining 1/2 cup for topping the casserole. On top of the cheese layer, add on the package of frozen tater tots into an even layer. (Tots don't need to be thawed.)
- Bake the casserole for 28-30 minutes or until the tater tots are golden brown. Remove from oven and sprinkle on the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheese on top of the tater tots. Bake for another 5 minutes until the cheese is melted.
- Remove from oven and let cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
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