Description
Hearty chicken bacon ranch tater tot casserole brings comfort food to new heights with its irresistible blend of creamy, crispy layers. Savory ingredients meld together, creating a crowd-pleasing dish you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 3 cups cooked, shredded chicken
- 1 cup cooked, crumbled bacon
Dairy and Cheese:
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup additional shredded cheese
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 can (10.5 ounces / 298 grams) cream of chicken soup
Seasoning and Garnish:
- 1 packet (1 ounce / 28 grams) ranch seasoning mix
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onions
- 1 bag (32 ounces / 907 grams) frozen tater tots
Instructions
- Prepare the oven environment by heating to 375°F (190°C) and coating a 9×13-inch baking dish with a light layer of grease to prevent sticking.
- Create a velvety base by whisking cream of chicken soup, milk, and ranch seasoning mix in a spacious mixing bowl until the texture becomes uniformly smooth and well-incorporated.
- Enhance the mixture by gently folding in tender shredded chicken and crispy crumbled bacon, ensuring even distribution throughout the creamy sauce.
- Construct the casserole foundation by spreading the chicken and bacon mixture evenly across the prepared baking dish, then generously blanket the surface with shredded cheese.
- Meticulously arrange frozen tater tots in a precise single layer, covering the entire cheesy landscape to create a crispy potato topping.
- Transfer the assembled casserole to the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, watching for the tater tots to transform into a golden-brown, crunchy canopy.
- Extract the casserole and immediately crown it with an additional layer of shredded cheese and bacon bits, returning to the oven for a final 5-minute melting session.
- Allow the dish to rest and slightly cool for 5 minutes, then embellish with freshly chopped green onions or a decorative drizzle of ranch dressing before serving.
Notes
- Prep Ahead: Shred chicken and crumble bacon in advance to speed up the casserole assembly process.
- Lighter Version: Swap cream of chicken soup with Greek yogurt and use low-fat cheese to reduce calorie content.
- Gluten-Free Adaptation: Replace ranch seasoning mix with homemade herbs and use gluten-free cream of chicken soup.
- Vegetarian Twist: Substitute chicken with diced vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, and swap bacon for plant-based protein alternatives.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 675
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 1200 mg
- Fat: 42 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg