Julie Clark
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Creamy Chicken Tater Tot Casserole with Crispy Tops Every Time
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If your chicken tater tot casserole has ever turned out watery or soggy, this recipe fixes that. Perfect for even the pickiest eater.
This chicken tater tot casserole bakes up creamy and rich underneath with a golden, crispy layer of tater tots on top. It’s built for busy nights using simple ingredients like cooked chicken, frozen veggies, and a creamy cheese base, but with a few key tricks that make the texture turn out right every time.
It’s also one of my favorite ways to use leftover chicken. I’ll often make a batch of oven roasted chicken or grab a rotisserie chicken just to have this ready for the week. Kids love our ritz cracker chicken casserole, too!
A chicken tater tot casserole that works every time.
This chicken tater tot casserole is designed to come out creamy, not watery, with a crisp top.
- The bake time is long enough to heat through without overcooking
- Cream cheese thickens the filling so it holds together
- Bacon adds salt and flavor so it doesn’t taste flat
- Frozen tater tots go on top so they stay crisp, not soft
And it’s a great make ahead recipe!
One of my meal planning hacks it to bake 3 or 4 whole chickens, then freeze the meat for leftover chicken casseroles such as buffalo chicken casserole, chicken and stuffing casserole, chicken hash brown casserole and nacho chicken casserole.
This comforting chicken recipe takes the traditional tater tot casserole and adds chicken, cheese, veggies and bacon for the creamiest chicken tater tot casserole recipe.
Try our stuffed zucchini boat, too!
Ingredients for Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
This is a classic comfort food ingredient list with a few upgrades for flavor.
- Cooked chicken. Rotisserie, leftover grilled chicken, shredded chicken or slow cooker whole chicken all work well.
- Cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and cream cheese. This combination gives the casserole a thick, creamy texture instead of a runny filling. Don’t want to use canned soup? Make homemade cream of chicken soup.
- Shredded cheese. Colby jack melts smoothly and adds flavor. Cheddar cheese is an option, too.
- Bacon. Adds salt and depth that most casseroles are missing.
- Mixed vegetables. Use frozen or canned, just make sure they’re drained well.
- Frozen tater tots. No need to thaw.
- Green onions, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
✨ For complete ingredients and amounts, see the recipe card below. ✨
How to Make Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
Make this easy chicken casserole in 4 steps.
- Prepare. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Spray a 9×13″ baking dish with cooking spray.
- Mix the creamy sauce. Combine the cream of chicken soup, sour cream, cream cheese, 1 cup of shredded cheese, garlic powder, and salt and pepper. I mix right in the baking pan, but you can mix in a large bowl first if you prefer.
- Add the remaining ingredients. Mix in the mixed vegetables, chicken, green onions, and all but ½ cup of bacon into the cream cheese mixture.
- Top and bake. Top with the frozen tater tots. Bake for 40-45 minutes till the tater tots are brown. Then top with ½ cup of cheese and ½ cup of bacon crumbles and bake for another 5 minutes till the cheese is melted.
How to Keep Tater Tot Casserole from Getting Watery
A chicken tater tot casserole should be thick and creamy, not runny.
- Drain vegetables well before adding
- Use full-fat cream cheese for a thicker base
- Don’t add extra liquid
- Bake uncovered so moisture can evaporate
- Let the casserole sit 5 to 10 minutes before serving so it sets up
Do You Cook Tater Tots Before Adding to Casserole?
No. Add tater tots frozen.
They will cook through in the oven and crisp up on top while the filling bakes underneath. Pre-cooking them can actually make them overdone.
Variations That Work Well
This recipe is flexible depending on what you have.
- Swap cream of chicken for cream of mushroom or celery
- Use broccoli, peas, or green beans instead of mixed vegetables
- Add ranch seasoning for extra flavor
- Skip bacon or replace with ham
Make It a Full Dinner
This is a hearty main dish, but adding a simple side rounds it out.
- Serve with a green salad or classic side salad recipes
- Add roasted vegetables like brussels sprouts or roasted asparagus.
- Pair with homemade dinner rolls to soak up the sauce
Storing, Freezing and Making Ahead
This casserole stores in the fridge or freezer and reheats well, which makes it great for meal planning.
- Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 to 5 days
- Reheat in the oven or air fryer to keep the tots crisp
- Microwave works for quick leftovers, but the top will soften
To freeze: Assemble the casserole but do not bake. Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 6 weeks.
To bake from chilled: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then bake in the preheated oven as directed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my tater tot casserole watery?
Most often it’s from vegetables releasing moisture. Always drain canned vegetables and thaw frozen ones before adding.
Can I make this without canned soup?
Yes. You can use a homemade cream sauce or a homemade cream of chicken soup substitute.
What kind of chicken works best?
Any cooked chicken works. Rotisserie chicken is the fastest option, but leftover baked or grilled chicken works just as well.
Other Recipes You’ll Love
- chicken pot pie
- sweet potato casserole
- how to get picky eaters to eat beef
- garlic butter parmesan chicken
- cheeseburger soup recipe
Want a ground beef casserole? Try our cheeseburger tater tot casserole.
Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
Creamy, never watery chicken tater tot casserole with simple ingredients and tested tips for a crispy top and perfect texture every time.
Servings 10
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 pound bacon cooked and crumbled
- 1 pound cooked chicken
- 10.5 ounces cream of chicken soup 1 can
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 8 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Colby jack cheese divided
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup mixed veggies drained
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions
- 32 ounces frozen tater tots
Instructions
- This recipe calls for cooked bacon and chicken. If it is not yet cooked, do that as the first step. Then dice chicken into bite-size pieces. 1 pound bacon, 1 pound cooked chicken
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Spray a 9×13" casserole dish with cooking spray.
- Combine the cream of chicken soup, sour cream, cream cheese, 1 cup of shredded cheese, garlic powder, and salt and pepper. 10.5 ounces cream of chicken soup, ½ cup sour cream, 8 ounces cream cheese, 1 ½ cups shredded Colby jack cheese, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Mix in the mixed vegetables, chicken, green onions, and all but ½ cup of bacon into the cream cheese mixture. 1 cup mixed veggies, ¼ cup chopped green onions
- Top with the frozen tater tots. Bake for 40-45 minutes till the tater tots are brown. Then top with ½ cup of cheese and ½ cup of bacon crumbles and bake for another 5 minutes till the cheese is melted. 32 ounces frozen tater tots
Notes
- Add any veggies you’d like! Broccoli, frozen peas and carrots are two popular options.
- Switch out the cream soup for cream of mushroom or cream of celery.
Nutrition
Calories: 646kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 47g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 113mg | Sodium: 1263mg | Potassium: 552mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1589IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 185mg | Iron: 2mg
