This Chicken Tater Tot Casserole is shredded cooked chicken and frozen corn stirred into a creamy sauce of cream of mushroom soup, milk, garlic powder, and onion powder, topped with cheddar and a single layer of frozen tater tots, and baked at 400 degrees F until the tots are crisp and the filling is bubbling. More cheddar goes on for the last few minutes. It takes about 55 minutes, and one 9×13-inch dish serves 8.
In this Chicken Tater Tot Casserole, the tater tots go in straight from the freezer and turn crisp in the oven, while the chicken filling underneath stays creamy and cheesy. Every serving gets some of the crunchy potato top and some of the filling. The optional broil at the end takes a minute or two and turns the cheese on top golden.
The recipe uses shredded cooked chicken, and rotisserie chicken is the easiest choice, so there is no cooking before you put the dish together. Mix the sauce, stir in the chicken and corn, then spread it in the baking dish under cheese and tater tots and bake. To get ahead on a busy week, make the filling and the first layer of cheese the night before and refrigerate it in the dish, then add the frozen tater tots right before it goes in the oven.
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I needed a meal to feed my family for a get together and this recipe really came through. Ages 3 to 73, and everyone lived it!
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💛 Why you’ll love this recipe
- One dish, easy cleanup: everything assembles and bakes in a single 9×13-inch baking dish, so you are not washing a stack of pots and pans.
- About 15 minutes of prep: mix the base, stir in the chicken and corn, layer with cheese and tater tots, and the oven does the rest from there.
- Budget-friendly pantry and freezer staples: canned soup, frozen corn, frozen tater tots, and rotisserie chicken keep the grocery cost low.
- Make-ahead and freezer-friendly: make the filling a day ahead and refrigerate it, then add the frozen tater tots right before baking, or freeze baked leftovers in portions for another night.
- Flexible with substitutions: swap the vegetables, change the cheese, or dial the heat up or down to match what you have and who you are feeding.
- Feeds 8: sized right for a family dinner or a casual gathering without needing to scale anything.
➡️ Ingredients
⏲ How to make this recipe
This is an overview of the recipe’s instructions. The full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C). Grab a 9×13-inch baking dish and set it aside.
- Mix Together the Base: In a large bowl, mix together the cream of mushroom soup, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, and red pepper flakes. Once that’s well combined, stir in the shredded chicken and the frozen corn.
- Assemble in the Baking Dish: Pour the mixture into your baking dish. Sprinkle 1 cup of cheese on top, then arrange the tater tots in a single layer (you may have a few tater tots left over).
- Bake: Pop the dish into the oven. Bake until it’s bubbling, which will take about 30-35 minutes. Then, sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top and bake for another 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted. For an extra golden top, broil for 1-2 minutes on the top rack in your oven, watching closely to make sure it doesn’t burn.
- Serve: Let it cool a bit before you sprinkle on parsley and green onions or chives, if you like. Then, serve and enjoy.
👉 Easy ingredient swaps
- Cream of Mushroom Soup: Cream of chicken soup works as a direct swap; the finished dish will be a bit saltier, so taste before adding any extra salt at the table.
- Whole Milk: Any milk you have on hand works here, including a neutral-flavored plant-based milk.
- Garlic Powder and Onion Powder: For a fresher flavor, use two minced garlic cloves and half a diced onion in place of the dried spices. Sauté them for a few minutes before stirring into the base.
- Chicken: Canned chicken works in a pinch. Leftover cooked turkey is another solid option in the same quantity.
- Frozen Corn: Frozen peas, diced frozen carrots, or any frozen vegetable blend work well in the same amount.
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese: Mozzarella, gouda, swiss, or pepper jack all melt well here and shift the flavor slightly depending on which you choose.
- Red Pepper Flakes: Leave them out entirely for a milder dish, or increase the amount if you want more heat in the base.
- Tater Tots: Any brand of frozen tater tots works. The recipe calls for a 32-ounce package, and you may have a few left over after arranging them in a single layer across the top of the dish.
✨ Variations
- Spicy: Add an extra pinch of red pepper flakes to the base, or stir in a dash of your favorite hot sauce before layering into the dish.
- Meat Lovers: Mix cooked crumbled bacon or diced ham into the filling along with the shredded chicken for a heartier result.
- Veggie-Packed: Fold steamed broccoli florets, diced bell peppers, or sliced mushrooms into the base along with the corn before transferring to the baking dish.
- Tex-Mex: Stir a packet of salt-free taco seasoning into the chicken mixture and scatter sliced jalapeños over the top before baking.
- BBQ: Mix a few tablespoons of BBQ sauce into the chicken layer, then scatter crispy fried onions over the top during the last few minutes of baking.
- Ranch: Stir a packet of ranch seasoning into the base and set out ranch dressing at the table for people to drizzle over their own portions.
〰️ How to serve
- Vegetables: A green vegetable on the side cuts through the richness. Baked sliced zucchini, roasted broccoli, or steamed green beans all go well with this casserole.
- Salads: A crisp green salad or a simple cucumber salad adds a cool, fresh contrast to the hot, creamy filling.
- Bread: Honey Butter Skillet Cornbread is a sweet, buttery side next to the creamy casserole.
- Toppings at the table: Set out sour cream, hot sauce, or ranch so everyone can customize their own plate. For added crunch, scatter crispy fried onions or crushed crackers over the casserole during the final few minutes of baking.
💬 FAQs
Do the tater tots need to be thawed before baking?
No. The recipe uses them straight from frozen. Arrange them in a single layer over the cheese, and they cook through and crisp up during the 35-40 minutes in the oven. Thawing first would make them go soft instead of crisp.
Can I make this casserole ahead of time?
Yes. Spread the filling in the baking dish, sprinkle on the first cup of cheese, cover it tightly with foil, and refrigerate for up to one day. When you are ready to bake, arrange the frozen tater tots on top and bake as directed, adding a few extra minutes because the dish is cold from the refrigerator. Adding the tater tots at the last minute keeps them from thawing, so they still turn crisp.
How do I store and reheat leftovers?
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. To freeze, transfer to a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months; thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. Reheat in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes until heated through, or microwave individual portions in 30-second increments until hot throughout.
Can I use raw chicken instead of cooked?
The recipe calls for shredded cooked chicken. Rotisserie is the easiest option, but any pre-cooked and shredded chicken works. Raw chicken will not cook through reliably during the same time the tater tots and sauce take to bake, so use chicken that is already cooked before you start assembling.
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Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 cans (10.5 ounces each) cream of mushroom soup, (reduced sodium variety, if possible)
- ⅔ cup whole milk
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 3 cups (~1 pound) shredded cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken
- 16 ounces frozen corn
- 1 ½ cups shredded mild cheddar cheese (170 grams), divided
- 1 package (32 ounces) frozen tater tots
Optional Garnishes:
- Chopped fresh parsley
- Chopped green onions or chives
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C). Pull out and set aside a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Mix Together Base: To a large mixing bowl, add canned soup, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, and red pepper flakes. Mix together until combined. Then, stir in shredded chicken and frozen corn.
- Assemble in Baking Dish: Transfer mixture to baking dish. Sprinkle 1 cup of cheese on top, then arrange tater tots in a single layer (you may have a few tater tots left over).
- Bake: Transfer baking dish to oven and bake until bubbling, which will take about 30-35 minutes. Remove baking dish from oven, sprinkle remaining ½ cup shredded cheese on top, return dish back to oven and bake until cheese has melted, about 5 additional minutes. Optionally, transfer baking dish to top oven rack, turn on oven broil, and broil until cheese on top is golden, about 1-2 minutes; watch carefully to avoid burning.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove casserole from oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before, optionally, garnishing with chopped parsley and green onions or chives, then serving.
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