Crispy Tater Tot Casserole (Print View)

Golden tater tots atop a creamy chicken and mixed vegetable filling baked to crispy perfection.

# Components:

→ Chicken Mixture

01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced
02 - 1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup
03 - 1/2 cup sour cream
04 - 1/2 cup milk
05 - 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn, green beans)
06 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
07 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
09 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
10 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
11 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Topping

12 - 1 (32 oz) bag frozen tater tots
13 - 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
14 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - In a large bowl, mix cooked chicken, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, milk, frozen mixed vegetables, 1 cup cheddar cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, salt, and pepper until well blended.
03 - Evenly spread the chicken and vegetable mixture into the prepared baking dish.
04 - Arrange frozen tater tots evenly in a single layer over the chicken mixture.
05 - Bake uncovered for 35 minutes, until tater tots are golden and crispy.
06 - Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup cheddar cheese over tater tots. Return to oven and bake an additional 5 to 10 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.
07 - Remove from oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 15 minutes of prep, leaving you free while the oven does the real work.
  • The crispy-versus-creamy contrast keeps every forkful interesting, and nobody ever leaves their plate half-full.
  • It scales beautifully for feeding a crowd or stretches a small amount of chicken into something genuinely satisfying.
02 -
  • Don't thaw the tater tots—frozen is essential because the ice keeps them crispy instead of greasy as they bake.
  • Spread your chicken mixture completely level before adding the tots; any thin spots will dry out, and any thick spots will stay creamy but won't brown as much.
  • The cheese topping in the final minutes is crucial; it creates a secondary layer of richness that binds everything together visually and texturally.
03 -
  • Use a metal spatula to spread the chicken mixture so you don't tear up the baking dish coating, and smooth it in gentle, broad strokes rather than jabbing.
  • If you're adding bacon, cook it until crispy, crumble it, and spread it as a thin layer over the chicken mixture before adding the tots—it won't get lost that way.
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