Description
Hearty chicken bacon ranch tater tot casserole delivers comfort and flavor in one satisfying dish. Ranch-seasoned layers combine creamy textures with crispy potato tots, creating a crowd-pleasing meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 4 cooked and shredded chicken breasts
- 6 slices of cooked bacon (or microwave bacon)
Dairy and Cheese:
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mild cheddar cheese
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing
- 3 tablespoons butter
Base and Thickeners:
- 32 ounces (907 grams) bag of frozen tater tots
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for the casserole’s baking process.
- Render bacon until crisp and golden, then pat dry and crumble into small pieces. For convenience, pre-cooked bacon works equally well.
- Transform chicken breasts into tender shreds by cooking thoroughly, ensuring no pink remains visible.
- Craft a velvety ranch sauce by melting butter and whisking in flour, creating a roux. Gradually incorporate milk, stirring continuously until the mixture thickens and smooths out. Remove from heat and blend in ranch dressing, seasoning with salt and pepper for enhanced flavor.
- Integrate shredded chicken, crumbled bacon, and prepared ranch sauce in a large mixing bowl, blending ingredients until evenly distributed. Transfer the mixture to a 9×13-inch baking dish, creating an uniform base layer.
- Strategically arrange frozen tater tots across the chicken mixture in a single, organized layer. Generously scatter shredded cheddar cheese over the tot surface, ensuring complete coverage.
- Slide the casserole into the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes. Look for golden-brown tater tots and completely melted, bubbling cheese as indicators of perfect doneness.
- Allow the casserole to rest for 3-5 minutes after removing from oven, which helps set the layers and intensifies flavors before serving.
Notes
- Swap out tater tots for cauliflower or sweet potato tots to create a lower-carb alternative that still delivers incredible flavor and crunch.
- Use rotisserie chicken for a quicker preparation method that saves time without compromising taste and texture of the casserole.
- Consider adding diced green onions or chives on top for a fresh burst of color and additional layer of flavor complexity after baking.
- For a gluten-free version, replace regular flour with cornstarch or gluten-free flour blend when making the ranch sauce to accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg