This Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole is a fun and delicious spin on the classic Tater Tot Hotdish! It replaces ground beef and vegetables with rotisserie chicken, crispy bacon, melty cheddar, and a creamy ranch-seasoned base. Topped with tater tots, more bacon, and a sprinkle of chives, it’s cozy, packed with flavor, and perfect with a drizzle of ranch dressing to tie all of the flavors together!
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Rotisserie Chicken: The protein in this tater tot casserole is rotisserie chicken. It is already cooked and ready to go, making it a convenient option! If you don’t have rotisserie chicken, use leftover shredded chicken, canned chicken, or even shredded turkey! (Add it to your leftover turkey recipes!)
- Cream of Chicken Soup: The condensed cream of chicken soup makes the base creamy and flavorful. If you don’t have cream of chicken, use cream of mushroom soup.
- Dry Ranch Seasoning: For that ranch flavor, I used my homemade dry ranch seasoning. It’s easy to make if you don’t have any on hand. Or, use a store-bought packet of dry ranch seasoning mix.
- Tater Tots: Look for a package of frozen tater tots for this casserole. I did not use all of them, about 3/4 of the package. But, it does depend on the size of your oven-safe skillet. If you don’t have tater tots, you could also use frozen hash browns, diced potatoes, or sweet potato tots.
- Bacon: I prefer thick-cut bacon so it really stands out in this casserole. Check out how to bake bacon for perfectly crispy bacon every time with easy clean-up! Regular bacon or turkey bacon would also work. Or, leave it out altogether; the casserole will still be delicious!
- Cheese: I used mild cheddar cheese, but you can certainly try using other kinds of cheese! I think Pepper Jack, Colby, or mozzarella would all be good!
- Ranch Dressing: Although optional, I think the ranch dressing drizzled over the casserole brings all of the flavors together. And, I would put my homemade ranch dressing on almost everything, it is so good!
Can You Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole Ahead Of Time?
Yes, you can definitely make this Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole ahead of time! Here’s a quick guide:
- Prepare the casserole up to the baking step: Assemble everything in your baking dish or skillet but don’t bake it yet.
- Cover and refrigerate: Keep it tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
- When ready to bake: Take it out of the refrigerator and bake as directed. Add a few extra minutes if baking straight from cold.
- Optional: You can also assemble and freeze it before baking. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then bake as usual.
Can You Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole Without an Oven-Safe Skillet?
Yes, you can definitely make Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole without an oven-safe skillet. Simply use a regular oven-safe baking dish such as a 9×13-inch glass, ceramic, or metal casserole dish. Just layer the chicken mixture, tater tots, cheese, and bacon as directed in the recipe, then bake in your preheated oven. Make sure the dish is large enough to hold all the ingredients evenly so they cook properly. This substitution works perfectly and won’t affect the delicious flavor or texture of your casserole.
How Do You Get Tater Tots Crispy in a Casserole?
To keep tater tots crispy, arrange them in a single, even layer on top and bake uncovered so steam doesn’t make them soggy. For extra crunch, finish with a quick broil. If broiling, watch carefully to avoid burning!
How to Store and Reheat Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. To reheat, warm individual portions in the microwave or reheat the whole casserole covered with foil in a 350°F oven until heated through. You can also freeze the casserole before baking. To freeze, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, then freeze for up to 2–3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before baking as directed.
Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 cup (230 g) sour cream
- 1 can (10.5 ounces) cream of chicken soup
- 3 tablespoons dry ranch seasoning
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 cups (560 g) rotisserie chicken, shredded and chopped
- 2 cups (226 g) mild cheddar cheese, shredded, divided
- 8 slices thick-cut bacon, cooked and crumbled, divided
- 1 package (32 ounces) frozen tater tots
- chives, chopped, for garnish
- ranch dressing, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- In a large bowl, stir together the sour cream, cream of chicken soup, ranch seasoning, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- Add the shredded chicken, 1 cup of cheddar cheese, and ½ cup of crumbled bacon. Stir until fully combined.
- Spread the chicken mixture evenly into the bottom of a 12-inch oven-safe skillet.
- Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single, even layer over the chicken mixture. (You may not need the entire bag; I used about ¾ of the package.)
- Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the filling is bubbling and the tater tots are golden brown and crispy.
- Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese over the top and return the skillet to the oven. Bake for an additional 5–10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
- Remove from the oven and top with the remaining crumbled bacon and chopped chives.
- Serve warm, with ranch dressing if desired.
Did you make this recipe?
You can tag me at @iamhomesteader.
What the Test Kitchen had to say about this recipe:
Autumn
This is so easy to throw together and the flavors are perfect together. I love it!
Elizabeth
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I like this casserole! I am more of a traditionalist with tater tot hotdish, but this was delicious!
Stephanie
This is great for using up leftover chicken! I will be making this again.
Bella
This is really comforting and super satisfying. I added a little hot sauce to mine and drizzled ranch over the top.
