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Crispy Loaded Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole

chicken bacon ranch tater tot casserole - featured image
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A quick and easy casserole combining crispy tater tots, creamy ranch-infused chicken, smoky bacon, and melty cheese, perfect for busy family dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 32 ounces frozen tater tots
  • 3 cups cooked shredded chicken (about 12 ounces)
  • 6 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
  • 3/4 cup ranch dressing
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 2 cups shredded cheese (sharp cheddar and mozzarella mix)
  • 1/2 cup diced onion (about 1 small onion)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Chopped fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 6-8 minutes. Transfer to paper towel-lined plate and crumble once cool.
  3. Sauté diced onion in bacon fat or a bit of oil over medium heat until translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
  4. In a large bowl, combine shredded chicken, cooked onions, crumbled bacon (reserve some for topping), ranch dressing, sour cream, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt. Stir until evenly coated.
  5. Spread half of the frozen tater tots in the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish in a single layer.
  6. Spoon the chicken mixture evenly over the tater tots.
  7. Top with the remaining tater tots.
  8. Sprinkle shredded cheese evenly over the top layer and scatter reserved bacon crumbles.
  9. Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes until cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden, and tater tots are crisp. If cheese browns too fast, loosely cover with foil halfway through baking.
  10. Let casserole rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
  11. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired.

Notes

Do not thaw tater tots before baking to keep them crispy. Cook bacon until just crisp to avoid bitterness. Be gentle when mixing chicken with ranch and sour cream to keep chicken pieces intact. Spread tots in a single layer without overlapping to avoid sogginess. You can partially bake tots for 10 minutes before layering for extra crispiness. Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: tater tot casserole, chicken casserole, bacon ranch casserole, comfort food, easy dinner, family meal

Find it online: https://breezybake.com/crispy-loaded-chicken-bacon-ranch-tater-tot-casserole-recipe-easy-and-perfect-for-families/