This mouthwatering Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole combines everyone’s favorite comfort food ingredients into one spectacular dish! Tender chicken, crispy bacon, and golden tater tots come together with creamy ranch goodness to create a family-friendly meal that’s ready in just an hour. Perfect for busy weeknights when you need something satisfying that doesn’t require hours in the kitchen!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ultimate Comfort Food: The combination of crispy tater tots, creamy sauce, tender chicken, and bacon creates the perfect comfort food experience.
- Family Favorite: Even picky eaters can’t resist this casserole – it brings together kid-friendly flavors that adults love too!
- Make-Ahead Friendly: You can prep components ahead of time for an even quicker dinner solution when you’re short on time.
- One-Dish Wonder: Everything cooks together in a single baking dish, meaning fewer dishes to clean afterward.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Shredded Chicken: The protein foundation of this dish – use rotisserie chicken for an extra time-saving hack or cook your own.
- Cream of Chicken Soup: Creates the creamy base that brings everything together with minimal effort.
- Sour Cream: Adds tanginess and creaminess that perfectly complements the ranch flavor.
- Milk: Thins the sauce to the perfect consistency without making it watery.
- Ranch Seasoning: The star flavoring that gives this casserole its distinctive taste – use the packet kind for convenience.
- Colby Jack Cheese: Melts beautifully for that irresistible cheese pull – feel free to substitute with cheddar or a Mexican blend.
- Bacon: Adds smoky, savory flavor and crispy texture contrast – everything’s better with bacon!
- Tater Tots: The crispy crown that makes this casserole special – no need to thaw them before baking.
- Green Onions: Adds fresh flavor and color as a garnish, cutting through the richness of the dish.
Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Variations
Make It Spicy
Add a diced jalapeño to the chicken mixture or stir in a few dashes of hot sauce for some heat.
Veggie Boost
Mix in some frozen peas, corn, or diced bell peppers to the chicken mixture for added nutrition.
Buffalo Style
Substitute buffalo sauce for half the ranch seasoning and top with blue cheese crumbles instead of Colby Jack.
Breakfast Version
Add scrambled eggs to the mixture and use breakfast sausage instead of chicken for a morning twist.
How to Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole
Step 1: Prepare Your Ingredients
Preheat your oven to 375°F and grease a 9×13 baking dish. Make sure your chicken is shredded and bacon is cooked and crumbled before starting.
Step 2: Create the Creamy Base
In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, condensed cream of chicken soup, sour cream, milk, ranch seasoning, and 1 cup of the shredded cheese. Mix until everything is well incorporated and the chicken is evenly coated.
Step 3: Layer the Casserole
Transfer your chicken mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading it into an even layer. Sprinkle half of your crumbled bacon pieces over the chicken mixture.
Step 4: Add the Tater Tot Topping
Arrange the frozen tater tots in an even layer across the top of the casserole. You can place them in neat rows or just scatter them evenly – either way works perfectly!
Step 5: Bake to Golden Perfection
Bake the casserole for about 30 minutes until it’s bubbling around the edges and the tater tots are starting to turn golden brown.
Step 6: Add the Finishing Touches
Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top of the casserole and return it to the oven for another 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and slightly golden.
Step 7: Garnish and Serve
Top the finished casserole with the remaining bacon crumbles and sliced green onions just before serving.
Pro Tips for Making the Recipe
- Don’t Overcook the Chicken: If cooking chicken specifically for this recipe, be careful not to overcook it as it will continue cooking in the oven.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Let your sour cream and milk come closer to room temperature before mixing for smoother incorporation.
- Cheese Shield: If your tater tots need more time to crisp but your cheese is getting too brown, cover loosely with foil for the last few minutes.
- Drain the Bacon: Make sure to drain your bacon well on paper towels after cooking to prevent excess grease in the casserole.
- Customize the Consistency: If you prefer a thicker base, reduce the milk slightly; for a thinner sauce, add an extra splash.
How to Serve
Perfect Pairings
Serve this hearty casserole with a simple green salad dressed with a light vinaigrette to balance the richness.
Family Style
Bring the whole baking dish to the table and let everyone serve themselves – it’s a crowd-pleaser that looks as good as it tastes.
Complete Meal
Add a side of steamed broccoli or green beans for a complete meal with a vegetable component.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The flavors actually develop nicely as it sits!
Freezing
This casserole freezes beautifully both before and after baking. To freeze before baking, assemble everything except the tater tots and cheese topping. When ready to bake, thaw overnight in the refrigerator, add the tots and follow the original baking instructions.
For freezing after baking, cool completely, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil, and freeze for up to 2 months.
Reheating
For best results, reheat individual portions in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. To reheat the entire casserole, cover with foil and bake at 350°F for about 20-25 minutes.
For crispier tots when reheating, pop your portion under the broiler for a minute after microwaving.
FAQs
-
Can I use turkey instead of chicken?
Absolutely! Leftover Thanksgiving turkey works wonderfully in this recipe, making it a great post-holiday meal. Just substitute an equal amount of shredded turkey for the chicken and follow the recipe as written.
-
What if I don’t have ranch seasoning packet?
No problem! You can make your own by combining 1 tablespoon dried parsley, 1 teaspoon each of dried dill and garlic powder, and ½ teaspoon each of onion powder, salt, and pepper. This homemade mix will give you that ranch flavor without the packet.
-
Can I make this casserole ahead of time?
Yes! You can assemble the casserole up to 24 hours in advance, cover and refrigerate. When ready to bake, add about 10 minutes to the baking time since you’ll be starting with a cold casserole.
-
My family doesn’t like tater tots. Can I use something else?
Definitely! Try using frozen hash browns, crispy crowns, or even crushed potato chips for a different but equally delicious crunchy topping. The cooking time may vary slightly, so keep an eye on your casserole.
Final Thoughts
This Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole is truly a game-changer for busy weeknights when you want something deeply satisfying without spending hours in the kitchen. With its irresistible combination of crispy tots, creamy ranch sauce, and savory bacon, it’s the kind of meal that brings everyone to the table with smiles. Give it a try tonight – I’m confident it will quickly become a requested favorite in your meal rotation!
Print
Easy Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 5 servings 1x
- Category: Main-course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Halal
Description
This easy Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole is a comforting, family-friendly main course made with layers of tender shredded chicken, creamy ranch sauce, crispy bacon, melty Colby Jack cheese, and golden tater tots. It’s quick to prepare and perfect for weeknight dinners or potlucks.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 3 cups shredded cooked chicken
- 10.5 oz condensed cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 tbsp dry ranch seasoning
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese, divided
- 4 slices cooked, crumbled bacon, divided
- 5 cups frozen tater tots
- 1/4 cup sliced green onions, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven & Prepare Baking Dish: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Mix Chicken and Sauce: In a large bowl, combine the shredded cooked chicken, condensed cream of chicken soup, sour cream, milk, dry ranch seasoning, and 1 cup of the shredded Colby Jack cheese. Stir until the mixture is smooth and well blended.
- Assemble Base Layer: Spread the chicken and sauce mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish, smoothing the top with a spatula.
- Add Bacon and Tater Tots: Sprinkle half of the crumbled bacon evenly over the chicken mixture. Then, arrange the frozen tater tots in a single, even layer over the entire dish.
- Bake the Casserole: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes, until the tater tots begin to turn golden and the casserole is bubbling.
- Add Cheese & Finish Baking: Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of Colby Jack cheese evenly over the top. Return it to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
- Top and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and top with the remaining crumbled bacon and sliced green onions. Allow to cool for a few minutes before serving for best results.
Notes
- For extra flavor, use smoked bacon or add a sprinkle of paprika to the cheese layer.
- Rotisserie chicken works great for convenience.
- Customize by adding vegetables like frozen peas or broccoli between the chicken and tater tot layers.
- This casserole is kid-friendly and makes great leftovers.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/5 of casserole
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 1160mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 100mg
