Crispy Tater Tot Casserole (Printable Version)

Golden tater tots atop a creamy chicken and vegetable layered casserole, perfect for warm family meals.

# What You Need:

→ 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 whole 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 ground 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)

# How-to Steps:

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 black pepper until well blended.
03 - Evenly spread the chicken and vegetable mixture into the prepared baking dish.
04 - Arrange frozen tater tots in a single, even layer on top of the chicken mixture.
05 - Bake uncovered for 35 minutes, or until tater tots are golden and crispy.
06 - Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup cheddar cheese over the tater tots. Return to oven and bake an additional 5 to 10 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.
07 - Remove from oven; let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Golden crispy tater tots on top mean every bite has that satisfying crunch, not just soggy potatoes.
  • The creamy filling underneath is comfort food that somehow sneaks in vegetables nobody will complain about.
  • It comes together in 15 minutes of prep and then the oven does the heavy lifting while you can actually relax.
02 -
  • Don't thaw the tater tots before using them, or they'll get soft and won't crisp up the way you want them to—frozen straight into the oven is the whole secret.
  • If your casserole looks like it's browning too fast on top before the inside is done, lay a sheet of foil loosely over it for the last 10 minutes.
03 -
  • Use a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store to skip the cooking step entirely—shred it right there in the deli section and you're saving 30 minutes.
  • Stir everything except the tater tots the night before and store it in the fridge, then just add the tater tots and bake when you're ready to eat, cutting your active cooking time to nothing on the actual day.
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