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This chicken tater tot casserole is a family-friendly, easy dinner recipe for busy nights! The cozy one dish meal is full of shredded chicken and corn in a creamy sauce, and then finished off with a layer of melted cheddar cheese and a crispy potato topping.
Table of Contents
You can’t beat the convenience of this easy chicken tater tot casserole for a simple and hearty meal that the whole family will love! You get protein, veggies, and potatoes in one pan — which means that you don’t even have to worry about the sides. It’s a perfect solution for busy weeknights!
Ingredients for a Cheesy Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
This is just a quick overview of the ingredients that you’ll need for a chicken tater tot casserole with cream of chicken soup and cream of mushroom soup. As always, specific measurements and step-by-step cooking instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.
- Condensed cream of mushroom soup and condensed cream of chicken soup: these act as the binder that holds the filling together, giving the dish a creamy, rich texture and flavor. Use “Healthy Request,” “98% fat free,” or “low sodium” varieties if desired.
- Milk or chicken broth: to thin the sauce. Milk gives the sauce a creamier texture, but chicken broth works fine, too. Whatever you prefer!
- Garlic powder and onion powder: for savory flavor.
- Cooked, shredded or diced chicken: rotisserie chicken is a great shortcut for a quick-prep meal. See my notes below if you’d like to cook your own chicken at home.
- Frozen corn kernels: you don’t even need to thaw the corn before stirring it right into the casserole filling. Canned corn or other canned veggies are also fine!
- Kosher salt and ground black pepper: to enhance the other flavors in the dish.
- Cheddar cheese: adds extra cheesy flavor on top of the casserole. You can use extra cheese and stir it into the filling, too. Feel free to sub with Pepper Jack, Colby, Colby Jack, Monterey Jack, mozzarella, or Swiss cheese.
- Tater Tots: these frozen mini hash brown potatoes create a flavorful, crispy topping on the dish. You do not need to thaw the tater tots before adding them to the casserole.
The Best Chicken for a Casserole
You’ll need cooked chicken for this recipe, and a variety of options will work. Pick the most convenient method for you:
- Boiled and Pulled Chicken: Boil about 2 lbs. of boneless, skinless chicken breasts or boneless skinless chicken thighs until cooked through (about 15-20 minutes). When cool enough to handle, chop or pull the chicken and use in the recipe.
- Rotisserie Chicken: This is a great shortcut! Purchase a large rotisserie chicken (or two small chickens) from the grocery store, shred the meat or dice into bite-sized pieces, and use in the recipe as instructed.
- Leftover Chicken: If you have leftover grilled or baked chicken from a previous meal, put those extras to good use in this casserole.
- Canned Chicken: Yep, you can even use canned chicken in this casserole!
How to Make Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
This tater tot casserole with chicken comes together with minimal prep time, thanks to a handful of kitchen shortcuts and convenient ingredients. The full instructions are included in the recipe card at the bottom of the post, but here’s the quick version:
- Whisk together the soups, milk, and seasoning.
- Stir in the chicken and corn.
- Transfer the chicken mixture to a large casserole dish.
- Sprinkle with cheese.
- Arrange the tater tots on top.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes, until the topping is crispy and golden brown.
Serving Suggestions
If you’d like to round out the meal with a side dish, here are some easy options that go well with the tater tot casserole:
- 3-Ingredient Buttermilk Biscuits, Sweet Potato Biscuits, Flaky Biscuits, Cheese Biscuits, or Drop Biscuits
- Cranberry Muffins or Apple Muffins
- Pumpkin Bread or Pumpkin Muffins
- Crusty French Baguette, Soft Dinner Rolls, or Homemade Crescent Rolls
- Green Salad with Red Wine Vinaigrette, Mixed Greens with Dijon Vinaigrette, Caesar Salad, or our favorite House Salad with Candied Pecans
- Fried Corn
- Southern Fried Apples, Baked Apple Slices, or Applesauce
- Roasted Asparagus or Sauteed Asparagus
- Amish Green Beans with Brown Butter or Southern-Style Green Beans
- Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower or Roasted Broccoli
- Oven-Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon or Roasted Root Vegetables
- Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
- Cranberry Sauce
Preparation and Storage
- Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- To reheat a baked casserole, warm it in a 325°F oven (uncovered) until heated through. You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave; however, the topping will not be as crispy.
- To freeze the Tater Tot hotdish, assemble as instructed, and then wrap tightly with foil before baking. The casserole will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. The casserole can go directly from the freezer to the oven (as long as it’s in a freezer-to-oven safe dish). If baking the casserole from frozen, you’ll need to cover the casserole for about 45 minutes, and then remove the cover and continue baking for an additional 40-45 minutes, or until warmed through.
Chicken Tater Tot Casserole Recipe Variations
- Just about any condensed cream soup flavors will work. You can use two cans of cream of celery, two cans of cream of mushroom, two cans of cream of chicken, or any combination of the above.
- Add other vegetables to the casserole. For instance, swap out some of the corn and use frozen cut green beans instead. You might like to substitute frozen mixed vegetables for the corn, or sauté some sliced fresh mushrooms in a skillet and add them to the dish as well. Canned vegetables will work, too.
- Make it an extra cheesy casserole by adding grated cheese to the filling. Any good melting cheese will work, so feel free to swap out the cheddar and use Monterey Jack cheese, Colby, Colby Jack, mozzarella, Swiss, or American.
- Crock Pot Method: Place the chicken filling into the bottom of a slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for about 2 hours or on HIGH for about 1 hour, or until heated through. Sprinkle with cheese during the final 30 minutes. Bake the tater tots in the oven according to package directions. Sprinkle the crispy baked tots over the casserole just before serving.
Tips for the Best Tater Tot Casserole with Chicken
- You do not need to thaw the corn or the tater tots before assembling the casserole.
- If you’d like the topping even crispier, transfer the dish to the broiler for a couple of minutes at the very end. Keep a close eye on it, though — the potatoes can burn quickly.
- For even more flavor on top, sprinkle French fried onions over the tater tots during the final 5-10 minutes.
- Garnish the casserole with chopped fresh herbs or sliced green onion for a bright, flavorful finishing touch. Good options include fresh parsley, basil, thyme, or chives.
More Chicken Casserole Recipes to Try
Chicken and Rice Casserole
35 mins
Chicken Pot Pie with Puff Pastry
1 hr 20 mins
Chicken and Noodle Casserole
45 mins
And be sure to check out this convenient collection of more than 50 of the Best Chicken Casserole Recipes!
Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Total: 55 minutes
This cheesy chicken tater tot casserole is easy comfort food — with just 10 minutes of prep!
Ingredients
- 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
- 1 soup can milk or chicken broth (about 1 ¼ cups)
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- 4 cups cooked, shredded chicken (such as the meat from a store-bought rotisserie chicken)
- 4 cups frozen corn kernels
- Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 cup grated cheddar cheese (or more to taste)
- 4 cups (about 16 ounces) frozen Tater Tots
- Optional garnish: chopped fresh parsley or chopped green onions or chives
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish or spray with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, milk, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Stir in the chicken and corn. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle cheddar cheese over top. Arrange tater tots in a single layer on top of the casserole.
- Bake, uncovered, until the filling is hot and bubbly and the tots are crispy and golden brown, about 40-45 minutes. For even crispier tots, transfer the dish to the broiler for a couple of minutes at the end.
- Rest for 5-10 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley, chopped green onions, or chives just before serving.
Notes
- You do not need to thaw the corn or the tater tots before assembling the casserole.
- If you’d like the topping even crispier, transfer the dish to the broiler for a couple of minutes at the very end. Keep a close eye on it, though — the potatoes can burn quickly.
- For even more flavor on top, sprinkle French fried onions over the tater tots during the final 5-10 minutes.
Nutrition
Serving: 1/8 of the casseroleCalories: 417kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 32gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 78mgSodium: 823mgPotassium: 841mgFiber: 4gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 340IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 161mgIron: 2mg
