Description
A comforting and hearty Chicken Tater Tot Casserole featuring a creamy chicken and vegetable base topped with crispy golden tater tots and melted cheddar cheese. Perfect for a family meal or entertaining guests, this casserole combines easy-to-find ingredients with simple preparation to deliver a delicious, satisfying dish.
Ingredients
Sauce and Filling Ingredients
- 2 cans (10-3/4 ounces each) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
- 1/2 cup 2% milk
- 1/4 cup butter, cubed
- 3 cups cubed cooked chicken
- 1 package (16 ounces) frozen peas and carrots, thawed
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Topping
- 1 package (32 ounces) frozen Tater Tots
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (divided as 1 cup for sauce mix and 1/2 cup for topping)
Instructions
- Make the sauce: In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the condensed cream of chicken soup, 2% milk, and cubed butter. Stir the mixture continuously until it is heated through and the butter has melted fully, creating a creamy sauce base.
- Combine chicken and vegetables: Remove the sauce from heat and stir in the cubed cooked chicken, thawed peas and carrots, and 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese until everything is evenly mixed.
- Preheat oven and prepare dishes: Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C). Grease two 8-inch square baking dishes to prevent sticking.
- Layer the casserole: Divide the chicken and vegetable mixture evenly between the two prepared baking dishes. Top each dish with a uniform layer of frozen Tater Tots.
- Optional freezing: If you want to save one casserole for later, cover it tightly and freeze it for up to three months. Otherwise, continue with baking.
- Bake the casseroles: Bake the casserole(s) in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until the mixture is bubbling around the edges and the Tater Tots start becoming golden and crispy.
- Add cheese topping: Remove the casseroles from the oven, sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese evenly over the Tater Tots, and return to the oven. Bake for an additional 5 minutes or until the cheese melts completely.
- Serve: Allow the casserole to cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy this warm and cheesy classic comfort food!
Notes
- Use fully cooked chicken to save time, such as rotisserie chicken or leftovers.
- If freezing, bake the casserole first without the cheese topping, then add cheese after thawing and baking again.
- Feel free to substitute frozen mixed vegetables with fresh ones if preferred.
- This casserole can easily be doubled for larger gatherings by using more baking dishes and ingredients.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven for best results.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American