Looking for a hearty casserole to serve as an easy weeknight meal? This easy Chicken Tater Tot Casserole loaded with chicken breast, veggies, and a smooth and creamy sauce is exactly what you’re looking for. Topped with crispy golden tater tots and cheese and baked until bubbly, this one is best shared with loved ones!
Casseroles are so comforting, especially during the colder months, and because they’re so easy to pull together, they are your ticket to easy weeknight meals!
I’ve experimented with other tater tot casserole recipes and my beef tater tot casserole and cowboy casserole have both been big hits at the dinner table!
This tater tot casserole with chicken recipe is quick and easy to whip up and it’s loaded with great flavors, similar to chicken pot pie. Instead of a heavy crust, I top everything with crispy tater tots and cheese.
The filling is made with juicy pieces of chicken and tender-crisp veggies in a creamy savory sauce.
Often, you’ll see similar recipes made with canned soup, but I always like to make my own sauce. It really does make a difference in flavor and I can control the ingredients I’m using.
Everything will be ready in just over an hour, so it’s easy enough to make during the week. You can also store the leftovers to enjoy again another night!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s an all-in-one meal. This casserole is loaded with everything! Hearty chicken, potatoes, and veggies that will keep you full for hours.
- It’s pantry friendly. Most of the ingredients are easy to keep on hand either in your pantry or freezer.
- Quick preparation time: You’ll need about 15 minutes of prep time for this dish and most of the cooking time happens in the oven which leaves you free to do other things!
key ingredients
I make my own sauce for this chicken tater tot casserole instead of using canned soup, but I promise you that the difference in taste is worth it! Here’s what you’ll need to make this dish:
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
- Chicken: I used chicken breast cut into bite-sized ½ inch pieces. If you prefer dark meat, chicken thighs can also be used here.
- Sauce: This is an easy sauce made with flour, milk, and stock and flavored with onions, garlic, and dried thyme. It is creamy and velvety smooth.
- Veggies: I prefer to use frozen mixed vegetables (corn, carrots, and green beans). You can use a blend of your favorite frozen vegetables.
- Tater tots: These bite-sized tots are made from shredded potato and deep fried similar to French fries. You’ll find these in bags in the frozen food aisle of the grocery store.
- Cheese: I like grated cheddar cheese in this dish, but you can swap in your favorite cheese. Monterey Jack or mozzarella would also be good options.
- Garnish: I like to sprinkle over some chopped fresh parsley before serving.
How To Make It
Just a little bit of prep on the stovetop and then everything goes into the oven to bake to golden perfection!
- Cook chicken. Begin by preheating the oven to 350°F/180°C and let it heat up while you cook the chicken. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and cook it in a skillet with some butter and olive oil until cooked through. The chicken won’t be brown, but that’s ok. Remove the chicken from the skillet.
- Sauté aromatics. Cook the onion and garlic until the onion has softened and is translucent.
- Make sauce. Add the flour and cook for a minute to get rid of the floury taste and then gradually pour in the milk and stock. Continue cooking the sauce while stirring with a whisk until it reaches the consistency of heavy cream. Season your sauce with the thyme and then stir in the frozen veggies and the chicken.
- Assemble casserole. Transfer everything to a 9×13 inch casserole dish greased with cooking spray and arrange the frozen tater tots on top.
- Bake. After the casserole has baked for 30-40 minutes, sprinkle the crispy tater tots with cheese and place the dish under the broiler for a few minutes until melted. Let the casserole rest for 15 minutes before serving.
Tip!
Add some cooked bacon crumbles on top of the tater tots, along with the cheese for added smoky, saltiness. You know, because everything is better with bacon!
Recipe Tips
Here are a couple of tips that will make preparing this casserole so much easier!
- If you’re short on time, buy a cooked rotisserie chicken or use leftover chicken to shred into the casserole.
- Do not thaw your tater tots. You want to keep them frozen otherwise they may become mushy.
- If you can, grate your own cheese instead of using pre-shredded packaged cheese. Freshly grated cheese from a block of cheese will melt better than pre-shredded which is covered with an anti-caking agent.
Storing Tips
Cover your leftovers tightly and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To freeze it, cover it in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil to avoid freezer burn. Make sure to wrap it tightly. Store it in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
To reheat, put portions of the casserole on a microwave-safe dish and heat until warmed through. If you want to crisp up the tater tots again, place the casserole leftovers in an oven-proof dish and bake in a 350°F/180°C oven for 30 minutes.
What To Serve With Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
The great thing about casseroles is that they’re an all-in-one meal with the meat, veggies, and potatoes all right there in one dish. You might want to add some additional sides if you’re serving a larger crowd. Here are a few ideas:
More Hearty Casseroles To Try
FAQs
Yes, you can substitute boneless chicken thighs or use a mix of both white and dark meat.
Yes, you can. Once everything is assembled in the casserole dish and has cooled down slightly, cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before baking.
No, there’s no need to thaw these ingredients first.
Save this recipe for the next time you need a comforting dish the whole family will love! Pin this for more people to enjoy too!
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 pounds (900g) chicken breasts cubed into bite-sized ½ inch pieces
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 1 clove garlic minced
- ⅓ cup all purpose flour
- ¾ cup (180ml) whole milk
- 1 ½ cups (120ml) chicken stock or broth
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 2 cups (300g) frozen mixed vegetables corn, carrots, peas
- 32-ounce (900g) bag frozen tater tots
- 8 ounces (225g) cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C and grease a 9×13 inch casserole dish with cooking spray.
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet, and melt butter. Add the chicken and cook until cooked through, then remove from the pan onto a plate (the chicken won’t get browned and that’s fine).
- Add onion and garlic, and cook until the onion is translucent.
- Add flour, and cook it for 1 minute then add milk, and gradually add the stock. Use a whisk or a spatula and stir until you get a sauce that’s the same consistency as heavy cream. Season with thyme, and add mixed vegetables and return the chicken and stir.
- Transfer the mixture to a 9×13 pan, and arrange the tater tots on top.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes or until the tater tots are crispy, then sprinkle the cheese on top and place under the broiler for a few more minutes. Allow to cool on a cooling rack for 15 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley.
Notes:
- If you’re short on time, buy a cooked rotisserie chicken or use leftover chicken to shred into the casserole.
- Do not thaw your tater tots. You want to keep them frozen otherwise they may become mushy.
- If you can, grate your own cheese instead of using pre-shredded packaged cheese. Freshly grated cheese from a block of cheese will melt better than pre-shredded which is covered with an anti-caking agent.
- Storing: Cover your leftovers tightly and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To freeze it, cover it in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil to avoid freezer burn. Make sure to wrap it tightly. Store it in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight. To reheat, put portions of the casserole on a microwave-safe dish and heat until warmed through. If you want to crisp up the tater tots again, place the casserole leftovers in an oven-proof dish and bake in a 350°F/180°C oven for 30 minutes.
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
© Little Sunny Kitchen
Heidi S says
Everyone loved this- all three kids! But I think my husband loved it the most! Great recipe 🙂
Little Sunny Kitchen says
I’m so happy to hear that you and your family enjoyed this casserole, Heidi! Thanks for the nice review!
Journa Liz Ramirez says
Love this flavorful casserole. It is so easy and makes a good dinner. Highly recommended!
Little Sunny Kitchen says
That’s so great to hear, Journa! Thank you for the kind review!
Sharina says
One of the best casserole recipes I’ve tried! This chicken tater tot casserole is so easy to cook and makes a perfect meal for my whole family. Must-try!
Little Sunny Kitchen says
Thank you, Sharina! I’m so happy to hear that you loved this casserole!