Craft a delicious dinner with this easy Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole! Featuring succulent chicken, crispy bacon, creamy ranch dressing, and cheesy tater tots baked to golden perfection.
Remember those lazy Sunday evenings at grandma's house where comfort food ruled the dinner table? That's where the inspiration for my Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole comes from. One evening, after reminiscing about grandma's hearty meals, I decided to create a casserole that combined my family's favorite ingredients: chicken, bacon, and of course, tater tots. The first time I made this, the aroma of the casserole took me right back to those carefree days, surrounded by love and laughter, waiting eagerly at the dinner table. Now, whenever I need a hug from the past, I whip up this casserole, and it's like being wrapped in a warm, delicious embrace.
Why You'll love This Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole
Introducing the ultimate comfort dish: Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole. Here's why you'll love making it:
- Comforting and Hearty: Perfect for chilly evenings when you need a warm, satisfying dinner.
- Family Favorite: Loved by adults and kids alike, making it a guaranteed hit for family dinners.
- Easy to Prepare: With straightforward steps and common ingredients, this casserole is a breeze to put together.
- Customizable: Easily adaptable with various ingredients depending on what's in your pantry or fridge.
- Perfect for Leftovers: Just as delicious the next day, ensuring your efforts in the kitchen go further.
Ingredients Notes
Here's a handy guide to getting the best out of your ingredients for the Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole:
- Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup: Acts as a rich, creamy base that binds all the flavors together. You can substitute with cream of mushroom or celery soup for a twist.
- Sour Cream: Adds a tangy richness to the casserole. For a lighter version, try using Greek yogurt.
- Cheese: The Colby-Monterey Jack blend is perfect for melting but feel free to use what you have on hand; cheddar or a Mexican cheese blend are great alternatives.
- Ranch Dressing Mix: Provides the zesty, herby flavor that makes this casserole stand out. If you prefer homemade, mix some dried herbs like dill, parsley, and garlic powder.
- Tater Tots: The star of the show! Ensure they're spread in even layers to cook perfectly. Frozen is fine, no need to thaw.
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How To Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole
Let's break down the Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole into detailed, easy-to-follow steps:
- Preparation: Start by preheating your oven and greasing your baking dish. This ensures your casserole cooks evenly and doesn’t stick.
- Cook the Onion: Heat oil in a skillet and sauté the onion until tender. This builds the foundational flavors.
- Mix the Filling: In a bowl, combine the cooked onion, soup, sour cream, milk, cheese, ranch mix, and pepper. Stir in the shredded chicken to create a rich, creamy filling.
- Assemble the Base Layer: Arrange a layer of frozen tater tots at the bottom of your dish. This creates a crispy base once baked.
- Add Chicken Mixture: Spread the chicken mixture over the tater tots, then sprinkle with bacon for added crunch and flavor.
- Top Layer: Toss the remaining tater tots with the rest of the ranch mix in a bag, then layer them on top of the casserole.
- Bake: Cook until the top is golden and crispy. Finish by topping with more cheese and bacon, then bake until the cheese is bubbly.
- Garnish and Serve: Add fresh tomatoes and green onions for a burst of freshness and color.
Storage Options
This casserole stores beautifully, making it a great make-ahead meal. Here are your options:
- Refrigerate: Keep it in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.
- Freeze: For longer storage, freeze it before the final baking step. Wrap it tightly and it can last up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before baking as directed.
Variations and Substitutions
Customize your Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole to suit your taste or pantry availability:
- Protein Swap: Try using ground beef or turkey instead of chicken for a different flavor profile.
- Vegetarian Version: Omit the meat and add a mix of sautéed vegetables like mushrooms, bell peppers, and spinach.
- Dairy Alternatives: Use dairy-free cheese and yogurt if you're catering to dietary restrictions.
- Extra Veggies: Enhance the nutritional value by adding peas, corn, or diced carrots into the chicken mixture.
- Spice It Up: For a bit of heat, incorporate some diced jalapeños or a sprinkle of chili flakes into the casserole.
Each of these steps and tips will help you create a meal that’s not just delicious but also brings back those comforting memories of family dinners.
Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil
- ½ cup of finely chopped onion
- 1 can 10.5 ounces of condensed cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup of sour cream
- ½ cup of milk
- 2 cups of shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese blend approximately 8 ounces
- 1 package 1 ounce of ranch dressing and seasoning mix
- ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper
- 3 cups of shredded cooked chicken
- 1 bag 32 ounces of frozen Ore-Ida™ Tater Tots™
- ½ cup of chopped cooked bacon
- ½ cup of chopped tomatoes
- ¼ cup of thinly sliced green onions
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Initiate by preheating the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Concurrently, prepare a 13x9-inch glass baking dish by coating it lightly with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Sauté Onions: Utilize a nonstick skillet (approximately 8 or 10 inches in size) to heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and sauté them for 3 to 5 minutes, or until they are soft and translucent, stirring occasionally to ensure even cooking.
- Combine Ingredients: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the sautéed onions with the condensed cream of chicken soup, sour cream, milk, one cup of the cheese blend, two tablespoons of the ranch dressing mix, and the black pepper. Stir these ingredients until they are thoroughly mixed. Proceed by folding in the shredded cooked chicken until the mixture is homogeneous.
- Assemble the Base Layer: Position half of the frozen Tater Tots in a single layer at the bottom of the prepared baking dish, covering the surface evenly.
- Layer the Chicken Mixture: Spoon the chicken mixture over the layer of Tater Tots, spreading it evenly to cover them. Sprinkle ¼ cup of the chopped bacon over this layer for added flavor.
- Prepare the Top Layer of Tater Tots: Place the remaining Tater Tots into a large, resealable food-storage plastic bag, along with the remaining ranch dressing mix. Seal the bag and shake it well to coat the Tater Tots evenly with the seasoning. Arrange these seasoned Tater Tots on top of the casserole.
- Bake: Insert the baking dish into the preheated oven and bake for 40 minutes. Following this initial baking period, sprinkle the remaining one cup of cheese and ¼ cup of bacon over the casserole.
- Final Baking: Continue to bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese has melted thoroughly and the Tater Tots are slightly browned.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and immediately garnish with the chopped tomatoes and sliced green onions. Serve while hot.
