Crispy Tater Tot Casserole (Printable Version)

Golden tater tots layered over a creamy chicken and mixed vegetable filling for comforting 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 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 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 Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, mix cooked chicken, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, milk, frozen mixed vegetables, 1 cup cheddar cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper until well blended.
03 - Spread the chicken and vegetable mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish.
04 - Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single, even layer on top of the chicken mixture.
05 - Bake uncovered for 35 minutes until the tater tots are golden and crispy.
06 - Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup cheddar cheese over the tater tots. Return to oven and bake 5 to 10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
07 - Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The tater tots get unbelievably crispy on top while the filling stays creamy underneath—it's the best of both textures in every bite.
  • Everything comes together in about 15 minutes of actual work, then the oven does the heavy lifting while you sit down.
  • Kids and picky eaters tend to actually eat this, which feels like a small miracle on busy nights.
02 -
  • Don't thaw the tater tots—frozen ones crisp up better and stay more intact than thawed ones.
  • If your oven runs hot, check the casserole around the 30-minute mark to avoid the tater tots burning before the filling is hot all the way through.
03 -
  • Shredding chicken yourself takes maybe five minutes if you poach a couple of breasts, and it tastes fresher than using canned—but rotisserie chicken saves you a real step and still tastes great.
  • Mix the filling a few hours ahead and keep it covered in the fridge; this lets the flavors meld and makes assembly on a busy evening even faster.
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