Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole super comforting a crowd-pleasing casserole that is packed with creamy ranch flavor, crispy tater tots, salty bacon and cheesy goodness. The shredded chicken forms a hearty base, and the ranch sauce gives it a tangy heft that becomes the connective tissue for all the flavors.
Layering shredded chicken, ranch sauce, cheese and crispy tater tots yields a casserole with a great combination of textures — soft and creamy interior, golden crunchy topping. A final sprinkling of bacon and melted cheese gives a rich, bubbly top that heightens the dish’s savory charm.
This casserole is simple to put together and pop in the oven, making it an ideal meal for family dinners, get-togethers or game day. It’s a new favorite for any meal — each serving is packed with flavors and textures.
Reasons You Will Love This Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole:
Loaded With Flavor: The ranch sauce gives tang, the bacon adds smoky richness, and the cheddar is the gooey you never knew you needed. Every bite is too salty umami goodness packed.
Heavenly Textures: Creamy, crispy, cheesy and tender, all in one dish — some of the best comfort food you can make.
Easier Than You’d Guess to Prepare: Frozen tater tots and pre-cooked or rotisserie chicken make for foolproof prep, great for busy evenings.
Flexible: You can sneak in some veggies, swap out the cheeses, swap in the spices.
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Key Ingredients:
Protein Base: Cooked Chicken Breasts Shredding it allows it to mix nicely with the sauce and keeps every bite perfectly flavored. If you don’t have much time, rotisserie chicken is a great shortcut.
Frozen Tater Tots: These provide the crispy texture and satisfying potato component. Skip thawing — just pile them on top, straight-up, for a crisp, golden crust.
Ranch Dressing: This adds a tangy, herby touch that’s a crowd-pleaser to this dish—always a good thing. Use your own favorite store-bought brand, or homemade ranch dressing if you prefer a fresher flavor.
Bacon: Bacon is smoky and crunchy and toothsome. It’s a time saver, if you’re using microwave or pre-cooked bacon. You can fry the bacon ahead of time and keep it crisp until assembly.
Mild Cheddar Cheese: Cheddar melts wonderfully and pairs nicely with the ranch and bacon flavors. You can also go with a sharp cheddar for stronger flavor, or blend in other cheeses such as Monterey Jack for interest.
Milk, Butter and Flour: These are the base of the sauce, giving it creaminess and helping the flavors to come together. Whole milk produces the best texture here, but you can use whatever milk you have on hand.
For full list of ingredients with quantities and instructions check the recipe card below
Instructions:
Step 1: Preheat the Oven and Prepare the Chicken
Set the oven: This is so the tater crumbs will crisp and brown nicely; position an oven rack in the upper third of the oven and heat to 425 degrees.
Cook Chicken and Shred: In unrelated pan cook chicken breasts until finished. Cool slightly, then shred with a mixer or two forks. Set aside.
Step 2: Make the Ranch Sauce
Melt butter: In a small saucepan set over low heat, melt 3 tablespoons butter, the sauce’s base.
Whisk in Flour: Add 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour to the melted butter, and whisk until smooth and thickened slightly.
Add Milk and Season: Gradually whisk in 1 cup milk, a little bit at a time, to avoid lumps. Add the syrup, all of the cream, stir until creamy, and then season with salt and pepper to taste.
Add Ranch Dressing: Stir in your ranch dressing — 1/2 cup is pretty standard — to get a creamy, tangy sauce in which your ingredients can mingle.
Step 3: Assemble The Casserole
Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick spray.
Layer Ingredients:
Spread the shredded chicken evenly over the bottom.
Pour the ranch sauce on top of the chicken, covering it completely.
Top with half of the shredded cheddar cheese.
Spread the frozen tater tots in an even layer on top of the cheese to cover the dish.
The bake: Transfer to the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes, letting them begin to crisp up.
Step 4: Add on the Bacon and Cheese
Cook the Bacon: While the casserole is baking, cook up the bacon (if not using pre-cooked), crumble it, and set it aside.
Check Tater Tots: After 20 minutes, check that the tater tots are golden and crispy. Bake for a few more minutes, if necessary.
Sprinkle Cheese & Bacon: After the casserole is crispy, sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese over the casserole topped with the crumbled bacon.
Bake Until Melty: Return to the oven for another 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Step 5: Serve
Let it Cool a Little: Let the casserole sit for a few minutes for the layers to set.
Slice and Serve: Slice into pieces and serve hot for a delicious balance of flavours and textures.
Serving Suggestions:
This casserole is a full meal on its own, but here are some sides and garnishes that can complement it:
Side Salad: A crisp green salad with a light vinaigrette is a refreshing counterpoint to the rich casserole.
Steamed Vegetables: Serve alongside steamed broccoli, green beans or asparagus for color and nutrients.
Garnishments: Sprinkle with chopped green onions or fresh parsley for a burst of color and a mild, oniony taste.
To make this casserole a full comfort meal, serve it with a warm bread roll or some garlic bread on the side.
Storage and Meal Prep Tips:
This casserole is perfect for leftovers, and makes for a great make-ahead meal.
Storing Leftovers
Store any remaining casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 days. The flavors will have continued to meld, making it even better the next day.
Freezing
To freeze, assemble the casserole in a freezer-safe dish but do not bake. Wrap it well with plastic wrap and foil, and freeze for up to 2 months. To bake, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and bake according to original directions, adding an extra few minutes, as needed.
Reheating
Reheat: Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes or until heated through. However, if it is one portion, the microwave also works well and fits in here for about 1-2 minutes.
Recipe Variations to Try:
This Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole is infinitely customizable. Here are some fun variations to play around with:
Loaded Vegetable Tater Tot Casserole
For a more nutrient-packed option, sprinkle some cooked broccoli, bell peppers or mushrooms on top.
Buffalo chicken tater tot casserole
For a spicy variation, stir 1/4 cup buffalo sauce into ranch sauce. Top with the cheddar and a few crumbles of blue cheese for flavor.
BBQ Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
Instead of ranch dressing, BBQ sauce in the sauce mixture for smoky, tangy flavor. Or you could mix the shredded BBQ chicken into the traditional chicken for a little extra kick.
Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole
Substitute ground beef for the chicken, with a dusting of diced pickles and tomatoes scattered on top just before serving for a cheeseburger-inspired casserole.
Tater Tot Casserole, Mexican-Style
Stir taco seasoning into the ranch sauce, and layer on black beans, corn, and salsa. For a deliciously spicy variation, top with shredded Mexican cheese blend.
Conclusion:
This Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole is the ultimate in comfort food, combining crunchy tater tots, a creamy ranch sauce, cheese and smoky bacon all in one yummy dish. It’s easy to make, incomparably crowd-pleasing and the perfect go-to for busy weeknights, gatherings or whenever you need a big, satisfying plate of food.
So come on, get your ingredients and dig into this cozy casserole — it’s sure to become a family favorite! Enjoy!
Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients
- 6 slices cooked bacon crumbled or microwave bacon
- 4 breasts cooked chicken shredded
- 32 oz frozen tater tots do not thaw
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing adds tangy flavor
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour for thickening sauce
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter melted
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mild cheddar cheese divided for topping
- 1/8 tsp salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Cook chicken breasts until done, shred, and set aside.
- In a saucepan over low heat, melt butter, whisk in flour, then slowly add milk, whisking to avoid lumps. Season with salt and pepper, then add ranch dressing, stirring to combine.
- Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Spread shredded chicken, pour ranch sauce, top with half the cheddar cheese, then layer frozen tater tots.
- Bake for 20 minutes, until tater tots start to crisp.
- Cook and crumble bacon if not already done. Sprinkle remaining cheddar cheese and bacon over casserole, then bake an additional 5 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Allow casserole to cool slightly before serving. Cut into portions and enjoy!