Cheesy Chicken Tater Tot Bake (Printable)

Creamy chicken and vegetable base topped with crispy golden tater tots and melted cheddar.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 3 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 1 cup frozen peas and carrots mix, thawed

→ Dairy

04 - 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
05 - 1 cup sour cream
06 - 1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup

→ Pantry Staples

07 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
10 - 1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots
11 - 2 tablespoons butter, melted
12 - Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the diced chicken, chopped onion, thawed peas and carrots, 1 1/2 cups of cheddar cheese, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
03 - Transfer the chicken mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread it into an even layer.
04 - Place the frozen tater tots in a single, even layer across the entire surface of the chicken filling.
05 - Pour the melted butter evenly over the tater tots to help them crisp during baking.
06 - Bake uncovered at 375°F for 40 minutes until the tater tots begin to turn golden.
07 - Remove from the oven and sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese over the tater tots. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and the tater tots are golden and crispy.
08 - Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired, and serve warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It turns basic pantry staples into something kids and adults actually fight over the last scoop of.
  • The tater tots on top get impossibly golden while everything underneath turns into a creamy, savory hug.
02 -
  • Do not skip greasing the dish because cream of chicken soup becomes cement once it bakes onto glass.
  • Thawing the peas and carrots before mixing prevents icy pockets that water down the filling while baking.
03 -
  • Press the tater tots down lightly after arranging them so they make full contact with the filling and cook more evenly underneath.
  • Shred your own cheese from a block rather than using pre shredded bags because the anti caking additives make it melt less smoothly.

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