Cheddar Ranch Chicken Tater Tot Bake
A cozy, cheesy oven casserole that blends tender shredded chicken, zesty ranch, crispy tater tots, and melty cheddar for a comforting meal.
Ingredients
For the Base
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded Use leftover or rotisserie chicken.
For the Sauce
- 1 cup ranch dressing Light ranch or yogurt-based ranch can be used.
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder Optionally replace with 1 clove minced garlic.
- 1 teaspoon onion powder Optionally replace with 2 tablespoons chopped onion.
For the Topping
- 3 cups frozen tater tots Do not thaw before baking.
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese Can swap for Monterey Jack or reduced-fat cheese.
- 1/2 cup green onions, chopped For garnish, can substitute with chives.
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and grease a suitable baking dish.
- In a bowl, mix shredded cooked chicken, ranch dressing, garlic powder, and onion powder until chicken is evenly coated.
- Spread the chicken mixture evenly in the greased baking dish.
- Layer tater tots in a single layer over the chicken mixture and sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top.
Baking
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25–30 minutes or until tater tots are golden brown and cheese is melted.
Serving
- Remove from the oven and garnish with chopped green onions before serving. Let it rest for 5 minutes.
Notes
For best results, bake tater tots from frozen and allow the dish to rest before slicing. This dish is flexible; add bacon or salsa for variations.