Pioneer Woman Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

You must make this Pioneer Woman Chicken Tater Tot Casserole ASAP! It has chicken, cheese, bacon, ranch, and tater tots. It can be made ahead of time and refrigerated or frozen for later use. I usually bake half and freeze half in a foil pan for later. Everyone gobbled this up! Even the super picky eaters.

You can make this Pioneer Woman Chicken Tater Tot Casserole ahead of time and refrigerate or freeze it for later. Since there are only two of us, I usually bake half and freeze the other half in a foil pan. Having this casserole in the freezer makes busy days a breeze.

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What I Love About This Recipe

When I make Pioneer Woman Chicken Tater Tot Casserole, my ears fill with the sound of satisfied silence. It’s hard to find crowd-pleasing meals. Most nights, I cook for a bunch of tiny restaurant critics. But when I make this casserole, I get to hear the sweet sound of satisfied silence.

There are almost no elements that cannot be changed.
Happiness in the family is guaranteed.
Preparation takes 15 minutes.
A casserole is a recipe for make-ahead success

Ingredient Notes:

Chicken: In the recipe below, the only requirement is that the chicken you add to the casserole is fully cooked (DO NOT add raw chicken – the baking time won’t fully cook it). Do you have leftover BBQ chicken? Did you buy a rotisserie chicken on sale? How about some frozen chicken nuggets? Get creative with the type of chicken you use!

Voracious for Veggies: I consider myself to be a Vegetable Ninja – I love sneaking veggies into dishes whenever possible. With this dish, I always serve fresh salads or sauteed veggies on the side, but adding some chopped broccoli, diced carrots, or sliced onions to Pioneer Woman Chicken Tater Tot Casserole brings a bright boost to the dish. Make sure to drain the veggies properly – too much water will make your casserole soggy.

Check that Time: To bake the casserole, cover it at first, then uncover it for the final bake. Occasionally, I forget to uncover for the final stretch. I didn’t think my casserole was inedible, but it lacked the depth of crispiness that baking it uncovered would have imparted. Be more diligent than I was – watch the timer!

Diet-friendliness: Are you looking for a gluten-free chicken tater tot casserole recipe? Substitute sour cream and cream cheese diluted with milk for the cream of chicken soup. Check the ingredients of your tater tots as well – some will have a coating that will not be gluten-free friendly!

What cheese to use for Pioneer Woman Chicken Tater Tot Casserole?

For this Pioneer Woman Chicken Tater Tot Casserole recipe, we will be using Colby-Monterey Jack cheese blend, however, You can even add pepper Jack cheese to spice things up. I bet this is tasty!

You could also use mozzarella or Monterey Jack cheeses, but these cheeses would not add as much flavor to the casserole as the other options mentioned above.

For best melting results, you should also shred your cheese freshly. It’s okay to use pre-shredded cheese if you need to save time or if that’s what you have on hand.

Does it matter what cream soup I use?

No. Store brands and name brands are both acceptable in Pioneer Woman Chicken Tater Tot Casserole. Additionally, the type of cream soup doesn’t matter.

Your family’s preference determines the condensed cream soup variety you choose, just as it does for the vegetable mixture.
You can use cream of mushroom, celery, chicken, or a combination of these three.

How To Make Pioneer Woman Chicken Tater Tot Casserole?

Spray a 13×9-inch baking dish with cooking spray and preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Heat oil in an 8- or 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion in oil 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender.
Using a medium bowl, combine onion, condensed soup, sour cream, milk, 1 cup of cheese, 2 tablespoons of dressing mix, and the black pepper; stir in the chicken.
In the baking dish, layer half of the frozen potatoes on the bottom. Spoon and spread the chicken mixture on top of the potatoes; sprinkle with 1/4 cup of the bacon.
Add remaining potatoes and remaining dressing mix in a large resealable food storage bag; seal and shake bag to coat. Arrange on top of casserole.
Bake casserole for 40 minutes then top with remaining cup of cheese
Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until cheese has melted and potatoes are lightly browned.
Serve with remaining bacon and chives.

What Goes Good with Pioneer Woman Chicken Tater Tot Casserole?

This Pioneer Woman Chicken Tater Tot Casserole is full of flavor and a great dinner option. However, since it contains no vegetables, you should serve it with a side of vegetables as well. There are a number of great side dishes that you can prepare while your chicken casserole is cooking, including:

What if I don’t have leftover chicken or turkey?

To make the casserole if you don’t have leftover chicken or turkey, you can use canned chicken or prepare some diced chicken breast meat ahead of time.

Even though the meat does not need to be shredded, it is a good idea to cut it up into small, bite-sized pieces before adding it to the casserole.

If using canned chicken, four 10-ounce cans (283 grams per can) are about the equivalent of the 2 cups of chicken called for in the Pioneer Woman Chicken Tater Tot Casserole recipe. Just make sure to drain the chicken well before adding it, and break up the chunks so that they are slightly shredded.

Can I Make Pioneer Woman Chicken Tater Tot Casserole In A Slow Cooker?

There are many chicken tater tot casserole recipes in the slow cooker, but this Pioneer Woman Chicken Tater Tot Casserole recipe is not well suited for the slow cooker.

One of the best parts of this hotdish is that the edges of the tater tots get crisp in the oven, whereas in a slow cooker, the tater tots might turn into mashed potatoes almost as soon as they are cooked.

FAQ Section

Do I need to use raw chicken?

You can use pre-cooked rotisserie chicken and reduce the cooking time by a couple of hours.

Any other seasoning I can use for the chicken?

Make sure to season the chicken well with salt and pepper or any other seasoning. For example, you can use cajun seasoning or blackened chicken seasoning.

Can I use canned vegetables?

It is okay to use canned vegetables (although I prefer frozen vegetables because they taste fresher). Before adding the vegetables to Pioneer Woman Chicken Tater Tot Casserole, drain them so there is no extra liquid.

Can I Use Pasta?

Pioneer Woman Chicken Tater Tot Casserole would be even better with noodles! You could use pastry-friendly pasta like elbow macaroni or thick spaghetti and you’d have mouthwatering chicken tetrazzini casserole.

How To Reheat Pioneer Woman Chicken Tater Tot Casserole In Air Fryer?

Turn your air fryer to 350-400 degrees F and reheat your Pioneer Woman Chicken Tater Tot Casserole for just 3-4 minutes, will taste just as crispy as the night before.

What Other Ingredient I Can Use Instead Of Tater Tot?

If you don’t have tater tots on hand, add some sliced tortillas to the baking mix. Or change this Pioneer Woman Chicken Tater Tot Casserole into a chicken taco casserole by adding taco shells or tortilla chips during the final baking.

Can You Freeze Pioneer Woman Chicken Tater Tot Casserole?

If your casserole dish comes with a lid, great! If not, grab some plastic wrap, aluminum foil, or Press-and-Seal wrap to ensure a good, airtight seal. If not, moisture will get into your dish and cause freezer burn. Properly stored, your Pioneer Woman Chicken Tater Tot Casserole can last for up to 1 month in the freezer.

How Long Can You Keep Pioneer Woman Chicken Tater Tot Casserole In The Fridge?

Pioneer Woman Chicken Tater Tot Casserole can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days, if the baking dish is tightly sealed, or if the leftovers are stored in an airtight container. If you need to reheat and eat your casserole, you can add a splash of milk to revive its creaminess.

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