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Buffalo chicken tater tot casserole is just dangerous enough to become a weeknight staple. It’s so good, you’ll want to keep it in heavy rotation.
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I was on Facebook the other day, which is nothing new. Anytime I have three seconds of free time I seem to open Facebook. It’s ridiculous and I wish I could make it stop. But, anyway.
I was on Facebook, scrolling through my newsfeed, when one of my friends said something along the lines of “you know you’ve given up trying when you make a tater tot casserole for dinner.”
So, I did what any rational adult would do. I went to the grocery store and I bought bags and bags of crispy, delicious tater tots and then I came home and turned them into casseroles. I don’t care what you think of my 1970s casseroles. I love them.
Remember my sloppy joe tater tot casserole? Ugh. I can’t even. It’s so good and every single person in my house devours it. That’s a major win.
But, sweet and tangy beef wasn’t what I wanted. No. I wanted spicy chicken. With ranch. Because ranch is always the answer.
So, I snagged myself a rotisserie chicken at the store. I’m pretty obsessed with starting dinner with a rotisserie chicken. They’re cheap, they’re easy, and best of all – they’re cheap and easy.
I then coated the pulled chicken in some cream cheese and Frank’s Red Hot. I stirred in a little ranch seasoning mix too, because hey why not? Also, veggies. Lots o’ veggies.
Notice how my casserole is missing a key ingredient? No cream of crap canned soup! I swapped in cream cheese instead. It makes things just as creamy and tasty, but without the weirdness of a can of soup. Although, for future reference, my homemade cream of chicken soup is the perfect substitute for those recipes that do call for cans of soup.
Anyway, after I made the filling, I topped it all with some tater tots. You don’t have to arrange them quite as pretty as I did, but I like the way it looks. If you’re in a time crunch, just toss ‘em on and try to spread them into a single layer.
Even the tots get a little dose of the ranch seasoning powder. Good times, my friends.
Hope you enjoy this one as much as we do! If you can’t handle the spice, this chicken noodle casserole might be more your speed. Of course, my gnocchi casserole is always a hit, too!
Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 1/2 cup Wing Sauce
- 1 packet dry ranch seasoning divided
- 1 1/2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
- 12 ounces frozen mixed vegetables
- 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 16 ounces frozen tater tots
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Place a 12-inch cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add the cream cheese, wing sauce, and 2 tablespoons of the ranch seasoning to the skillet and stir until melted and combined.
- Remove from heat and stir in the chicken and vegetables. Stir to coat in the cream cheese mixture. Spread mixture evenly across the pan.
- Sprinkle with cheddar cheese.
- Top with a single layer of tater tots and sprinkle remaining ranch seasoning over the tots.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until tots are crispy.
Melissa says
Very good recipe. I do have a question. The spice level is perfect for me but how could you vary this recipe for those who prefer it more on the mild side?
Karly says
Use less hot sauce. 🙂
Vicky says
This sounds amazingly delicious!
But I like the looks of the first photo of it all mixed together instead of all those sort of manufactured looking tater tots. Want to make this for a casual company night. Do you think it would be good all mixed together and not so arranged looking?
Thanks.
Vicky
Karly says
Hi Vicky!
The first photo is just of the dish scooped out onto the plate. If you mix the tots in with the filling when you bake it, they won’t get crispy.
beth says
so i am assuming after step 5, you bake it for awhile?
beth says
ok, I now see the rest of the recipe. it wouldn’t load. thank you.
Kara says
Can’t wait to feature this tomorrow on my Friday Five list 🙂 Feel free to stop by!
XO,
Kara
(www.fcnextdoor.com)
Jennie @onesweetmess says
I can’t even!!! This looks amazing, and I love that there’s no cream of crap soup in the mix. Pinned.
Karly says
Hope you try it! 🙂
Amy says
I love these one pot meals, great comfort food without a lot of mess.
Karly says
Me too! No one wants a million dishes to wash.