Crispy Tater Tot Casserole (Printable)

A comforting layered dish with crispy tater tots, tender chicken, and mixed vegetables in a creamy base.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken Mixture

01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced
02 - 1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup
03 - 1/2 cup sour cream
04 - 1/2 cup milk
05 - 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn, green beans)
06 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
07 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
09 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
10 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
11 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Topping

12 - 1 (32 oz) bag frozen tater tots
13 - 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
14 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - In a large bowl, mix cooked chicken, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, milk, frozen mixed vegetables, 1 cup cheddar cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, salt, and pepper until evenly blended.
03 - Evenly spread the chicken and vegetable mixture into the prepared baking dish.
04 - Arrange frozen tater tots in a single uniform layer over the chicken mixture.
05 - Bake uncovered for 35 minutes, until tater tots turn golden and crispy.
06 - Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup cheddar cheese over the tater tots. Bake an additional 5 to 10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
07 - Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The tater tots stay golden and crispy on top while the filling underneath stays creamy and warm—it's the best of both textures in one bite.
  • You can have it on the table in about an hour with mostly pantry-friendly ingredients, which means less stress and more actual eating.
  • It's one of those dishes that makes leftovers taste even better the next day.
02 -
  • Don't thaw your tater tots or mixed vegetables; frozen is actually what you want here because it helps them cook evenly and keeps everything from turning mushy.
  • If your filling looks too thick when you mix it, add another splash of milk—you want it to flow a bit, not sit like a brick.
  • The casserole will bubble up around the edges during cooking, which is normal and actually a good sign that everything is heating through properly.
03 -
  • If you notice the tater tots browning too fast, tent the casserole loosely with foil for the first 25 minutes, then remove it so they can crisp up in the remaining time.
  • Don't skip the 5-minute rest after baking—it gives the filling time to set so you get neat servings instead of a creamy collapse on the plate.
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