Crispy Tater Tot Casserole (Printable)

Golden tater tots atop creamy chicken and mixed vegetables for a cozy, satisfying dish.

# 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 the 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 vegetables, 1 cup cheddar cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, salt, and black pepper until evenly incorporated.
03 - Spread the chicken and vegetable mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.
04 - Arrange frozen tater tots in a single layer over the filling.
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. Return to oven and bake for 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 before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It's the rare casserole that feels restaurant-quality yet comes together in under 20 minutes of actual work.
  • Your kitchen will smell so good that people show up at the door asking what you're making.
  • Tater tots stay crispy on top while the filling stays creamy underneath—it's the textural magic that keeps everyone going back for seconds.
02 -
  • Never thaw your tater tots before using them—frozen is exactly how they should go in so they crisp up instead of becoming soggy.
  • The 5-minute rest at the end is not optional; it's what transforms the casserole from sloppy to perfectly sliceable.
  • If your filling looks a bit thin, you can reduce the milk slightly; it thickens as it bakes and cools.
03 -
  • Room-temperature ingredients mix together more smoothly and evenly, so let your sour cream and milk sit out for 10 minutes if you remember.
  • Sharp cheddar melts faster and tastes richer than mild, but more importantly, taste what you're using before it goes in—bland cheese makes bland casserole.
  • Leftover casserole reheats beautifully covered in foil at 350°F for about 15 minutes, and it somehow tastes even better the next day.
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