5-Ingredient Crack Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

Name: 5-Ingredient Crack Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 32 oz frozen tater tots; 16 oz shredded rotisserie chicken (about 3 cups); 8 oz reduced fat cream cheese (you can also use full-fat cream cheese); 1 oz ranch seasoning mix (about 3 tablespoons); 2-3 cups shredded cheddar cheese

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This crack chicken tater tot casserole is the ultimate comfort food that you can make even on lazy days with just 5 ingredients! It’s delicious and creamy, with no canned soup required. Make it as a quick & easy high protein breakfast, dinner, side dish, or party appetizer that the whole family (including picky eaters) will love.

⏰ TIME: 40 mins | 🤑 COST: $19.45
🥔 5 INGREDIENTS

I’m so excited to share my 5-ingredient tater tot casserole on the blog today! I always get caught up making buffalo chicken dip every football season, but I thought I’d try my hand at making tater tot casserole this year.

And let me tell you – it turned out so darn delicious and was so incredibly easy to make!

The traditional tater tot casserole recipe uses ground beef, but I made this version using cracked out chicken. Trust me, you will not miss the beef at all! And it’s still a high protein breakfast or dinner recipe that you’ll want to make on repeat.

Not to mention, it’s super easy to make with just 5 ingredients that you simply layer on, bake, and serve.

As a pediatrician, I love quick, no-fuss, kid-approved recipes like this that busy parents can whip up even after a long tiring day at work. It also works really well as a game day appetizer, side dish, or some good old fashioned comfort food!

Speaking of game day appetizers, make sure you check out my 5-ingredient air fryer zucchini sticks and these super yummy 5-ingredient Greek yogurt bagel bites. They’re both quick, easy, beginner-friendly appetizers you can bring to your next football party!

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Ingredients You’ll Need

Frozen tater tots: The star of the show in this recipe! I used a whole 32oz bag to cover the entire 9 x 13 baking dish, but you can use more or less depending on your preference.
Shredded rotisserie chicken: This recipe is great for using up leftover rotisserie chicken! I used the pulled shredded rotisserie chicken from Aldi, but you can also shred up a whole rotisserie chicken from Costco or your local grocery store.
Cream cheese: You’ll want to use a block of cottage cheese for this recipe. I used light cream cheese, but you can use regular if you wish. Make sure to cream cheese out on the counter for an hour or so before you make this recipe to soften it up. This will make it much easier to mix with the chicken, and also make the casserole more creamy.
Ranch seasoning mix: This seasoning mixed with the cream cheese is what gives our tater tot casserole the “crack chicken” designation since it’s delicious and addictive!
Shredded cheddar cheese: For melting on top of the tater tots to make the casserole even more cheesy, gooey, and delish!

📌 OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS: To make the filling even more creamy, you can mix in a few tablespoons of heavy cream or sour cream. You can also top the casserole with bacon bits, green onions, or different types of shredded cheese to kick up the flavor!

substitution ideas

📌 Prefer a vegetarian version of this casserole? Swap the chicken for slightly mashed white beans or chickpeas, which have a similar texture to chicken

📌 Wanna cut down the sodium? Use plain shredded chicken instead of rotisserie chicken, and use only 1/2 packet of ranch seasoning mix

📌 Rotisserie Chicken: You can use plain shredded chicken instead. I haven’t made this particular recipe with ground beef, so I cannot comment on how it will taste with this substitution

📌 Cream Cheese: Sour cream would make a great substitution! Greek yogurt may also work, but it will likely turn out less creamy

📌 Ranch Seasoning: Make a homemade mix with garlic powder, onion powder, dried dill, and paprika. You can also experiment around with other seasonings – like taco seasoning!

📌 Tater tots: You can use frozen diced hash browns or cubed potatoes instead

📌 Cheddar Cheese: Any melty cheese like Monterey Jack, mozzarella, or Colby works well

Equipment You’ll Need

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9×13 baking dish: Any deep casserole dish will work for this recipe, but I recommend one that’s about 9 inches x 13 inches to fit everything. I love my Pyrex glassware dish for this one – I’ve had it for years now and it’s still in perfect condition. If you have a smaller baking dish, you can still use it but you may have to adjust the ingredient measurements.
Mixing bowl: For mixing together the crack chicken filling.

$26.99

$21.49

$22.99

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Step-by-Step Instructions for Crack Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

1. Soften the cream cheese

Take the cream cheese out from the fridge and let it sit on the counter at room temperature for at least 1 hour before you start this recipe. This will soften up the cream cheese, make it easier to mix with the chicken, and make the dish more creamy.

2. Preheat your oven

Once the cream cheese is softened and you’re ready to start making the casserole, go ahead and preheat the oven to 350℉. Lightly grease the 9 x 13 baking dish with olive oil spray and set aside for now.

3. Make the crack chicken filling

As I mentioned above, prior to starting this step you want to make sure that your cream cheese has been sitting out on the counter at room temperature for at least 1 hour.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded rotisserie chicken, softened cream cheese, and ranch seasoning mix. Mix all the ingredients together until well combined. This is your “crack chicken” filling.

If the filling seems a bit too dry or not creamy enough, you can mix in 2-3 tablespoons of heavy cream, milk, or extra cream cheese.

I used the whole packet of ranch seasoning mix, but you can use 1/2 the packet if you want less sodium or if if your rotisserie chicken is already pretty salty. You can also mix in chopped or diced veggies if desired.

4. Assemble the casserole

Now we’re going to assemble the casserole in the greased baking dish from Step #2!

First, spread the crack chicken filling on the bottom of the baking dish. Make sure to smooth it out so it’s an even layer and all corners of the dish are covered.

Next, arrange the tater tots on top of the chicken filling in a single layer like pictured above.

Finally, top with shredded cheddar cheese until all of the tater tots are covered.

If you’re preparing this casserole ahead of time, go ahead and cover the baking dish with plastic wrap or aluminum foil after you finish this step. Store in the fridge for up to 24 hours until you’re ready to bake the casserole.

5. Bake the casserole

Place the uncovered casserole in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the tater tots are golden brown on top.

6. Serve and enjoy!

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Notes & Suggestions

Eat right away!: This tater tot casserole tastes best right out of the oven (after a few minutes of cooling of course). If you’re making this casserole for a party or meal prep, I recommend assembling the casserole ahead of time but then baking it right before serving. See the storage instructions below.
Make it more creamy: If you want your filling to be more creamy or if the filling seems too dry, you can add 2–3 tablespoons of heavy cream, milk, or extra cream cheese to Step #3.
Use rotisserie chicken for extra flavor: I love using rotisserie chicken for this recipe to add even more flavor to the dish! You can definitely make this crack chicken tater tot casserole with plain shredded chicken instead – the ranch seasoning will still infuse the dish with flavor and you can always add other seasonings to jazz up the flavor too!
No extra salt needed: The ranch seasoning + rotisserie chicken gives this dish enough sodium, so you shouldn’t need to add more salt. If you want a lower sodium option, feel free to use plain shredded chicken and/or cut the amount of ranch seasoning mix in half.

Storage Instructions

Meal Prep: You can assemble this casserole ahead of time by following the instructions through Step #4, covering the assembled casserole with foil or plastic wrap, then storing it in the fridge until you’re ready to bake and serve. The assembled, unbaked casserole will keep in the fridge for about 24 hours.
Fridge: Store leftovers as individual portions in meal prep containers for up to 2-3 days. Make sure the casserole has cooled before storing. Reheat in the oven or air fryer if possible so that the tater tots stay crispy. You can reheat leftovers in the microwave but the tots will likely soften up.
Freezer: This tater tot casserole is freezer-friendly! You can freeze the unbaked casserole for up to 1 month. If you want to freeze leftovers, allow it to cool completely first, then portion it into freezer-safe containers and store for up to 2-3 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

This recipe is definitely a comfort food dish, since it includes tater tots, cheese, and ranch seasoning. However, I do think it’s a lightened-up version compared to the traditional tater tot casserole since we’re using chicken instead of ground beef, reduced-fat cream cheese, and skipping the canned chicken soup.

You can make this dish even lighter by using reduced-fat shredded cheddar cheese, making homemade ranch seasoning, or even substituting Greek yogurt for the cream cheese – although just note that these substitutions will alter the texture of this recipe.

Feel free to also add veggies to the crack chicken filling! Broccoli, corn, and bell peppers would all taste delish in this casserole.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this section is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with your own doctor or your child’s pediatrician before making any changes to your diet or your child’s diet/feeding approach. Read the full disclaimer here.

This crack chicken tater tot casserole cost me about $19.45 for the whole pan – which makes about 8 servings. That works out to about $2.43 per serving, making it a very budget-friendly family meal or party appetizer. Here’s the cost per ingredient breakdown at the time of writing this post:

Shredded rotisserie chicken (16 oz): $7.99 (Aldi)
Cream cheese (8 oz): $1.99 (Trader Joe’s)
Ranch seasoning mix (1 oz packet): $1.99 (Walmart)
Frozen tater tots (32 oz): $3.49 (Trader Joe’s)
Shredded cheddar cheese (8 oz): $3.99 (Trader Joe’s)

Price may vary depending on location and may change seasonally.

For babies: Make sure your baby has already tolerated dairy products in the past. Use plain shredded chicken, mix with cream cheese only, and skip the ranch seasoning mix due to the salt content. Sprinkle with shredded cheese only and bake for about 20-30 minutes. I’d recommend skipping the tater tots or using soft mashed potatoes instead.

For toddlers: Cut the casserole into small, bite-sized pieces to make it easier to chew. You can also reduce or skip the ranch seasoning to cut down on the sodium.

I didn’t add any veggies to my tater tot casserole to keep it simple and under 5 ingredients, but you definitely can! Broccoli, corn, bell peppers, and even spinach would work well in this recipe. Just mix them into the crack chicken filling in Step #3.

Add 2-3 tablespoons of heavy cream, milk, or extra cream cheese when making the crack chicken filling in Step #3.

Yep! Arrange the casserole all the way through Step #4, cover tightly with foil or plastic wrap, then store in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Bake it right before serving.

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The Printable Recipe Card

5-Ingredient Crack Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

This crack chicken tater tot casserole is the ultimate comfort food that you can make even on lazy days with just 5 ingredients! It's delicious and creamy, with no canned soup required. Make it as a quick & easy dinner, side dish, or party appetizer that the whole family (including picky eaters) will love.

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Prep Time 5

Cook Time 35

Total Time 40

Course Appetizer, Breakfast, Dinner, Side Dish

Servings 8 servings

Equipment

9 x 13 baking dish
Mixing bowl

Ingredients

32 oz frozen tater tots
16 oz shredded rotisserie chicken about 3 cups
8 oz reduced fat cream cheese you can also use full-fat cream cheese
1 oz ranch seasoning mix about 3 tablespoons
2-3 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

Soften the cream cheese. Prior to starting this recipe, take out the cream cheese from the fridge and let it soften on the counter at room temperature for 1 hour. This will soften up the cream cheese, make it easier to mix, and make the dish more creamy.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with olive oil.
Make the crack chicken filling: In a large mixing bowl, stir together the shredded rotisserie chicken, softened cream cheese, and ranch seasoning. Mix until evenly combined. If the filling seems dry, you can add 2-3 tbsp of heavy cream, milk, or extra cream cheese.
Assemble the casserole: Spread the crack chicken mixture evenly into the bottom of the greased baking dish.
Layer the frozen tater tots on top in a single, even layer as pictured.
Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese on top until all of the tater tots are covered.
Bake the casserole: Place the assembled casserole in the oven and bake uncovered for 30-35 minutes, until the cheese has melted and the tater tots are golden brown and crispy.
Serve and enjoy! Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Eat right away!: This tater tot casserole tastes best right out of the oven (after a few minutes of cooling of course). If you’re making this casserole for a party or meal prep, I recommend assembling the casserole ahead of time but then baking it right before serving. See the storage instructions.

Make it more creamy: If you want your filling to be more creamy or if the filling seems too dry, you can add 2–3 tablespoons of heavy cream, milk, or extra cream cheese to Step #3.

Use rotisserie chicken for extra flavor: I love using rotisserie chicken for this recipe to add even more flavor to the dish! You can definitely make this crack chicken tater tot casserole with plain shredded chicken instead – the ranch seasoning will still infuse the dish with flavor and you can always add other seasonings to jazz up the flavor too!

No extra salt needed: The ranch seasoning + rotisserie chicken gives this dish enough sodium, so you shouldn’t need to add more salt. If you want a lower sodium option, feel free to use plain shredded chicken and/or cut the amount of ranch seasoning mix in half.

Keyword 5-Ingredient Recipe, Breakfast Recipes, Casserole, Easy Dinners, Game Day Snacks & Appetizers, High Protein Breakfast, High Protein Recipes, Lunch Recipes, Party Food, Quick Recipes, Tater Tot Casserole

Did you make this recipe? Let me know how it went!

I’m always open to suggestions, comments, or feedback on tweaking my recipes. If something wasn’t clear or if you think a step could be done better, or you added your own edits to this recipe, share it in the comments below or send me a message!