Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole Recipe (7 Ingredients) by Heather Holter

Dinner is about to get a lot easier. My version of ramped up Minnesota Tater Tot Hotdish was so popular and adored by everyone I have served it to, I wanted to make a chicken bacon ranch version for a twist. The first try was so delicious, but too complicated because I used ranch dressing and I had to make a roux for the sauce. This step adds time and effort, so it's not a time-friendly recipe, as I am known for. Easy is everything when you have all these kids!

This time I tried something new and the tater tot casserole was so delicious and much easier to make. This chicken bacon ranch tater tot casserole recipe has just a few ingredients. Here is your shopping list: tater tots, chicken, bacon, cheese, sour cream, a ranch seasoning packet and evaporated milk. No sauce to make, just layer ingredients in a casserole and bake. You can substitute canned chicken to save time.

Everyone here loved it and we ate the entire tater tot casserole! You can add vegetables such at corn and onion, but for this one I kept it simple. Serve this delicious tater tot casserole for dinner with your favorite side dishes. This tater tot casserole is great for potlucks.

Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes to 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients 

• 32 ounces (1 bag) frozen tater tots
• 1 1/2 pounds cooked chicken (I used four chicken breasts cooked in a skillet)
• 8 slices cooked, coarsely chopped bacon (reserve 2 tablespoons of bacon grease) 
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 ounce (1 packet) dry ranch seasoning
• 14 ounces (1 can) evaporated milk

Here's how to make it: 

1. Use 2 tablespoons bacon grease (or butter if you are using precooked bacon) to coat a skillet. Toss chicken in this bacon grease. Add a cup of sour cream and toss with the chicken until incorporated well.
   
   
2. In a casserole dish put a layer of tater tots, about half the bag.
   
3. Layer chicken over the tater tots.
   
4. Layer 1 cup of cheddar cheese over chicken.
   
5. Layer chopped bacon over cheese. Layer the remaining tater tots on top of bacon. Top will remaining cup of cheddar cheese. (Add a layer of canned corn or another vegetable over chicken, if desired.)
   
6. Whisk ranch packet into evaporated milk.
   
7. Pour ranch sauce over the cheese. If there are a few lumps on top from the ranch packet that's OK! Just spread it around a bit. I did not use spices at all because the ranch is everything! Trust me.
   
8. Bake, covered, in a preheated 350-degree F oven for about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Let sit for 5 minutes, uncovered, and serve. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. I reheat the casserole in the microwave, but there's usually not any left.
   

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