The Best Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole Recipe
This buffalo chicken tater tot casserole brings together bold flavors in one delicious dish the whole family will love. It combines spicy buffalo sauce, creamy ranch, and crispy tater tots with seasoned ground chicken. The result is a hearty meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights.
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I’m all about easy, flavorful meals that are going to make the whole family happy. This buffalo chicken tater tot casserole checks all those boxes and then some. It’s become a regular in our house, especially on those busy evenings when I don’t have much time to spend on dinner.
We all love the taste of buffalo chicken wings, but let’s face it – they can be messy and time-consuming to make. This casserole is a great way to get all those flavors you crave in a much simpler package.
The ground chicken soaks up the zesty buffalo sauce, the ranch adds a cool, creamy contrast, and those tater tots on top get perfectly crispy in the oven.
It’s got that perfect balance of spicy and creamy, with the added bonus of a crunchy topping. My family loves to eat it with a side of ranch and celery sticks and with extra buffalo wing sauce drizzled over the top of the casserole. This is an easy recipe the entire family will love!
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What goes into this Recipe
- Ground Chicken: This is our main protein. It soaks up all the flavors really well. You could swap it for ground turkey if you prefer. To save time you could also use rotisserie chicken tossed in the other ingredients! This is a great way to use leftover chicken.
- Sour Cream: This adds richness and helps balance out the heat from the buffalo sauce. You could use Greek yogurt for a lighter option.
- Ranch Seasoning Mix: This adds a tangy, herby flavor that goes with the buffalo sauce perfectly. You can find a ranch seasoning packet in the spice aisle of most grocery stores.
- Buffalo Sauce: The key to that classic buffalo flavor. I use Frank’s Red Hot, but any brand you like will work great. We also love it in these Buffalo Chicken Wraps.
- Tater Tots: The crispy topping that makes this casserole special. No need to thaw them before using!
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to make a Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the olive oil and ground chicken. Cook until the chicken is no longer pink, breaking it up with a spatula as it cooks. This usually takes about 5-7 minutes. Once the chicken is cooked, it’s time to add flavor. Mix in the sour cream, ranch seasoning, cream of chicken soup, and buffalo sauce. Stir everything together until it’s well combined and heated through. This creates that creamy, tangy base we are after.
- Transfer this buffalo chicken mixture to a greased 9×13 inch baking dish. Spread it out in an even layer in the prepared baking dish.
- Now for the fun part – toppings! Sprinkle the sharp cheddar cheese over the chicken mixture, then arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer on top. Don’t worry about being too precise, just make sure they’re evenly distributed.
- Pop the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes. The cheese will melt and the tots will start to crisp up. After 20 minutes, switch your oven to broil. This is the secret to getting those tater tots extra crispy! Let it broil for 4-5 minutes, but keep a close eye on it – they can go from perfectly golden brown to burnt pretty quickly. Once it’s done, let it cool for a few minutes before serving. To serve, drizzle some prepared ranch dressing over the top and sprinkle with chopped celery leaves or green onions.
Expert Tips
- Be sure that the ground chicken is cooked through before adding it to the dish. The bake time is only long enough to warm the ingredients and cook the tater tots on top.
- Use shredded pepper jack cheese. This will give the casserole extra spice and flavor.
- Be sure to turn the broiler on for a couple of minutes. This ensures that the top of the tater tots get extra crispy.
- Adjust the heat level to your liking. If you prefer your buffalo sauce extra spicy, feel free to add more to the chicken mixture or drizzle some on top before serving.
- For a quicker version, use rotisserie chicken. Toss the shredded chicken with the sour cream, ranch seasoning, cream of chicken soup, and buffalo sauce in a large bowl before adding it to the casserole dish.
- Let it rest before serving. Allow the casserole to cool for about 5 minutes after taking it out of the oven. This helps everything set and makes serving easier.
- Add blue cheese to the filling or top. Add blue cheese crumbles to the filling or top with blue cheese dressing for a tangy version of this buffalo chicken casserole.
Storage and Freezing
Store: Leftover buffalo chicken tater tot casserole can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, place in a 350°F (175°C) oven for about 15-20 minutes or until heated through.
Freeze: To freeze, allow the casserole to cool completely, then cover tightly with plastic wrap and aluminum foil or transfer to a freezer-safe container. It can be frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. For best results, reheat the thawed casserole in a 350°F (175°C) oven until hot and the tots are crispy again, about 25-30 minutes.
Recipe FAQs
This buffalo chicken tater tot casserole is a little bit spicy from the Frank’s Red Hot, but you can easily adjust the spice level to your liking by changing the ratio of buffalo sauce to sour cream.
Yes, you can substitute the ground chicken with ground turkey or shredded rotisserie chicken. If using rotisserie chicken, simply skip the cooking step and mix it directly with the other ingredients.
To lighten it up, you can use ground turkey instead of chicken, Greek yogurt in place of sour cream, and a low-fat cream soup. You could also add more vegetables to the mixture, like diced bell peppers or carrots.
Yes, you can prepare the chicken mixture a day in advance and refrigerate it. When you’re ready to bake, just top with cheese and tater tots and pop it in the oven. You may need to add a few extra minutes to the baking time if the mixture is cold from the fridge.
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The Best Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground chicken
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 packet Ranch seasoning mix
- 1 can cream of chicken soup
- ¼ cup buffalo sauce
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 package frozen tater tots
Toppings
- ½ cup prepared Ranch Dressing
- 2 Tablespoons celery leaves {chopped}
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- In a skillet over medium-high heat add oil and ground chicken. Cook until the chicken is cooked through. Then add the sour cream, ranch seasoning mix, cream of chicken soup and buffalo sauce to the ground meat and stir to coat.
- Add the buffalo chicken mixture to a greased 9×13 baking pan and top with shredded cheese and a layer of tater tots.
- Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes, after 20 minutes turn the oven to broil and finish baking for an additional 4-5 minutes or until the tater tots are crisp and browned. {Be careful not to burn} To serve, top with prepared ranch dressing and celery leaves.
