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Chicken bacon ranch tater tot casserole with golden tots, melted cheddar and crumbled bacon in a navy baking dish

Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole

Creamy shredded chicken with a homemade ranch sauce, topped with crisp tater tots, cheddar and crumbled bacon. The potatoes bake first, then the final cheese and bacon go on for a short finish.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course casserole, Dinner, lunch
Cuisine American
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

  • 6 slices cooked bacon crumbled, or microwave bacon
  • 4 cooked and shredded chicken breasts
  • 1 bag frozen tater tots 32-ounce bag; keep frozen
  • 1/2 cup ranch dressing
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded mild cheddar cheese divided
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Start with fully cooked, shredded chicken and cooked bacon; cook them first if needed. Spread the chicken evenly across the bottom of the dish.
    Cooked shredded chicken spread across the bottom of a white-interior navy baking dish
  • Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for about 1 minute, stirring, until no dry flour remains. Keep the mixture pale.
    Butter and flour cooked together in a small saucepan for the casserole sauce
  • Slowly whisk in the milk, adding a little at a time. Stir over gentle heat until smooth and lightly thickened. Stir in the ranch dressing. Taste and season with salt and pepper, keeping the heat low.
    Smooth creamy milk and ranch sauce in a small saucepan before adding it to the chicken
  • Pour the warm ranch sauce evenly over the chicken. Sprinkle on half of the cheddar, about ¾ cup.
    Shredded chicken covered with creamy ranch sauce and half the cheddar before adding tater tots
  • Arrange the frozen tater tots over the filling in one even layer. Bake uncovered for about 20 minutes, until the tots are golden and hot through. If they need longer, continue baking before adding the final topping. Crumble the cooked bacon while the casserole bakes.
    Frozen tater tots arranged in one layer over the chicken filling before baking
  • Sprinkle the remaining cheddar and crumbled bacon over the hot casserole. Bake for about 5 more minutes, until the cheese is melted.
    Baked casserole after adding the final cheddar and bacon, with melted cheese between crisp tater tots
  • Let the casserole stand for a few minutes before scooping and serving. The filling should be creamy beneath the crisp potato topping.
    Serving of chicken bacon ranch casserole showing creamy shredded chicken beneath golden tater tots, cheese and bacon

Notes

Timing: Preparation and total times assume the chicken and bacon are already cooked. Cooking them first adds extra time.
Potato topping: Use one 32-ounce bag of frozen tater tots in an even layer. Bake uncovered. If the tots need longer to turn golden and heat through, continue the first bake before adding the last cheese and bacon.
Cheese: Divide the 1½ cups of cheddar equally between the filling and the final topping.