Chicken and Tater Tot Casserole

baked tater tot casserole in a cast iron skillet ready to serve.

4.92 from 23 votes

This easy chicken and tater tot casserole is creamy, cheesy, and perfect for busy weeknights or potluck dinners—comfort food the whole family will enjoy.

Prep Time2

Cook Time40

Total Time42

Course: Entree

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Calories: 389kcal

Author: Renae Gerhardstein

Equipment

12-inch cast iron skillet or 9x13-inch baking dish

Ingredients

1 pound chicken tenderloins or chicken tenders (can substitute with chicken breasts cut into 1" to 2" strips)
1 cup onion, chopped (1 small onion)
2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
1 can (10 ounces) cream of chicken soup (see notes for soup variations)
1 cup broccoli
2 cups cheddar cheese, grated or shredded
16 ounces (1/2 bag) frozen tater tots
salt and black pepper

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
Saute chicken tenders in a 10-12" skillet over medium heat until lightly golden, about 5 - 7 minutes. Remove them to a plate and cover with foil.
Saute chopped onion, and garlic in butter, until onions are translucent. Stir in canned soup and broccoli.
Shred or chop chicken tenderloins and add to skillet. If your skillet is oven-safe, continue on to the next step. Otherwise, add the mixture to a round or oblong casserole dish.
Sprinkle the grated cheese evenly across the top. Then top the casserole with a layer of tater tots.
Bake at 375º uncovered for 30 minutes, until the tater tots are golden brown and the edges of the casserole are bubbly. Let cool 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with sour cream, sliced green onion, or parsley.

Notes

Recipe Variations

Get creative by mixing up the flavors and ingredients! Whether you switch the soup, add different veggies, or make it meatless, these simple variations let you customize it to your liking.

Use a different flavor of soup: This chicken broccoli tater tot casserole is made with cream of chicken soup, but you can use any variety of condensed cream soups. Cream of mushroom, asparagus, or celery are good options. You can also use condensed cheddar cheese soup for extra cheesy goodness.
Choose your favorite vegetables to add to the chicken potato casserole. Broccoli is a healthy choice, but other sturdy vegetables like cauliflower and carrots bake well too!
Make it meatless: If you want to omit the chicken, you could make tater tot green bean casserole.
Tex-Mex Chicken Tater Tot Casserole: For a fun twist, turn this into a Tex-Mex inspired dish! Swap the cream of chicken soup for cream of mushroom soup, then mix in a packet of taco seasoning for bold flavor. Add in 1 cup of mixed vegetables—like corn, carrots, and peas—along with ½ teaspoon each of garlic powder and onion powder. Top with sharp cheddar cheese before baking for a zesty, colorful casserole that's packed with flavor.

TFN Pro Tip

For crispier tater tots, place them in a single layer on top without crowding, and bake uncovered. This allows them to get golden and crunchy rather than soggy.

Layer the cheese beneath the tater tots instead of on top. This helps the tots brown properly and keeps the casserole from getting too greasy.

Make Ahead Instructions

Follow steps 2-5 in the instructions, then cover and refrigerate the casserole for up to 3 days. Bake at 375º F for 35-40 minutes, until the tater tots are golden brown and the edges of the casserole are bubbly. Let cool 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with sour cream, sliced green onion, or parsley.
Use any of Campbell's condensed cream soups, like cheddar cheese soup, cream of celery, cream of asparagus, or cream of potato to customize this chicken tater tot casserole.

Storing Instructions

Allow it to cool completely, then store it in a sealed container in the freezer.
When ready to reheat you can thaw first or bake from frozen. Cover the dish with foil and bake at 350 for about 10 minutes or until reheated.

Nutrition