Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

Tater tot chicken casserole in a baking dish topped with a drizzle of buffalo sauce.

Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

This cozy Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole is made with rotisserie chicken and is the perfect comfort food dinner for busy weeknights!

Course Dinner, Main Course, Main Dishes

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 40

Total Time 55

Servings servings

Calories 561

Author Dorothy Bigelow

Ingredients

1 8oz package cream cheese softened* at room temperature
1 package ranch seasoning (or 2-3 tablespoons homemade ranch dressing mix)
6 tablespoons cayenne pepper sauce like Frank’s Red Hot Sauce
⅓ cup mayonnaise
1 ½ tablespoons butter melted and cooled
½ teaspoon worcestershire sauce
⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
⅛ teaspoon ground cayenne (optional)
1 ½ cups chopped cooked chicken
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese packed (shredded fresh from the block)
1 package frozen tater tots about 54-72 tots

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400ºF (204ºC) and lightly grease a medium baking dish (9x9” or 7.5 x 10”).
Add the cream cheese, ranch seasoning, Frank’s Red Hot Sauce, mayonnaise, melted butter, worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and ground cayenne to a large bowl.
Using an electric hand mixer (or stand mixer), beat the cream cheese and other ingredients until smooth and mostly lump-free.
Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix again until completely combined.
Add the chicken and shredded cheddar cheese and fold everything together using a silicone spatula.
Transfer the chicken mixture to the bottom of the prepared baking dish, smoothing it into an even layer.
Top the buffalo chicken layer with the frozen tater tots; line them up in a single layer to ensure even cooking and browning. (Tip: Spray the tater tots with cooking spray to help with texture and browning).
Bake in the preheated oven for about 40 minutes, or until the tater tot tops are golden brown and the casserole mixture is bubbly and hot.
Optional: To crisp up the tater tots, set the oven to “broil” at the end of the cooking time and broil for 2-4 minutes**, watching it very carefully. Be ready to pull it out quickly. If your baking dish is not broiler-safe, you can increase the heat to 450ºF and bake for an additional 5 minutes (if desired).
Remove from the oven and cool for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped green onions, a drizzle of ranch dressing, blue cheese crumbles, or additional hot sauce (if desired).

Notes

**Only use your broiler if your baking dish is broiler-safe (safe up to 500ºF/260ºC).

Adapted from my recipes for Buffalo Chicken Dip and Tater Tot Casserole.

Storing leftovers: Allow the casserole to cool for about 1 hour, then tightly wrap or transfer the leftovers to an airtight container. Store for up to 3 days in the refrigerator (as long as the chicken is fresh). Reheat portions, as needed, in the microwave, air fryer, or a 350ºF (180ºC) oven until heated throughout.

*Softening cream cheese: Let a brick rest (wrapped) at room temperature for 1-2 hours. If you don't have the time, you can heat it unwrapped on a plate in 15-20 second intervals in the microwave until soft. Alternatively, you can add the package to a sealed Ziploc bag and submerge it in a sink of hot water for about 10-15 minutes.

Substitutions:

Gluten-free: Most brands (both national and generic) are gluten-free, but it’s important to check the label to be sure. All of the other ingredients in the recipe are gluten-free, but a quick check of the label should be done to make sure.
Using turkey: I’ve had a lot of success swapping the chicken in buffalo chicken recipes with cooked turkey. This is particularly great for Thanksgiving leftovers or if you have some stashed in your freezer. It’s an easy swap – no adjustments are needed, and you shouldn’t notice a difference!
Low carb: The buffalo chicken base is very low in carbs, but tater tots are made with potatoes and are, therefore, higher in carbohydrates. Swap them for your favorite cauliflower tots (or a sprinkle of crushed pork rinds) for an easy substitution!

Nutrition