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Buffalo Ranch Chicken Tater Tot Casserole is full of all the flavors of classic buffalo chicken, but inside a casserole with crispy tater tots and cheese on top! This is a savory & mildly spicy dinner option to add into your meal rotation.
My family loves tater tot casseroles – of any kind! Some of our other favorites are Taco Tater Tot Casserole and Shepherd’s Pie Tater Tot Casserole.
Chicken Tater Tot Casserole With Buffalo & Ranch (Buffalo Chicken Casserole)
If you love all foods with that irresistible combination of buffalo sauce + ranch, then you’re going to want to make this tater tot casserole for dinner! Buffalo sauce is tangy, spicy, and buttery which pairs perfectly with the mild creamy ranch dressing, and of course throw in some crispy tater tots and you have a magical casserole ready to eat at dinner.
For more of our best buffalo sauce recipes be sure and try these Buffalo Chicken Pillows and Buffalo Chicken Meatballs.
Ingredients Needed
- Cooked Chicken : Use up leftover chicken, a rotisserie chicken, or even canned chicken. You can also cook chicken your preferred way (grill, oven baked, skillet pan) and either chop it up or shred it for the casserole.
- Buffalo Sauce : Use your favorite as some are spicier than others. I like the Sweet Baby Ray’s brand of buffalo sauce because they make a ‘mild’ version of it that’s kid-friendly. The Frank’s Red Hot Wings sauce is spicier than most, so use that if you want the spice.
- Ranch Dressing : Use your favorite store-bought bottled ranch dressing, or try my Homemade Ranch Dressing! I love using it in any recipe that calls for ranch dressing.
- Sour Cream
- Finely Diced Celery
- Finely Diced Red Onion
- Garlic Powder
- Kosher Salt & Black Pepper
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- Frozen Tater Tots
- Crumbled Bleu Cheese & Chopped Fresh Chives : These are an optional garnish for serving.
How To Make Buffalo Ranch Tater Tot Casserole
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
In a large bowl, stir together the shredded chicken, buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, sour cream, celery, red onion, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until combined well.
Spread the chicken mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese over top the chicken mixture.
Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer over top, making sure to cover the chicken mixture completely.
Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy.
Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over top the tater tots. Place it back into the oven for 1-2 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
Remove the casserole from the oven and let it cool for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish the casserole, or each individual serving, with crumbled bleu cheese and chopped chives (if wanted), and/or additional buffalo sauce or ranch dressing.
How To Store and Reheat Leftover Tater Tot Casserole
Buffalo ranch chicken tater tot casserole should be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Cover the casserole dish with plastic wrap, aluminum foil, or a lid for storage. You can also remove individual portions to an airtight container for storage.
To Freeze : You can freeze the assembled casserole without baking it first. Cover it tightly in plastic wrap and then again in aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 2 months. When ready to bake, thaw it in the fridge overnight and bake as directed. Please note that the tater tots may become mushy when thawed.
What Are Some Substitutions I Can Make?
- Chicken : Use leftover chicken, canned chicken, rotisserie chicken, or cook/grill/saute chicken your preferred way and chop it up or shred it. You can also put two chicken breasts into a slow cooker along with a can of chicken broth, and cook on LOW heat for 6-7 hours. It will be perfectly shreddable! Make sure the chicken is chopped or shredded and that it’s fully cooked when adding into the mixing bowl.
- Buffalo Sauce : Use a hot buffalo sauce (like Frank’s Red Hot) or a more mild one like Sweet Baby Ray’s Mild Buffalo Sauce. Use more or less depending on spice preference.
- Ranch Dressing : Replace with bleu cheese dressing if wanted.
- Sour Cream : You can also use plain Greek yogurt.
- Cheddar Cheese : Use Monterey Jack cheese, Colby Jack cheese, Pepper Jack cheese, or another cheese blend of your choice.
Recipe FAQ’s
Can I Make Tater Tot Casserole Ahead Of Time?
Yes, you can prepare and assemble the casserole as directed, cover it with plastic wrap or a lid, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking. If cooking it chilled from the fridge, allow a few extra minutes of cook time. Otherwise, you can set the casserole out at room temperature about 10-15 minutes before baking to help bring it closer to room temperature.
What Can I Use Instead of Buffalo Sauce?
You can use your favorite hot sauce sauce, wing sauce, or even bbq sauce in it’s place. Any creamy sauce, like the buffalo sauce, will work just fine in this casserole. To make the dish mild try using all ranch dressing or use the Buffalo Wild Wings Parmesan Ranch sauce instead.
Is This Casserole Spicy?
The level of spiciness depends on the buffalo sauce used. For a milder version, be sure and use a mild buffalo sauce or try reducing the amount of buffalo sauce used. For extra spicy, use wing sauce which is spicier or regular buffalo sauce. You can even add some hot sauce in for extra spiciness.
Buffalo Ranch Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chicken (shredded or chunked)
- 1/2 cup buffalo sauce
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup finely diced celery
- 1/4 cup finely diced red onion
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots
- crumbled bleu cheese & chopped chives (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375℉. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, stir together the shredded chicken, buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, sour cream, celery, red onion, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until combined well.2 cups cooked chicken, 1/2 cup buffalo sauce, 1/2 cup ranch dressing, 1/4 cup sour cream, 1/2 cup finely diced celery, 1/4 cup finely diced red onion, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Spread the chicken mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese over top the chicken mixture.2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer over top, making sure to cover the chicken mixture completely.1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy.
- Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over top the tater tots. Place it back into the oven for 1-2 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
- Remove the casserole from the oven and let it cool for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish the casserole, or each individual serving, with crumbled bleu cheese and chopped chives (if wanted), and/or additional buffalo sauce or ranch dressing.crumbled bleu cheese & chopped chives
Notes
Nutrition
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