Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole: A Spicy, Cheesy Comfort Food Delight

Craving something warm, comforting, and packed with flavor? Look no further than this Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole! It’s a crowd-pleasing dish that combines the irresistible taste of buffalo chicken wings with the crispy, golden goodness of tater tots, all smothered in creamy cheese. Perfect for game day, a weeknight dinner, or any occasion where you need a hearty and satisfying meal, this casserole is sure to become a family favorite.

This recipe is surprisingly easy to make, using readily available ingredients. Even better, you can customize it to your preferred level of spiciness and add your own personal touch. Let’s dive into the details of how to make this delicious Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole.

## Why You’ll Love This Recipe

* **Flavor Explosion:** The combination of spicy buffalo sauce, savory chicken, creamy cheese, and crispy tater tots creates an unforgettable flavor experience.
* **Easy to Make:** This recipe requires minimal effort and uses simple ingredients, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
* **Crowd-Pleasing:** Everyone loves buffalo chicken and tater tots, so this casserole is guaranteed to be a hit with family and friends.
* **Customizable:** You can easily adjust the level of spiciness and add your favorite toppings to create a personalized dish.
* **Comfort Food at its Finest:** Warm, cheesy, and satisfying, this casserole is the ultimate comfort food.

## Ingredients You’ll Need

* **Chicken:** 2 cups cooked and shredded chicken (rotisserie chicken works great!)
* **Buffalo Sauce:** 1 cup buffalo wing sauce (adjust to your spice preference)
* **Cream Cheese:** 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
* **Ranch Dressing:** 1/2 cup ranch dressing
* **Cheddar Cheese:** 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
* **Tater Tots:** 1 (32 ounce) bag frozen tater tots
* **Green Onions:** 2-3 green onions, thinly sliced (for garnish, optional)
* **Blue Cheese Crumbles:** 1/4 cup blue cheese crumbles (for garnish, optional)
* **Butter:** 2 tablespoons, melted (optional, for browning tater tots)
* **Salt and Pepper:** To taste

**Ingredient Notes:**

* **Chicken:** Using pre-cooked chicken like rotisserie chicken significantly reduces prep time. If you don’t have rotisserie chicken, you can boil, bake, or grill chicken breasts and then shred them.
* **Buffalo Sauce:** Choose your favorite brand and heat level of buffalo sauce. Frank’s RedHot is a popular choice, but there are many other great options available. Experiment to find what you like best.
* **Cream Cheese:** Make sure the cream cheese is softened to room temperature for easy mixing. If you forget to take it out in advance, you can microwave it in short bursts (15-20 seconds) until softened, but be careful not to melt it.
* **Cheddar Cheese:** Sharp cheddar cheese adds a lot of flavor, but you can use mild or medium cheddar if you prefer. A blend of cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese is also a good option.
* **Ranch Dressing:** You can use store-bought or homemade ranch dressing. If you don’t like ranch, you can substitute it with blue cheese dressing.
* **Tater Tots:** Any brand of frozen tater tots will work. Crispy Crowns also works well.
* **Optional Garnishes:** Green onions and blue cheese crumbles add flavor and visual appeal, but you can customize with your favorite toppings, such as chopped celery, diced tomatoes, or a drizzle of extra buffalo sauce.

## Equipment You’ll Need

* 9×13 inch baking dish
* Large bowl
* Mixing spoon or spatula
* Measuring cups and spoons
* Optional: Skillet for browning tater tots

## Step-by-Step Instructions

Here’s how to make this mouthwatering Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole:

**1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Dish:**

* Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
* Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. This will prevent the casserole from sticking.

**2. Prepare the Chicken Mixture:**

* In a large bowl, combine the cooked and shredded chicken, buffalo sauce, softened cream cheese, and ranch dressing.
* Mix well until everything is evenly combined. Make sure the cream cheese is fully incorporated to avoid clumps.
* Add 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese to the chicken mixture.
* Stir until the cheese is evenly distributed throughout the mixture. This cheese will help bind the casserole together and add extra flavor.
* Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remember that buffalo sauce can be quite salty, so taste the mixture before adding any additional salt.

**3. Assemble the Casserole:**

* Pour the chicken mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread it evenly across the bottom.
* Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer on top of the chicken mixture. Try to cover the entire surface of the chicken mixture with tater tots.

**4. Bake the Casserole:**

* Bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy, and the chicken mixture is bubbly.

**5. Add the Remaining Cheese:**

* Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the tater tots.

**6. Broil (Optional):**

* If you want the cheese to be extra melted and bubbly, you can broil the casserole for 1-2 minutes, watching it closely to prevent burning. Be very careful when broiling, as the cheese can burn quickly.

**7. Garnish and Serve:**

* Remove the casserole from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving.
* Garnish with sliced green onions and blue cheese crumbles (if using).
* Serve hot and enjoy!

## Tips for Perfect Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

* **Don’t Overcrowd the Pan:** Make sure the tater tots are arranged in a single layer. Overcrowding the pan will result in soggy tater tots.
* **Soften the Cream Cheese:** Softened cream cheese is essential for a smooth and creamy sauce. Don’t skip this step!
* **Adjust the Spice Level:** Customize the amount of buffalo sauce to your preference. Start with less and add more to taste.
* **Brown the Tater Tots (Optional):** For extra crispy tater tots, you can pre-cook them in a skillet with melted butter before assembling the casserole. This will give them a head start and ensure they are perfectly golden brown.
* **Use a Meat Thermometer:** To ensure the chicken is heated through, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. It should reach 165°F (74°C).
* **Let it Rest:** Allowing the casserole to rest for a few minutes before serving helps the flavors meld together and prevents it from being too runny.

## Variations and Customizations

This Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole is incredibly versatile and can be easily customized to suit your taste preferences. Here are a few ideas:

* **Add Vegetables:** Mix in some chopped celery, carrots, or bell peppers to the chicken mixture for added nutrients and flavor.
* **Use Different Cheese:** Experiment with different types of cheese, such as Monterey Jack, pepper jack, or a cheddar blend.
* **Make it Healthier:** Use Greek yogurt instead of cream cheese for a lighter version. You can also use ground chicken instead of shredded chicken to reduce the fat content.
* **Add Bacon:** Crispy bacon bits add a smoky flavor that complements the buffalo chicken perfectly.
* **Make it Vegetarian:** Substitute the chicken with cauliflower florets or chickpeas. Toss the cauliflower or chickpeas with buffalo sauce before adding them to the casserole.
* **Add a Crumb Topping:** Combine breadcrumbs, melted butter, and Parmesan cheese for a crispy and flavorful topping.
* **Make it a Dip:** Use the chicken mixture as a dip for tortilla chips or vegetables.
* **Spice it Up:** Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce to the chicken mixture for an extra kick.
* **Cool it Down:** Serve with a side of cool ranch or blue cheese dressing to balance the spiciness.
* **Jalapenos:** Add diced jalapenos to the chicken mixture for a spicy and cheesy kick.

## Serving Suggestions

This Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole is a complete meal on its own, but here are a few serving suggestions to make it even more special:

* **Serve with a side salad:** A simple green salad with a light vinaigrette dressing provides a refreshing contrast to the richness of the casserole.
* **Serve with celery sticks and carrot sticks:** These classic buffalo wing accompaniments are a perfect complement to the casserole.
* **Serve with a side of coleslaw:** Creamy coleslaw adds a cool and tangy element to the meal.
* **Serve with a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt:** This adds a creamy and tangy touch that balances the spiciness.
* **Serve with your favorite dipping sauces:** Ranch dressing, blue cheese dressing, or extra buffalo sauce are all great options.

## Make-Ahead Instructions

This Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole can be made ahead of time for easy entertaining or meal prepping. Here’s how:

* **Assemble the casserole:** Prepare the chicken mixture and assemble the casserole as directed in the recipe.
* **Cover and refrigerate:** Cover the assembled casserole tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.
* **Bake:** When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and bake the casserole for 40-50 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy, and the chicken mixture is bubbly.
* **Add cheese and broil (optional):** Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the tater tots and broil for 1-2 minutes, if desired.

## Storage and Reheating Instructions

* **Storage:** Store leftover Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
* **Reheating:** Reheat the casserole in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through. You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave.

## Nutritional Information (Approximate)

* Calories: 450-550 per serving (depending on ingredients and portion size)
* Fat: 25-35g
* Protein: 25-35g
* Carbohydrates: 30-40g

**Note:** This is an approximate nutritional information and may vary depending on the specific ingredients and brands you use.

## Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole Recipe Card

**Prep Time:** 20 minutes
**Cook Time:** 40 minutes
**Total Time:** 60 minutes
**Servings:** 6-8

**Ingredients:**

* 2 cups cooked and shredded chicken
* 1 cup buffalo wing sauce
* 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
* 1/2 cup ranch dressing
* 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
* 1 (32 ounce) bag frozen tater tots
* 2-3 green onions, thinly sliced (for garnish, optional)
* 1/4 cup blue cheese crumbles (for garnish, optional)
* 2 tablespoons butter, melted (optional, for browning tater tots)
* Salt and pepper to taste

**Instructions:**

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
2. In a large bowl, combine shredded chicken, buffalo sauce, softened cream cheese, and ranch dressing. Mix well.
3. Add 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese to the chicken mixture and season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Pour the chicken mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
5. Arrange frozen tater tots in a single layer on top of the chicken mixture.
6. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until tater tots are golden brown and chicken mixture is bubbly.
7. Remove from oven and sprinkle remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese over the tater tots.
8. Broil for 1-2 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly (optional, watch carefully).
9. Garnish with sliced green onions and blue cheese crumbles (if using).
10. Let cool slightly before serving.

Enjoy your delicious and easy Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole!

This recipe is a surefire way to satisfy your cravings for comfort food with a spicy kick. It’s easy to make, customizable, and guaranteed to be a hit with everyone. So gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and get ready to enjoy a delicious and satisfying meal!