Easy, one dish and ready in just about 35 minutes, what could be better? I'll tell you what's better, making this your own and using what's in your pantry to make this cream of chicken tater tot casserole a complete meal!
Easy Tater Tot Casserole
As long as you have a dish that will go from stove top to oven in one fell swoop, you'll only have one dish to wash and dinner will be on the table in just 30 minutes. That's what we love about this Cream of Chicken Tater Tot Casserole, nothing is easier!
You'll see in the video that I'm using a stainless pan for my dish but this dish is also great for a cast iron skillet, a dutch oven or any dish at all that will go stove top to oven making this an easy tater tot casserole!
Don't try to use a casserole dish though because although they can withstand high temperatures, they aren't made for stove top applications.
If you don't have anything that goes from the stove top to the oven, simply brown the burger in a skillet and then transfer it to a casserole dish. No problem, see?
If you've tried my Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot casserole, you'll love this casserole too, promise!
Here's What You'll Need
- 1 lb Ground Beef
- 1 15 oz can of cream of chicken soup (or any "cream of" soup).
- ½ cup sour cream
- 4 oz of shredded cheese or a 4 oz block of Velveeta
- 1 Can of vegetable of your preference
- 1 packet of hidden valley ranch seasoning
- a small bag of tater tots
- Non stick cooking spray
Here's How You Do It
- Brown the burger
- Add the sour cream, soup, cheese, veggies, ranch seasoning packet.
- Cover with the tater tots
- Spray with cooking spray
- Bake and then broil.
What Goes with Tater Tot Casserole?
Lots and lots of things go with this tater tot casserole! The great thing is that in a pinch, it's a complete meal (depending on what you add to it).
I usually try to add a couple of veggies into the casserole and then serve a toasted garlic bread because this meal typically means, "I'm tired" and "I needed something fast and hot to fix with very little clean up" as well as, "Everyone rinse your own plate and put it in the dishwasher, thanks, I'm pooped and done for today".
If you want to go the extra steps:
- A bright green salad goes great.
- Pea Salad or Carrot Salad
- Texas Toast
Substitutions
The BEST thing about this easy tater tot casserole recipe is that it is totally adjustable. Here are some examples of the substitutions you can make...
- Sour Cream - switch in some plain greek yogurt or use the vegetarian option instead. Don't have any of those? Add in an extra can of "cream of something" soup.
- Soup - don't want to use a canned soup? No problem, there are about a gozillion recipes out there for homemade cream of chicken soup options to use. You can substitute any of the "cream of" soups like celery, mushroom or golden soups.
- Veggies - I'm using canned diced potatoes in this video, but you could use any of the following alone or in combination: peas, carrots, green beans, black beans, pintos, corn, mexicorn, spinach, etc. etc. etc.
- Hidden Valley Ranch - you could actually leave this out if you are super opposed, BUT I highly recommend you leave it in, especially if you are trying to interest kids in your dish. It helps out the flavor and makes everything meld together just right flavor-wise.
- Ground Beef - feel free to substitute in ground turkey, ground chicken, sausage, lamb or any combination of these. Vegetarian ground beef options work too but remember to watch your salt, don't add any until it's all mixed up, then you can taste and add if you want.
Tips and Tricks
- Always use a pan that can go from the stovetop to the oven and this will save lots of dishwashing!
- Use a ground beef that doesn't have so much fat, so that you don't have to strain out so much. Because of the other ingredients in this recipe, there isn't so much worry about getting flavor from the beef.
- Change up some of the ingredients here based on the substitutions and make this recipe totally yours or made with ingredients you have on hand.
- Tater tots are great, but if you don't have any, fries or hash browns work just as good with this recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
Yes, you sure can. It's fine for up to three months in the freezer.
This recipe will last covered in the fridge for 5 days.
Simply bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes or put a single serving in a microwave safe dish and microwave in one minute intervals until heated through.
If You Enjoyed This Casserole, You Might Also Enjoy...
Watch Cream of Chicken Tater Tot Casserole Being Made
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Cream of Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 Tbs oil
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 15 oz diced potatoes or any canned veggie, drain the liquid from can
- 15 oz cream of chicken soup or 1 can of any type of "cream of" soup
- 4 oz velveeta cheese cubed small
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ can water
- 1 packet hidden valley ranch seasoning
- 12 oz frozen tater tots (12-16 oz, one small bag)
- ⅓ cup shredded cheddar cheese optional
- ¼ cup chopped green onion optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350.
- Use a pan that can go from the stove top to the oven like a cast iron skillet or dutch oven and place over medium heat on the stove top. Add 1 Tbs of oil to the pan and brown the ground beef to just past pink.
- While meat is browning, add salt, onion powder, garlic powder, 1 can of drained veggies, 1 can of cream of chicken soup, 4 oz cubed velveeta, sour cream, water and hidden valley ranch seasoning.
- When the beef is browned and all of the other ingredients are incorporated, sprinkle the tater tots on top in a single layer. Place the dish into the oven and bake at 350 for 20 -25 minutes until bubbly and hot. Turn the broiler on high and broil for 5 minutes to allow the tater tots to become toasty browned.
- Remove from the oven and for a PRO TIP: sprinkle with the optiona shredded cheddar cheese and chopped green onion. Serve hot.
Notes
- Always use a pan that can go from the stovetop to the oven and this will save lots of dishwashing!
- Use a ground beef that doesn't have so much fat, so that you don't have to strain out so much. Because of the other ingredients in this recipe, there isn't so much worry about getting flavor from the beef.
- Change up some of the ingredients here based on the substitutions and make this recipe totally yours or made with ingredients you have on hand.
- Tater tots are great, but if you don't have any, fries or hash browns work just as good with this recipe.
- Sour Cream - switch in some plain greek yogurt or use the vegetarian option instead. Don't have any of those? Add in an extra can of "cream of something" soup.
- Soup - don't want to use a canned soup? No problem, there are about a gozillion recipes out there for homemade cream of chicken soup options to use. You can substitute any of the "cream of" soups like celery, mushroom or golden soups.
- Veggies - I'm using canned diced potatoes in this video, but you could use any of the following alone or in combination: peas, carrots, green beans, black beans, pintos, corn, mexicorn, spinach, etc. etc. etc.
- Hidden Valley Ranch - you could actually leave this out if you are super opposed, BUT I highly recommend you leave it in, especially if you are trying to interest kids in your dish. It helps out the flavor and makes everything meld together just right flavor-wise.
- Ground Beef - feel free to substitute in ground turkey, ground chicken, sausage, lamb or any combination of these. Vegetarian ground beef options work too but remember to watch your salt, don't add any until it's all mixed up, then you can taste and add if you want.
Nutrition
I don't know who needs to read this, but it's worth going and reading the entire passage, trust me.
2 Timothy 3 : 1-8
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. ...
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