Before we get started, let me explain that I’ll be using the term “slow cooker” is used interchangeably with “crock pot.” Crock Pot is a brand name of a line of slow cookers. So sometimes you’ll see me call it a crock [ot and other times I’ll call it a slow cooker. It all means the same thing. Are you still with me? Good! Let’s continue!
During the warm summer months, I get a lot of reader-requests for slow cooker meals. And because I love y’all so much, I do my best to oblige. When the sun is a-blazin’ during summer, lots of cooks are looking for ways to conserve energy and not heat up the house. And a slow cooker is the way to go. It’s also great for folks who may need their oven for other things they might be baking. For example, you can have this meal going in your slow cooker and still be baking a dessert the oven. And many slow cookers are fairly inexpensive. I have one of the most basic models they sell and it only cost me about $25 and it works just fine. Slow cookers come in a range of sizes. You can even get fancier ones that are all digital. They are neat and fun to play with, but honestly, if you are new to slow cooking, a basic 6- quart model is all you need and it will work just fine. Oval slow cookers are the way to go and will suit almost all your needs and it cooks more evenly than a round model.
Now, onto the recipe. Y’all, this casserole is so good. I just don’t know how else to describe it. It is cheesy. It is bacon-y. And you got your chicken and taters all together so it is a whole meal in one. And the taste is so pleasin’. You just gotta try it and let me know what you think. In my house, this is kid and hubby-friendly.
Ingredients:
1 (32 oz.) bag frozen tater tots
1 (3 oz.) bag bacon pieces
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
3/4 cup milk
salt & pepper, to taste
I’m using bacon pieces here, but feel free to use the bacon you enjoy. Sometimes if I fry bacon, I’ll make a double batch and use leftovers for this or sandwiches. Microwave bacon works just fine too.
Directions:
Spray slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
Layer half of the frozen tater tots on the bottom of the slow cooker.
Sprinkle with 1/3 of the bacon pieces.
Now top with 1/3 of the shredded cheese.
Add diced chicken on top. Season with salt & pepper.
Now add 1/3 of the bacon pieces and another 1/3 of shredded cheese.
Put the rest of the frozen tater tots on top.
Finish with the remaining 1/3 cheddar cheese and remaining 1/3 of bacon pieces.
Pour 3/4 cup milk all over the top.
Cover and cook on low about 4-6 hours. Please note: Some slow cookers run at different temperatures. If you are using an older slow cooker (older than about 6 years old), your cooking time may take longer. Newer models run a bit hotter so keep an eye on this around the 4 hour mark. You want to make sure the chicken is cooked thoroughly (to 165F degrees.)
Look at all that cheesy goodness on top.
Serve with your favorite veggies and a fresh, green salad.
Cook’s Note: To make in the oven: spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick spray. Then layer ingredients into baking dish. Cover and bake at 350F degrees for about an hour to an hour and a half.
Enjoy!
Crock Pot Cheesy Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
4 hrs
Total Time
4 hrs 10 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6
Calories: 1000 kcal
Ingredients
- 1 32 oz bag frozen tater tots
- 1 3 oz bag bacon pieces
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts diced
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 3/4 cup milk
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Spray slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
- Layer half of the frozen tater tots on the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Sprinkle with 1/3 of the bacon pieces.
- Now top with 1/3 of the shredded cheese.
- Add diced chicken on top.
- Season with salt & pepper.
- Now add 1/3 of the bacon pieces and another 1/3 of shredded cheese.
- Put the rest of the frozen tater tots on top.
- Finish with the remaining 1/3 cheddar cheese and remaining 1/3 of bacon pieces.
- Pour 3/4 cup milk all over the top.
- Cover and cook on low about 4-6 hours.
Nutrition Facts
Crock Pot Cheesy Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
Amount Per Serving
Calories 1000
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Referral Links are included in this post
If you make it in the oven; what temperature do you bake it at?
350
for how long???
Until chicken is tender 😉
I am thinking of putting a can of cream of chicken soup on top of the chicken cause I was wondering if this is dry tasting? but it looks wonderfull and getting ready to make it now
I haven’t made this yet, but from past experiences the chicken usually gives off enough juices. I’m wondering the same though. What about mixing the cheese with cream cheese?
Recently found you through Pinterest and am thoroughly enjoying your blog. 🙂 Went right out this morning and got the ingredients for this one! Making it now. 🙂 Thanks for a great twist on boring old Tater Tot Casserole!
This cassarole looks unbelieveable!! I've never made one in the crock pot before, great idea!
Blessings,
Leslie
MAN OH MAN OH MAN!!! This looks so tasty. I LOVE the flavor combo going on here and ease of this delicious recipe. Great tutorial too – as always. Enjoy a wonderful holiday weekend Friend. XO
This looks amazingly good. I'm so tempted to bring out the crock pot. This is so no-fuss, go out and enjoy your day and come home to an awesome meal that's ready to serve. LOVE IT!
I'm not usually a fan of tater tot casseroles but this one I'll try! Thank you for sharing it. I'm pinning it now for future reference.
This sounds fab, now i just need to find a substitute for tater tots lol
I can't wait to try this! It sounds delish and your pics confirm that!
Yummmmyyy! We'll be trying this one soon. I love a good Crock Pot meal.. & hubby loves to eat! 😉 This one works for us both. Thanks! ♥
I'm super excited to taste this!!! Making it for dinner tonight it already smells amazing!!!! Thank you for posting this!!! ^_^
Hmmm, this looks tasty but I'm not a HUGE fan of the tots. I do, however, like shredded hashbrowns. I wonder if I could substitute those instead and how it would turn out with them? Thoughts? Thanks Brandie! Hugs from NM.
Made this last night and the whole family almost inhaled it! Talk about awesome, even my picky eater ate it. Whoo hoo! This is def a keeper!
What a treat, i love to self indulge in it.
I was going to make this in the oven today- but the weather was just too hot, I used the crockpot. WOW. The family loved it! I will try it again in the winter and use the oven for a crunch on top. But using the slow cooker, 4 hours later on low… it was AWESOME!
Yay!! So happy to hear it worked out great for you. I appreciate you taking the time to let me know how it worked for ya!! Thanks so much!
This was yummy! My family loved it!
Beware!!! I made this in the oven…doubled the recipe and it took closer to 2 hours @ 350 degrees! I was just messed up on my time, but it was still really good.
Lisa when u doubled this And made it in the oven what size pan did u use?
My girlfriend is makin this today,,,she has added cream of chicken soup to the milk and a dollop of sour cream,,,,can't wait to see how it is
How did the cream of chicken soup go? I was thinking about that! Putting it together for dinner right now… 🙂
This is exactly how I make mine and it is delicious. More importantly, my family loves it!!
I added cream of celery soup and peas. I mixed the two together and then added it as one of the layers. So good… this is for sure a keeper!
It's in the crockpot now. I'll post again after dinner tonight.
I loved it. Going for seconds now!
I can't wait to try this and I love how the recipe prints up so nicely on one piece of paper and you have your contact on the bottom so I won't forget where I got this great recipe from!
I have made this twice now. The first time as written – and it was great! We all thought it was like Cracker Barrel's hash brown casserole. In fact, the next time, I left out the chicken, but added chopped onion and velvetta cheese cubes and wow… it was amazing! Even better left over!
Do I have to cook the chicken first if I am going to cook it in the oven?
It is a strange, crazy, wonderful and interesting recipe… I'll have to try it with my niece.
Thank you very much.
This sounds amazing! I'm going to have to give it a try, I think my family will go nuts for it!! 🙂
sounds goooood and easy(i like easy) will try tomorrow. i love the way you show how to do..with pics..
Has any one tried it with o,brien style potatoes? I think the onions and peppers would add good flavor.
My grandson would love this. I just printed a copy, and I will prepare this for him.
Thanks.
Good recipe. We added a little ranch dressing on top and it was quite yummy. Any thoughts on adding a packet of ranch seasoning to the cooking process?
I tried this with "O'Brein" style potatoes. It was a bagged mix of potato cubes and diced onion. The onion added a nice flavor, and the texture of the potatoes was a little more sophisticated than that of a tot. 🙂
Hi, Brandie! Great recipe! I tried this tonight making in the oven/9×13 dish with shredded hash browns (what I had on hand) instead of tater tots and it was absolutely delicious! The only thing I did slightly different was that I added a touch more milk, just because there was about less than 1/8 cup left in the jug so I just emptied it all in there. I doubt it was even enough to measure out the difference, anyway 🙂 Definitely bookmarking this one for future use and to take to potlucks or someone needing a meal. Served it with a dollop of sour cream on top! mmm mmm mmmmm!!
Thanks so much!
I Found this via pinterest and am going shopping now and eating it for dinner tonight! thanks for the recipe 🙂
You don't have to cook the chicken beforehand to make this. However, the cooking time will obviously be on the higher end (closer to an hour and half). Ovens are different so obviously oven times vary. The tater tots are frozen so they are going to make the chicken cold once the casserole is put together. So just check after the first hour to check your chicken for doneness. But you can cook the chicken beforehand if you prefer. I sometimes get those bags of cooked and cubed chicken from Schwan's frozen foods and they work great in this too because they seem to reheat at about the same rate as the tater tots. Hope that helps!
If you want precooked chicken think of picking up a rotisserie chicken and cutting that up
This looks absolutely delish. I'm thinking I may at rotel for a mex twist. Thank you!
I made this exactly as instructed, in my slow cooker for four or so hours! It was delicious!!! I highly recommend it!!
Thank You very Much for this recipe tried it for dinner tonight used breakfast sausage instead of Chicken turned out great my kids, husband, and I loved it!! very easy to make!!
Anyone know if these ingredients can be combined in a freezer bag for future crock pot cooking and frozen? Made it and it's delicious!
I would freeze thingd in separate bags because of the layering or do it as an oven recipe and thaw for 30 min or so before putting in.
This sounds amazing. I'm cooking it now and it smells so good! I cannot wait to try it.
I just made this for dinner, and it was a hit! I baked it in the oven, because it was a last minute deal, and the whole 9×13 was gone in a flash. This recipe is a keeper, and a sharer!
Just made this today. It's amazing! Thanks for sharing! Will definitely be making this again.
Tried this recipe tonight in the crockpot. I added frozen corn just for a little something extra. It was really good!!! Even my boyfriend who usually says things are "not bad" said that it was "pretty good"! 😉
Yummm love this dish! Just had it for dinner! Thanks much for the recipe 🙂
It's in the crockpot as we speak!! Can't wait to taste it.
I'll bet the neighbors are pounding on the door yelling LET US IN!!!"
going to make this with hash browns instead of tater tots. use slow cooker liners for easy clean up.
Crock pot is loaded down! Woo it smells good in here. I did make my own bacon bits and sauted an onion in the left over fat and added it to the chicken layer! So excited!
This recipe looks wonderful and most importantly something my children would think is wonderful. Thanks for sharing and I am excited to have found your blog.
LOVE this recipe! I have cooked for my whole life and have not much use for very many slow cooker recipes. However, I am determined to find at least a few good ones that I can use and enjoy when I need them. This one rocks and I will probably never cook another tater tot casserole in the oven again. YUM!!
In the cooker as we speak and It was easy enough that my four year old did it (other than raw chicken). She enjoyed doing it so we will see 🙂
Made it for dinner tonight… DELICIOUS! Big hit with the whole family. My middle child said "I'm going to get some more of this amazing-ness"… lol
Thank you for this easy and yummy recipe! I tried it tonight and it turned out great!
I added a packet of dry ranch dressing and it was FABULOUS!!!
WOW! and WOW again! I just made a similar recipe in the oven this past week. I LOVE the option to fix it in the slow cooker. Way to go Brandie! Thanks so much for sharing. HUGS!
I made this for dinner last night and it was fantastic. the earlier comment about her family inhaling it was dead on accurate 🙂
Found this on Pinterest. I'm always looking for food to send out to my husband and other family while harvesting crops. This fits the bill perfectly. Thanks!
Anonymous did you mix the packet of ranch in with the milk or sprinkle it over? I'd like to make this tonight and want the ranch to kick it up a bit.
I have a slow cooker that I've used once! I live in South Florida, so it's almost always hot, and the oven makes my house hotter. I really do need to use my crock pot.
I'm going to make this casserole for starts, and we'll see what happens from there. This look so yummy and cheesy…mmm.
Thanks!
It sounds good… It looks great… Need to try it! Thanks for sharing
This is amazingly delicious!!! My husband and to small kids LOVED it and ask for it weekly!!
My crock pot creates a lot of moisture while cooking… Is that ok or will this turn to soup?
Roxeanne – that is normal for many crock pots. The advice I was given (if you are concerned about too much condensation) is to place a paper towel or two underneath the lid of the crock pot and on top of the rim of the crock pot itself. Now, I've never actually tried this so I would hope the paper towel wouldn't droop into the food. But I've made this with a couple of different types of crock pots and it came out fine with both of them. Hope that helps!
I’ve used a cotton dish cloth cause mine does that too. I’ve read that you can use a tea towel, but I don’t have one. I’m going to try this recipe this week. I’ve tried the Tater Top Sloppy Joe recipe on Pinterest and that is a winner in my house.
Is there something that I can use instead of bacon?
Help a newbie cooker.
Ty
SHIRLEY
In the crock pot now! My first crock pot recipe of being on my own. Making it for the in-laws, hope they like it!!(:
Do you think this would taste okay with Mexican blend shredded cheese? Its all I have on hand.
Loved loved it!! Great feel good tummy warming meal for a cool fall day with the family watching football!! The only exception is that I used pre-cooked grilled chicken & it was done in about 1 1/2 hours!! Enjoy!! We DID 😛 !!!
Christened my brand new slow cooker with this recipe! It was delicious! Cooked on high for 3 hours and ended up with a good crust on the bottom and it was moist all the way up. My boyfriend wanted more chicken, and I agree-I only got a piece every few bites-but loved it anyway. Thanks!
In the crock pot now. My mouth was watering the entire time I was preparing it! I cannot wait to dig in to it for dinner. Thanks for this!
I used half a bag of italian cheese blend and a half a bag of mexican cheese blend, because that's what I had on hand. I have everything in the crock pot now, I also added a bit of mrs. dash's on top of the chicken to give it a little more flavor. I'm cooking on High, because I didn't think about using this recipe until after work, hopefully it'll be ok, as opposed to cooking on Low, I will post how everything turns out! Thanks for the post!
I made this last night for dinner, I didn't have bacon thawed out so I fried up some choizo and sprinkled it on with mexican cheese. All I can say is everyone cleaned their plate, and the kids were asking for leftovers for lunch. Thanks so much 🙂
It's in the crockpot right now 🙂
I made this in the oven last night. I changed it up a bit and was very pleased with the results.
* I layered partially thawed tater tots then topped with cooked chicken (cooked chicken with garlic powder)sprinkled bacon bits and cheese
*I then added grilled onions on top and did another layer of tater tots, bacon bits and cheese then topped with the milk AND mixed in half a can of cream of chicken and baked for about 40 minutes on 350. Served with ranch.
Tonight the leftovers Im going to make eggs and serve with those!
I'm making this right now, but i did add a can of cream of mushroom soup to it!! yum i cant wait im half way there 🙂 thanks so much for this amazing reciepe usually make it with hamburgar in the oven 🙂
I have to admit I was a little skeptical about how much flavor this dish would have just based on the fact that there isn't a whole lot to it… but I'm happy to say it was AWESOME! My whole family enjoyed this dish. It took about 5 hours in my slow cooker and I used chicken thighs just because they were cheaper. Thank you for a great recipe. I will be making it again and I can't wait to try a few more from your site! 🙂
Hey Brandie! I just wanted to say I stumbled across your recipes on Pinterest and I can't wait to try them all! Thank you for making simple recipes with easy to find ingredients! Im a 19 year old wife with not that much cooking experience and I can't wait to spice up my dinners w/ these recipes.
Again Thank You!
I work and I was hoping to make this on Monday. we wouldn't be able to eat it until 7. If I put it on by 715 in the morning. would it be gross by 7 at night?
I don't know if its too late to reply but… I just made this today, and it only took 4 hours on low (maybe less) to cook and the bottom had a nice crust to it. I would think if it was in the slow cooker for that long, it might be a little burned.
This sounds great.
I've always made the Tater Tot Casserole that contains ground beef, so this will be a nice change. Can't wait to try it!
I'm going to make this on Tuesday for a quick dinner. I have a programmable crock pot as well as a traditional one with the deep pot (use it for more soupie/saucy dishes) so I'll put this on program for 5 hours then it'll switch to warm. The kids will love it, and hubbie won't be home to complain 🙂
I stumbled across your recipes in error, however I am very glad I did. They all look so delicious I had to share your page with my friends. I'm actually making this for dinner tonight. I cant wait to try it. Have just under 3 hours left and my house smells so good. Once we eat, I will definitely follow up.
Does it matter if the chicken is cooked or not? I have some leftover Teriyaki Chicken I need to use and the flavor variation could be interesting but will probably have to leave out the bacon.
Robin
We are making this tonight! Thank you for taking the time to go step by step and also with the pictures. I have never been a great cook and that was so helpful. I appreciate all you bloggers who spend so much time to make other people's lives easier <3.
I fixed this for supper tonight and it was a huge hit with the family! I did add a few things it didn't call for I added garlic powder, onions & a can of cream of chicken soup! Thanks for putting it on Pintrest!!!!!
This is in the crockpot now can't wait to try it. I mean chicken, cheese and bacon can't get much better.
This was sooo good. Thank you so much for this recipe it was super easy and delicious! I even used generic brand food and it was awesome.
I made this a couple weeks ago for my coworkers and they're begging for it again! It's SO good!! It turned out pretty greasy from all the cheese (not even sure how much I used) and I didn't use any milk.. D-Lish!! Surprising them with it again tomorrow 🙂 thanks!! Going to search your blog for more! 🙂
I had a thawed chicken breast & half a pound of bacon so I diced both & fried them. Then I came across this!! I had no tater tots and very little grated cheese so I went with the flow and added half a can of cream of chicken soup blended with some sour cream. Loved "our" recipe!!! 🙂
My husband is the pickiest person in the world! I thought I would try this recipe because it didn't have cream of anything in it. His worst nightmare. Well let me tell you this was a Huge hit with everyone! Delicious! I'm so glad I have another recipe to feed Him that everyone will enjoy:)
This is one of my family's favorite go-to recipes. It's AWESOME! Sometimes I'll add broccoli or cauliflower to it. Thank you for posting this!!
The whole family loved this. It was funny to watch my teenage daughter sweet talk my teenage son and his firend, who have bottomless stomachs, into letting her have the last helping of it. Then they asked for it for lunch the next day. Needless to say we will be making this again.
I just made this today for a church luncheon. There was barely any left for me to even try it but I did get some. This was delicious! The only thing I did differently was season my chicken a little more with some salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder. I will definitely be making this again! Thanks for the great recipe!
How many servings is this? I want to make this for my mom's bday which will be 7-8 people, two including young kids. Should I double the receipt?
Yummy – I love tater tots and my BF loves bacon! And I love that I get to use my crock-pot for it too! I made a few modifications for my first run at it…I added some green beans on top of the chicken to add some non-starch veggies to it, I seasoned my chicken with some Mrs. Dash chicken and dried diced onion flakes (and the S&P recommended), and I've been adding some ranch dressing when eating….I'm a fan!…I'm thinking next time I might mix a can of cream of something in with the chicken layer and see how that goes!
Follow-up comment – I wanted eggs this morning but didn't have much in my fridge to put with it – so I made some scrambled eggs and mixed some leftovers of this in for a skillet/potato/eggs type meal – really good 🙂
This dish is delicious!! I enjoyed making it because of how simple and easy it really is! I actually added sour cream to it at the end adn it gave it that creamy country taste! Everyone that has had it loved it too and the addition of sour cream was a hit!! Thanks for the great recipe! 🙂
My family LOVED this!
My slow cooker says 4-6 hours is high & 8-10 is low so which one do I used for this recipe?
Trying this tonight!! Used hash browns instead added velveta onions Cheddar cheese soup and cream of chicken!! We will c:)
Got this in crockpot now, not sure how it will turn out….but im sure great!!
This turned out amazing, I garnished with sour cream and was awesome! Thank u much
How long will it take if cooked on high?
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment & letting me know how this turned out for ya! I sure do appreciate it.
Anonymous – I am a bit leery about cooking this on high. Todays crock pots cook things kinda fast anyway and when you put it on high, I'm worried the tater tots might burn and your chicken won't be done. I think if you are really wanting to cook this on high to get it done faster then you may just want to try baking it in the oven. Spreading it out in a 9×13 pan will ensure more even cooking and it'll get done faster than in a crock pot. Maybe someone on here has tried it on high and has had good result? But that is just my thoughts on it. 🙂
What temp and time do you suggest for the oven??
In the crock pot now looking forward to trying it. In your experience is it usually done closer to 4 hours or 5 hours with a newer crock pot?
Mine only took 4 hours and I've had my crock pot under 2 years…
This is one of the best recipies for the Crock Pot that I have tried in a while…I added some mixed veggies (the typical Tator Tot type) and it was so good! Thanks for sharing this recipe!!!
I think a packet of ranch seasoning would put this over the top……I'm so making it for dinner!
This recipe was great. I added a can of cream of chicken and can of rotel to the milk. I poured half over the first layer of tater tots added the rest over the top of the second layer of tater tots. My family loved it!!!
So happy y'all love this one. And I love the changes you've made to really make it your own. So many great ideas!
Made this tonight and it was DELISH! I was a little unsure of how it would be with just the milk poured over top. DELISH! My tater tots did kind of break down into potato bits, but really good. I will definitely make again! AND I believe it's all gluten free!
This is awesome…the recipe is delicious. I will be making this again 🙂
Can you prep this as a freezer meal and add the milk later?
Can you or have you ever used frozen chicken in the slow cooker? Wanting to make this today, it's cold and snowing so would be warm on the tummy! Thanks
Absolutely delicious. Used seasoned salt on the chicken and had to substitute Velveeta for the cheddar but it still was incredible. Didn't know how tots would turn out in a crockpot so bought the extra crispy ones. My family devoured it and the next day fought over the leftovers.
I made for dinner tonight & it was delicious! It only took about 3 hours in my slow cooker. Definitely will be making again!
Made this for dinner tonight, it was good! But for those of you who say they dont like tater tots, till they are done cooking they are just potatoes! At least mine anyways…they did not stay in tater tot form at all!
Hi im new to cooking and was wondering how will i know if the chicken is done enough to eat since it will be smothered in all that stuff. also If i was to cook it in the oven what temp and time would work. how will i know its done.
Did you use raw or precooked bacon?
Kristi – I'm not sure if you can tell by my ingredient picture above, but I use those Oscar Mayer bacon pieces. They are already precooked.
tiffany – take a piece out and test it. With the amount of time it is in the slow cooker, it is more than enough time to get it done. But when all else fails, pull a piece out and use a meat thermometer for accuracy. I haven't made this in the oven but I believe a commenter above has tried it and it took about an hour and half. But once again, a meat thermometer is the only true way to gauge whether your meat is cooked thoroughly. 🙂 ~Brandie
So easy & super YUMMY! My non-casserole eating 10 yr old had SECONDS!
Just wondering if you think it would still taste right if I left the bacon out and put onions in instead? We don't eat bacon and was trying to figure out a substitute that would still taste good and add flavor. Any other suggestions?
-Kim
peppers and onions
Hi Kim – I don't see why not? The bacon just adds flavor to this dish that we really enjoy. However, I think you could certainly add onions to this dish and still really enjoy it. 🙂 ~Brandie
Gonna make tomorrow. Will be great addition to recipe list as I gave up red meat for lent. Always looking for great ideas for chicken!
My family really enjoyed this recipe! Thank yoou! The only thing was I got confused with the cooking times, cause I have a newer crock pot and that gives you the choice of cooking on high for 4 or 6 hrs, or low 8 or 12 hrs. So I wasn't sure which one to do, I went for the high on 4, a little over cooked but it was still very yummy. My picky eater even ate it.
Just because it says high 4 or 6 hours or low 8 or 12 hours does not mean you actually have to cook it that long. Put it on low and check after about 3-4 hours. If done, turn it off.
I just made this for dinner, and it was AMAZING. It was devoured by the entire family, including my fairly picky 6-year old. In fact, his comment was, "Mom, you could open a restaurant with this. And by that, I mean that you are a food genie!" (He's very generous with his praise when he like something, LOL.) I actually used half and half, as my only other option was skim milk, and I thought that might be too thin. It turned out perfect. I realized that a big part of what I liked about it is that it reminded me of a cheesy hashbrown casserole my mom makes that I LOVE – except that it's so rich it upsets my stomach after a few bites. This was cheesy and gooey, but not so much so that it felt too rich. Great recipe!
Awe – I just love hearing that! Thank you so much for taking the time to come back and let me know. And the best kind of praise always comes from the kiddos. Love it! ~Brandie
I am trying the Tater Tot/Chicken Casserole for the first time, it has been going for 2 hours, do you at anytime stir. Thanks.
tried this for me, my hubby, and our 2 year old son and we all loved it!!! making it for a 2nd time tonight.
Woo hoo! So great to hear!!
Making this for the 3rd time in as many weeks.. we love it!
That is so great!!
Anytime I am on Pinterest & see a recipe I want to try, it turns out being one of yours!!! Lol I have this in the crock pot now. Started it on high since my chicken was a bit frozen but have turned it to low! I added some dried minced onion, poultry seasoning, garlic powder & an all purpose seasoning not only on the chicken but the tots as well!! I am excited to see how this will turn out! Am also making your butter dip biscuits to go with!!! Lol
Shelley – thank you for taking the time to write such a sweet comment. I really hope you love all the recipes you try from here!
This was very tasty and easy. I assembled everything except the milk last night; my son added the milk and turned it on at noon today. We ate by 6pm, the chicken was perfect, tender & moist. I don't think this is a very healthy meal, so it won't be served too often, but it's definitely a recipe I will use again!
I made this tonight and it was a hit in my house specially since my kids do that like new things but I added a ranch seasoning mix an more cheese and it was delicious my kids even asked me to make it again 🙂
This is in the crock pot for dinner tonight!
Made this tonight. It was so delicious even my picky 3 year old ate everything on her plate.
Hi Brandie! I'm making this right now, it will be the third time I've made it for my family (they love it)! I was wondering if you have ever used Ranch seasoning in the recipe? I had about 3/4 of a package of dry Ranch seasoning so I decided to sprinkle it on my chicken. I'm sure it will be delicious, as is most anything with Ranch on it. LOL I was just curious if you've had it this way or heard of someone making it this way? Thanks for posting!! Faithful Follower, as always, Kim
Trying this recipe in the oven for the first time. I sauteed the chicken first with a little fajita seasoning adding a little more over the layers of tater tots along with mexican blend cheese. The kids and wife were all commenting on the smells before it hit the oven. Fingers crossed!
Got it in the crock pot now……Looks wonderful. Can't wait till it gets done! YUMMMMM
I had everything in the crock pot 2 hours in and it hits me i forgot the milk!! I rushed in and put the milk in. I hope it still turns out ok. I will add results later.
So it actually turned out good even with the late entry of the milk. Wasnt as moist or saucy as I think it would have been but was still very good. 2 thumbs up from my boys.
I've actually started making mine with more milk than is called for. I'm not sure why, but mine was coming out awfully dry in places, added about 1/3 Cup more milk and it's perfect! As with anything, you have to tweek it for your kitchen. You're right too, it IS so GOOD!
I've done it with Ranch seasoning several times (crock & oven). Gives it an awesome flavor. I mix it with the milk then drizzle it on the chicken as I put down the layers. I've even served it with Ranch potatoes lol! I also put a few TB of butter on the bottom of the crock for a nice crustiness that melts in your mouth!
Put in my super old crockpot on low at 1:30 so hope we can eat 6:30-7:00! Thank you for sharing, don't know how it can't be liked by my husband and teens!
Any know a general calorie count for one serving after it it is cooked?
I made this for my Bunco group and they all loved it. Everyone asked me for the recipe. They only thing I did different was use more than 1 pound of chicken and I added one chopped shallot. Delicious!
My family and I just enjoyed this for the first time. The recipe is a keeper and I look forward to tweaking it a bit for our tastebuds. I've got some sweet potato tater tots I might try next time!
If you i make this in the oven and double it how long should i cook it for and what size of pan?
This sounds so good. I just printed it out to make soon. We are in the process of moving and are living in temporary housing while we look for a house to rent and the little bitty oven they have in here doesn't work for me, so using my crockpot will certainly help out. Thanks for the recipe and I'll comment again after I have cooked it.
Do the tators come out soggy?
They come out mashy not soggy. I know that sounds crazy but it was amazing! I made it today and LOVE it.
This is definitely a keeper!! I have made it several times now and the hubby and kids love it! I love crockpot recipes! It's like having a helper in the kitchen! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Brandie,
I'm new to your site as of last week. Just tried this recipe last night and it was AMAZING. My 6- and 9-year old step daughters went back for secods & thirds! They loved it. We are having leftovers tonight, and the girls are excited! I can't wait to try some of your other recipes; already have a few on my list! Thank you!
I followed the recipe exactly except added about a 3rd of a packet of ranch dressing mix over each layer – so yummy. NO leftovers. Thanks for the idea, don't care much for traditional tater tot casserole.
I doubled the recipe and put it in my large crock pot for 5 hours on low, we came home from Church and the house smelled awesome. Everyone in my family loved it!! I had some leftovers and some other family members came over the next day and we warmed the leftovers up and added a little sour cream and some chopped green onions…..yummy!! Everyone loved it. Definitely will be making again and again. Thank you so much!
~Theresa
I made this in the Dutch Oven while camping this last weekend and boy oh boy was it a hit! First of all, everybody there loves tater tots so I had them from the beginning! Add cheese, bacon and chicken (I pre-cooked it)and you can't possibly go wrong! I forgot the milk but in hindsight it worked out perfect, the tater tots were crispy on both the top and the bottom! I highly recommend this to any Dutch Oven cooker out there, it's a camping meal you'll add to every trip!
I have made this many times in the crock pot and it comes out perfect every time. I do recommend 3-4 hours versus 6 hours though, I had the chicken can dry when I first made it and let it go for over 5 hours while I was gone… Season the chicken any way you want to, I also use some garlic powder and soemtimes some hot sauce to kick it up even more.
This recipe is just okay. It is pretty blah, flavor-wise, and needs something to make it more creamy and flavorful. Mine was really done at the 3 hour mark, so watch the time on this recipe, depending on the type of crock pot you have. The potatoes on the bottom were no longer in tot form, but were mushed up pieces of what used to be tots. Also..there were definite layers….tots, chicken, mush…..it would have been better if it had all been incorporated into a casserole instead of layers.
This was a HUGE hit with the whole family!! Even my picky eater who doesn't usually eat casseroles liked it! I wasn't sure about how much flavor this would have since there wasn't much to it, so I added a can of cream of chicken soup to the milk. So easy to put together for a very tasty meal! Definitely a keeper!!
I do think this isn't a set it and forget it meal, even though its in a slow cooker… mine took about 4 hours and it had a nice crust on the bottom, I feel if it were to cook too much longer it would be burned. Also I thought it looked a little moist at the end, so I took the cover off for a little bit (about 10 minutes or so) with the cooker still set on low and it came out perfect!
How is this as a side dish without the chicken?
Any ideas on the extra crock pot time if the recipe is doubled?
I am thinnking about making this for a high school football team potluck dinner.
I made this today and it is so yummy!! I bet you could put hamburger in it also. After four hours, the chicken was very tender and the taste was so delicious. This one is a keeper
Hi Brandie. Just thought you might like to know this can also be made in a dutch oven when you're camping. Just Google the guide for how many coals top and bottom to bring the dutch oven to 350 degrees and cook it just like you would in the oven at home. Thanks for all the wonderful recipes. I just love your blog.
This looks incredible and like something that my kids would actually eat!
This looks delicious! One question though… do the tots come out crispy or mushy? I think it would be yummy either way, but my boyfriend is a connoisseur of tots and he only likes them crispy! Hehe! 🙂
Has anyone done this with ground beef? Did you pre cook it or leave it raw?? Thanks!
Super delicious recipe! Instead of the bacon pieces, I cooked 6 pieces of bacon and put it on the top in stead of in the middle of the casserole. Adults loved it and kids loved it! Easy recipe with great results!
I've made this both in the oven and more recently in the crock pot, and I have to say it is much better in the oven. I also added Cream of Chicken soup diluted with the milk and it makes it so flavorful and yummy.
Delicious recipe! Just for fun I think I'll change the flavor a little by adding some salsa. Then I might try a version adding some mushrooms. This is a fun recipe because you can add to it and create a seemingly new dish.
I'm not sure if I did something wrong or not, but mine came out really dry and bland. I added more cheese and more milk and it ended up creamy and more flavorful. Also, my tots didn't stay together and after five hours of cooking they still tasted frozen. Suggestions? Just cook longer next time? The chicken came out really tasty though.
I love this site. And I also love that you put the directions for cooking it in the oven also. I don't do Pinterest, but I will share your post on Facebook and recommend your page to my friends. THANKS!
Can't wait to try this recipe!
Baked this in a deep 3 qt. baking dish, took two hours. Love, love, LOVED it! Thanks, so much. I've been using your recipes a lot lately. Thanks again.
I absolutely love that there are pictures!!! It makes cooking so much easier to see if we need to add more or less ingredients to our liking. 😀 We are making it tonight, can't wait to try it.
Brandie I have followed u the longest of any other blogger and I make a lot of your recipes. I have this in the crock now. I am beginning to worry if it will be done in time for dinner after reading all the posts…Oh well I'll have tomorrows dinner done.lol
Wondering if pork and sweet potato tots would make a good substitute…maybe throw in a couple of chipotles and Mexican cheese mix
This looks and sounds delicious. I don't really care to use a crock pot but I still have a set of those waterless, greaseless cookware that was popular many years ago and anything that I can use a crock pot for I can use these the same way. I will cook a roast in it all night and it will be tender the next morning cooking on low. Best cookware I've ever had. I also saw a Banana Poke Cake that looks great. Thank you for all the great recipes.
My first instinct was: i want to try this with BBQ sauce instead of milk. Whaddya think?
Oh, Brandie… Brandie, Brandie, Brandie. Between you & Christy over at SouthernPlate.com, I'm never gonna fit into my wedding dress.
@Paula, I agree with you about the BBQ sauce. I'm making this recipe for the first time tonight, & I think I'll use the milk to thin out the sauce a little. We'll see what happens!
I've been making something similiar for years!!! What I do is use. 9×13 Pyrex lay chicken breasts on the bottom mix a can of cream of mushroom and a can of cream of chicken and spread all over the chicken. (I don't like mushrooms and you can't even taste them! It's more just for flavor and texture! Then I later the frozen tots on and cheese then bake!!! Always delicious!!! But I can't wait to try this version!!!! I was just thinking I wonder if it would be good to add maybe 1/4-1/2 can of cheddar cheese condensed soup instead of cream of chicken as others were suggesting? Or maybe 1/2 and 1/2. Hmmm!!! Idk I'm going to okay around with it tonight and I'll let you know how it came out! Thanks!!!! Love all of your recipes!!!!
does anyone have the nutritional info on this? Sounds amazing but trying to watch my calories so just wondering . Also how many servings is this recipe?
Can you make this without the bacon bits and still have it come out right?? I don't have any on hand and it's too cold to go out to the store to get any…. Might substitute the bacon bits with a little garlic seasoning???
I use grated frozen hash browns. Yummy.
Anyone know if you can use frozen chicken?
I just came across your recipe through Pinterest and, well, I was going to make something else for dinner tomorrow night but I've changed my mind…LOL!! From all of the positive comments you've received, I'm confident that this recipe will be a winner with my family as well!! 🙂
Hello! I saw this on Pinterest and I'm trying it tonight. I want to make it my own so I'm gonna try adding onion and chive cream cheese and a ranch packet to the recipe and probably top it with fried onions(what I have on hand). Will post after tasting… Fingers are crossed, wish me luck!
I make this on a regular basis and the whole family LOVES it! I've added my own twist by adding a packet of dry ranch dressing mix sprinkled over the chicken layer. Adds a delicious seasoning! 🙂
So 4-6 hrs on low is enough to cook the chicken? Most recipes are 4-6 on low or 8 on high it seems so I just want to make sure!
I just put this in the crockpot for dinner! Easy to put together, and I had all of the ingredients on hand!
I love this recipe and have made it before. However, I have actual potatoes I need to use and would love to use the potatoes next week if I can in the casserole. What would I change time wise or do with potatoes if I use them rather than the frozen tater tots?
I have been making this for over a year now and it is a regular favorite of my family. kids love it! i always bake mine in the oven though and it has come to the point that i have to make it every other weekend my step kids love it so much!
I have made this twice in the past week, and it was fabulous! The 2nd time I added more chicken, seasoned it with season all, and sprinkled a little ranch over it before adding the cheese.
How many people will this feed ?:)
Man alive, this thing is GOOD! My husband kept saying "This is so good, I feel like it should be bad for me." But it's NOT! Whoop! I didn't use as many tater tots, because I didn't have them. Mine was done between 4-5 hours. Thank you! Going straight into my Favorites file. 🙂
Making it tonight for dinner… Super nervous because I'm pregnant an to me it stinks lol!!! Crossing my fingers it turns out! Put it in at 230- hoping it'll be done by 7- when the hubs gets home!!! I did "tweek" it an add to my chicken… Salt pepper garlic powder an paprika… Will post after dinner how it turns out for future people wondering! 🙂 thanks for the recipe!
I baked mine in the oven and I mixed a can of cream of chicken soup and a small container of sour cream with just enough milk to make it pourable. I poured it over the top of all the layers. My family loves this recipe!!!!
THIS IS A AWESOME RECIPE! I used the oven instead of a slow cooker. I also kicked it up a notch with real bacon fried up and cut into pieces than saute some onion, green pepper and mushrooms diced up real small in part of the bacon grease and saved the other bacon grease for frying the chicken pieces in til no longer pink ( 15 min) . Than I layered in the baking dish as stated in the recipe. Baked 30 minutes Covered with foil at 350' than uncovered the dish and baked 15 min. more at 300' uncovered. Thanks so much for sharing this delicious recipe!! Hubby and I loved it!!!
Do you cook the chicken first
Delicious. Made it in the oven and it turned out great. Husband wanted to know if there was enough left for another meal. There was plenty.
How many people will this feed?
I'm trying this one for Monday night solely because it does NOT call for cream of chicken soup! Seems like every crock-pot recipe on pinterest calls for that stuff & it's just awful.
I think I will be adding some corn too just add a veggie. Sounds great, can't wait!
I'm a slow-cooker newbie. And as newbie, what did I do? I searched for the easiest way to use my new cookware but I have another criteria. It'd better be good. Why? Coz my boy is such a picky eater. I stumbled upon your recipe and I have to tell you that your recipe turned out really good!
Hi, thinkong of making this in the oven tonight. Any tips on how to do this or what not to do?
Thanks.
How can something so simple be so doggone good? I have made this exact recipe a multitude of times. The first time I was shocked at how good it was. I now replace the cheddar with Velveeta, just because we like the 'melt' better. When it is possible, I also buy the extra crispy tots, but it really doesn't make a huge difference. This has become one of my and the family's absolute favorite meals.
I made this today. All three of my boys made a point of telling me how amazing this was. First time ever getting this reaction! Didn't even ask them for opinion. Will be a regular menu item.
Just made this tonight, I cooked it in the oven at 375 degrees for an hour and a half, in a pyrex 9×13 clear glass dish covered in foil.
I cooked it covered for the first hour and removed the foil for the last 30 mins and sprinkled a little more cheese to the top to brown and crisp up. I skipped the milk since I was not using the slow cooker.
This was delish! I have a 12 yr old who is VERY picky and she loved it too!! She gobbled it up and asked for seconds.
Next time I may add the 3 cheese blend to kick up the flavor some more, or possibly add garlic salt to the chicken.
I love that you converted it to an oven recipe. So glad it was a hit with the little one.
Can the chicken be frozen when added to the slow cooker or does it need to be thawed?
Unless the chicken is already cut up, I would say that partially frozen would be fine. You can still chop up if it is partially frozen. Hope this helps.
Brandie, what size slow cooker did you use? Didn’t know if I should use a bigger 6 quart, or if it would fit in a smaller 4 quart? Want to make sure I get it right! Can’t wait to try it! Thanks.
For this recipe you should be able to get by with a 4 quart.
Thanks for this recipe. My family loves this one. I have made it twice so far.
The first time I followed the instructions. Yummy!!!
The second I added chopped onion and cut the milk back because of the water in the onion. YUMMY!!!!!!!
Seriously a family favorite. Thanks again for such a yummy dish.
The onion was a sweet onion and I only used half over the chicken.
Thank you SO much for taking the time to let me know you love it! It really means so much!
Will it be fine if i cook this dish overnight? About the ingredients, which is the substitute of cheddar cheese in this recipe!?
We don’t have tater tots in England, are they basically just frozen potatoes?
Hi everyone I have a dilemma, so i want to make this now and i realized that I don’t have milk so my question is: Can i substitute regular milk with evaporated milk instead? Please help????
You sure can! 🙂
Hello! This recipe looks wonderful. I will be making it on Sunday. I was wondering can I add a can of cream of chicken and a dollop of sour cream to the milk? Also, could I use ham instead of bacon?
Just wondering when you cook it in the oven do you still use the milk?
Hi Kindelle! No – you don’t add the milk. It’s just used in the crockpot so the chicken doesn’t dry out. 🙂
Great thank you I’m trying this tonight!!
I’m in the middle of this & realized I don’t have any cooking spray; any suggestions?
Very good as is. The best part about this meal is how easy it was to prepare. Who doesn’t love a simple potatoes, chicken and cheese recipe that requires very little work and almost no time? As I said, the best part is how easy it is to make. Just dump everything into the crockpot and go. But, if I have more time the next time I prepare it, I’ll probably make a few additions. I’m thinking next time I’ll add green onions, ranch powder, cubed cream cheese and maybe some sour cream! Overall, great recipe for those busy days/nights.
I’m wondering if you’ve ever added a package of Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing mix. I’m going to try this for the first time tonight and wondered if I might try it that way. Thanks!
I haven’t but I have had others do it and they enjoyed it!