Crock Pot Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
This Crock Pot Chicken Tater Tot Casserole is a family favorite. Tater tots, cheese, chicken and bacon. A whole meal in one!
A DELICIOUS SLOW COOKER MEAL!
This cheesy chicken tater tot 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. You just gotta try it and let me know what you think. In my house, this is a kid favorite!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ’S)
I don’t recommend it. If you need more, just make it in a second crock pot.
You can use pre-cooked rotisserie chicken and cut the cooking time by a couple of hours.
It’s important to season the chicken well with salt and pepper or any other seasoning you prefer, like cajun seasoning or blackened chicken seasoning.
To make in the oven: spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick spray. Then layer ingredients into baking dish. Don’t add the milk. Cover and bake at 350F degrees for about an hour to an hour and a half.
A fresh, crisp green salad or your favorite veggie like these Glazed Sweet Potatoes or this Roasted Cauliflower.
I don’t recommend it. Everything would be starting from very cold and the slow cooker insert could crack from going from very cold to hot.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Leftovers can also be frozen in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- frozen tater tots
- bacon pieces
- boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- shredded cheddar cheese
- milk
- salt and pepper
HOW TO MAKE CROCK POT CHICKEN TATER TOT CASSEROLE:
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 and pepper. Note: This is a good place to add your favorite seasonings. I think Cajun or blackened seasoning work well.
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.
CRAVING MORE RECIPES?
- Tater Tot Casserole
- Tater Tot Enchilada Bake
- Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
- Tater Tot Chicken Pot Pie
- Tachos (Tater Tot Nachos)
- Loaded Tater Tot Cups
- Shepherd’s Pie Tater Tot Casserole
- Poppy Seed Chicken
- Jalapeño Popper Tater Tot Chicken Casserole
- King Ranch Chicken Casserole
- 30 Comforting Casseroles
Originally published: July 2012
Updated photos & republished: February 2020
Crock Pot Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients
- 32 ounce bag frozen tater tots
- 3 ounce bag bacon pieces
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts (diced) diced
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- ¾ cup milk
- salt and pepper, to taste
- any other seasoning you prefer (like cajun or blackened seasoning)
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 and season the chicken with salt and pepper and any of your other favorite seasoning.
- 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. Then serve.
Video
Notes
- To make in the oven: spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick spray. Then layer ingredients into baking dish. Don’t add the milk. Cover and bake at 350F degrees for about an hour to an hour and a half.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Leftovers can also be frozen in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Thank you for this easy and yummy recipe! I tried it tonight and it turned out great!
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
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 🙂
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!!
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.
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!
going to make this with hash browns instead of tater tots. use slow cooker liners for easy clean up.
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!!!"
Yummm love this dish! Just had it for dinner! Thanks much for the recipe 🙂
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"! 😉
I also add frozen corn and use pepper jack cheese. Yummy!!
Just made this today. It's amazing! Thanks for sharing! Will definitely be making this again.
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!
This sounds amazing. I'm cooking it now and it smells so good! I cannot wait to try it.
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.
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!!
I made this exactly as instructed, in my slow cooker for four or so hours! It was delicious!!! I highly recommend it!!
This looks absolutely delish. I'm thinking I may at rotel for a mex twist. Thank you!
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
I Found this via pinterest and am going shopping now and eating it for dinner tonight! thanks for the recipe 🙂
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 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. 🙂
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?
My grandson would love this. I just printed a copy, and I will prepare this for him.
Thanks.
Has any one tried it with o,brien style potatoes? I think the onions and peppers would add good flavor.
sounds goooood and easy(i like easy) will try tomorrow. i love the way you show how to do..with pics..
This sounds amazing! I'm going to have to give it a try, I think my family will go nuts for it!! 🙂
It is a strange, crazy, wonderful and interesting recipe… I'll have to try it with my niece.
Thank you very much.
Do I have to cook the chicken first if I am going to cook it in the oven?
No mam, she puts it in raw. I made this Wednesday night for church OMG they loved it!!!
Yay!! Thanks so much Connie!
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!
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 loved it. Going for seconds now!
It's in the crockpot now. I'll post again after dinner tonight.
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!
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?
This was yummy! My family loved it!
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!
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!
What a treat, i love to self indulge in it.
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!
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.
Hidden valley dip mix is an awesome way to season. We also use sour cream as a topper and some Fritos to scoop withyummy. Favorite go to in the winter& camping.
I'm super excited to taste this!!! Making it for dinner tonight it already smells amazing!!!! Thank you for posting this!!! ^_^
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 can't wait to try this! It sounds delish and your pics confirm that!
This sounds fab, now i just need to find a substitute for tater tots lol
Maybe try cauliflower instead of tots? I’ve subbed them for tots before… not in a crockpot tho..
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 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!
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 cassarole looks unbelieveable!! I've never made one in the crock pot before, great idea!
Blessings,
Leslie
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!
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?