Get ready to spice up your dinner routine with the ultimate comfort food fusion: Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole! This dish masterfully combines the tangy heat of classic buffalo wings, the satisfying crisp of golden tater tots, and the convenience of a hearty casserole. Crafted with succulent rotisserie chicken (or any leftover chicken you have on hand), a rich and zesty buffalo sauce, and a crown of perfectly crispy potato puffs, this grown-up casserole is designed for busy weeknights and guaranteed to become a family favorite – especially if your family loves a little kick!

Do you like things spicy? If the answer is a resounding “yes,” then you are about to fall in love with this exciting twist on a beloved American classic. Imagine a creamy, fiery buffalo sauce enveloping tender shredded chicken, all nestled beneath a generous layer of crunchy potato tots. This isn’t just a meal; it’s an experience that will elevate any potluck or family dinner, promising an explosion of flavor in every bite. It’s the kind of dish that disappears quickly, leaving everyone craving more.

This casserole captures all the iconic flavor of buffalo wings – that perfect balance of heat and tang – delivers the unmatched convenience that only a casserole can provide, and evokes the comforting nostalgia of a treasured family dinner. While I might say it’s perfect for the whole family, that’s truly only if your loved ones appreciate a meal with a warm, spicy embrace!

For the ultimate comfort food dinner experience, serve this masterpiece alongside crisp celery sticks, which offer a refreshing counterpoint to the spice. A generous drizzle of cool blue cheese dressing or ranch dressing over the top of the hot casserole before serving will provide a creamy, cooling finish that perfectly complements the buffalo heat, creating a harmonious symphony of flavors and textures.

Essential Ingredients for Your Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

Creating this flavorful casserole starts with selecting high-quality ingredients that bring out the best in the dish. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need:

• Cooked Chicken (1 ½ cups chopped): The star protein of our casserole! We highly recommend using leftover chicken for ultimate convenience. This could be anything from a succulent store-bought rotisserie chicken to homemade roasted whole chicken. Just ensure it’s chopped into bite-sized pieces (smaller than 1 inch), completely free from bones, and has any skin removed for the best texture and flavor.
• Tater Tots (1 package, about 54-72 tots): These delightful potato puffs are more than just a topping; they’re a crucial component that provides a wonderfully crispy, golden-brown crust. Imagine miniature, compressed hashbrowns, perfectly seasoned and ready to transform into a crunchy lid for your casserole. They add a comforting potato element that perfectly balances the creamy, spicy base.
• Sharp Cheddar Cheese (1 cup, freshly shredded): For the best melting and flavor, we strongly recommend using sharp cheddar cheese that you grate yourself from a block. Freshly grated cheese melts smoother and has a more pronounced flavor compared to pre-shredded varieties, which often contain anti-caking agents. However, pre-shredded is perfectly acceptable if you’re short on time.
• Buffalo Sauce (6 tablespoons): This is where the signature “buffalo” flavor comes from. It’s crucial to use a good-quality cayenne pepper sauce, such as the classic Frank’s Red Hot Sauce. Avoid pre-prepared buffalo wing sauces that already contain creamy ingredients, as they will alter the texture and flavor profile of our creamy base.
• Softened Cream Cheese (1 (8oz) package): The foundation of our rich, creamy, and tangy base. Ensure your cream cheese is softened to room temperature for smooth mixing – this is key to achieving that luxurious consistency.
• Ranch Seasoning (1 package or 2-3 tablespoons homemade mix): Adds a fantastic savory depth and classic American flavor that pairs beautifully with buffalo. A store-bought packet works wonders, or you can use your favorite homemade ranch dressing mix.
• Mayonnaise (⅓ cup): Just a tad bit of mayonnaise enhances the creaminess of the base and adds a subtle richness without overpowering the other flavors.
• Butter (1 ½ tablespoons, melted and cooled): Adds a touch of richness and helps bind the creamy mixture together. Ensure it’s melted and then cooled slightly before adding to prevent scrambling the cream cheese.
• Worcestershire Sauce (½ teaspoon): A secret weapon for umami depth! This ingredient adds a savory, slightly tangy complexity that deepens the overall flavor profile of the casserole.
• Garlic Powder (⅛ teaspoon): Provides a foundational aromatic note that complements the other bold flavors.
• Ground Cayenne (⅛ teaspoon, optional): If you truly love things extra spicy, a pinch of additional ground cayenne pepper will amplify the heat. Adjust according to your preference!

Gathering these simple yet powerful ingredients is the first step towards creating a truly memorable and satisfying meal.

Mastering Your Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole: A Step-by-Step Guide

This simple, yet sensationally spicy buffalo chicken casserole is a testament to the power of delicious fusion. The creamy, flavorful base layer draws inspiration from my beloved buffalo chicken dip recipe, delivering that irresistible tang and heat. Meanwhile, the crowning glory of crispy tater tots pays homage to the classic Tater Tot Casserole, one of my most popular and highly-rated recipes. Follow these easy steps to bring this exciting dish to life!

How to Prepare the Buffalo Chicken Base:

1. Preheat & Prepare: Begin by preheating your oven to 400ºF (204ºC). While the oven warms, lightly grease a medium-sized baking dish (a 9×9-inch or 7.5×10-inch dish works perfectly) to prevent sticking and ensure easy serving.
2. Combine Creamy Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, ranch seasoning, cayenne pepper sauce (like Frank’s Red Hot), mayonnaise, melted and cooled butter, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and the optional pinch of ground cayenne.
3. Mix Until Smooth: Using an electric hand mixer (or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment), beat these ingredients together until the mixture is smooth, creamy, and mostly lump-free. If mixing by hand, prepare for some serious “elbow grease” using a sturdy rubber spatula, ensuring everything is thoroughly incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure all ingredients are well combined.
4. Add Chicken and Cheese: To the creamy base, add the chopped cooked chicken and the freshly shredded cheddar cheese.
5. Fold Gently: Using a silicone spatula, gently fold all the ingredients together until the chicken and cheese are evenly distributed throughout the rich, spicy cream cheese mixture. Avoid overmixing to maintain the texture of the chicken.
6. Assemble the Casserole: Transfer the buffalo chicken mixture to the bottom of your prepared baking dish. Use your spatula to spread it into an even layer across the entire bottom of the dish.

Creating the Crispy Tater Tot Topping:

• Top with Tater Tots: Carefully arrange the frozen tater tots in a single, even layer over the creamy buffalo chicken mixture. For optimal browning and crispiness, try to line them up in neat rows and avoid overlapping. You’ll typically use a little less than a full standard package, roughly 54 to 72 tots, depending on the size of your dish. (Pro Tip: For an even crispier top, lightly spray the tater tots with cooking spray before baking!)

Baking Your Perfect Casserole

• Bake to Golden Perfection: Place the baking dish into your preheated 400ºF (204ºC) oven. Bake for approximately 40 minutes, or until the tater tots are beautifully golden brown and delightfully crispy, and the creamy casserole mixture underneath is bubbly and piping hot.
• Optional Broil for Extra Crispness: To achieve an extra level of golden crispness and browning on your tater tots, you can switch your oven to the “BROIL” setting for the last few minutes of the baking time. **IMPORTANT: Watch it extremely carefully! Broilers can burn food very quickly. Keep a close eye on it and be ready to pull the casserole out as soon as the tots reach your desired crispness (usually 2-4 minutes). Ensure your baking dish is broiler-safe (safe up to 500ºF/260ºC) before using this step. If not, you can simply increase the oven temperature to 450ºF for an additional 5 minutes to encourage browning.
• Garnish and Serve: Once baked, remove the casserole from the oven and allow it to cool for about 5 minutes. This brief resting period helps the casserole set, making it easier to serve. Garnish generously with fresh green onions (or chives), crumbled blue cheese, an extra drizzle of buffalo sauce for more heat, or a swirl of cool ranch dressing for contrast.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

Proper storage is key to enjoying your Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole for days to come. After serving, ensure any leftovers cool down completely at room temperature for about an hour before storing. Transfer the cooled casserole to an airtight container, or if keeping it in the baking dish, wrap it tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Stored in the refrigerator, it will remain fresh and delicious for up to 3 days (assuming your initial chicken was fresh).

When it comes to reheating, you have a few options: The microwave is the quickest method, but be aware that the tater tots will likely lose some of their crispiness. For a more texture-preserving reheat, we highly recommend using an air fryer or a conventional oven. In an air fryer, reheat portions at 350°F (175°C) for 5-8 minutes, or until heated through and the tots are crisp again. In a preheated 350°F (180°C) oven, cover the dish with foil and bake for 15-20 minutes, then uncover for the last 5 minutes to re-crisp the tots.

Can You Freeze This Casserole?

While we love the convenience of freezing meals, we generally do not recommend freezing this particular casserole. The primary reason is the cream cheese in the base. Cream cheese-based dishes tend to separate and develop an undesirable grainy or watery texture after being frozen and thawed, significantly impacting the creamy consistency that makes this casserole so delicious. It’s best enjoyed fresh or from the refrigerator within a few days.

Creative Substitutions and Variations

One of the best things about a casserole is its adaptability! This Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole is incredibly versatile, allowing you to tailor it to your dietary needs or simply experiment with new flavors. Here are some fantastic ways to customize your dish:

• With Turkey for a Flavorful Swap: Don’t limit yourself to chicken! If you have leftover cooked turkey from Thanksgiving, a holiday feast, or simply some stashed in your freezer, it makes an excellent substitute. Simply swap it one-to-one with the chopped chicken. Just ensure the turkey pieces are shredded or chopped to smaller than 1 inch for optimal integration into the creamy base. The flavor profile of turkey complements buffalo sauce beautifully, and you’ll hardly notice the difference.
• Making it Gluten-Free: Good news! Many of the core ingredients in this recipe are naturally gluten-free. Tater Tots from major brands (both national and generic) are typically gluten-free, but it’s always essential to check the packaging label to be absolutely certain, as formulations can change. Similarly, Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning and Frank’s Red Hot Sauce are generally gluten-free. By making these quick checks, you can easily enjoy a delicious, worry-free gluten-free meal.
• Transforming it into Low-Carb Delight: If you’re following a low-carbohydrate diet, you’ll be pleased to know that the buffalo chicken layer of this recipe is inherently very low in carbs! The main carbohydrate contributor comes from the tater tots. To keep the entire casserole low-carb, you can swap out traditional potato tater tots for your favorite brand of cauliflower tots. Alternatively, for a unique twist and added crunch, top the casserole with a fine layer of crushed pork rinds before baking. This provides a fantastic texture and keeps the carb count down significantly.
• Adjusting the Spice Level: For those who prefer a milder flavor, you can reduce the amount of cayenne pepper sauce or omit the additional ground cayenne. If you’re a true heat-seeker, feel free to add more cayenne pepper sauce, a dash of hot sauce like Tabasco, or even some finely diced jalapeños to the chicken mixture.
• Cheese Explorations: While sharp cheddar is classic, don’t hesitate to experiment with other cheeses. Monterey Jack, mozzarella, a Colby-Jack blend, or even a smoked gouda could add intriguing new dimensions to your casserole.
• Adding Vegetables: Boost the nutritional content and freshness by incorporating finely diced vegetables into the chicken mixture. Diced onions, bell peppers (red or green), corn, or even a handful of spinach could work wonderfully. Sauté them lightly before adding to ensure they soften during baking.

More Easy Casserole Recipes to Love

If you’ve enjoyed the simplicity and deliciousness of this Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole, you’ll surely love exploring more of our easy casserole recipes. Casseroles are the quintessential comfort food, perfect for feeding families, potlucks, and busy weeknights.

Course: Dinner, Main Course, Main Dishes

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 561kcal

Author: Dorothy Bigelow

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Calories: 561kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 96mg | Sodium: 1596mg | Potassium: 390mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 828IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 189mg | Iron: 1mg

(Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary based on specific brands and preparation methods.)