Fiery Frontier: Pioneer Woman’s Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Recipe
Buffalo chicken tater tot casserole erupts with a flavor tornado that’ll make your taste buds do a happy dance.
Crispy potato tots mingle with blazing chicken in a comfort food symphony that screams pure deliciousness.
Molten cheese blankets succulent meat, creating a decadent landscape of culinary magic.
Zesty buffalo sauce weaves through each bite, igniting a spicy celebration on your plate.
Crunchy tots provide a textural playground that contrasts perfectly with tender chicken chunks.
Ranch dressing drizzled on top adds a cool, creamy counterpoint to the fiery buffalo kick.
This dish transforms weeknight dinners from mundane to magnificent in just one sizzling pan.
Devour a plate of pure, unapologetic deliciousness that’ll have everyone begging for seconds.
Quick Recipe Overview
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Calories: 550 kcal
Servings: 5
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Transform frozen potato tots into crispy, zesty bites by tossing them with spicy seasonings. Spread them across a baking sheet and roast until golden and crunchy.
Heat a skillet to medium-high and melt butter, creating a perfect cooking surface. Drop in seasoned chicken chunks with minced celery, garlic, and fragrant green onions. Cook until the meat is perfectly done, then splash in hot sauce for an extra kick.
Pull the tots from the oven and switch to broil. Build a mouthwatering layered masterpiece with melty cheese and the saucy chicken mixture. Let the broiler work its magic, creating a golden, bubbling top.
Mix ranch dressing with tangy blue cheese crumbles, seasoning to create a bold, creamy drizzle that’ll make taste buds dance.
Pull your creation from the oven and finish with a drizzle of zesty sauce. Scatter fresh green onions and celery leaves on top for a burst of color and fresh flavor. Serve immediately while everything is hot and irresistible.
Helpful Suggestions for Pioneer Woman Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
Swap hot sauce with sriracha or chipotle sauce for a different flavor kick. Adjust quantity based on personal heat tolerance.
Replace chicken with pulled pork, ground turkey, or plant-based crumbles for diverse protein options.
Experiment with pepper jack, smoked gouda, or sharp cheddar instead of standard cheese to create unique flavor profiles.
Use rotisserie chicken to cut down cooking time and add extra moisture to the casserole.
Pairing Ideas for Pioneer Woman Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
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Sizzling Pioneer Woman Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole Recipe
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 5 1x
Description
Hearty Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole promises spicy comfort from Pioneer Woman’s kitchen. Creamy cheese, crispy tots, and zesty buffalo sauce create an irresistible meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
- 1 lb (454 g) frozen potato tots
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, bite-size pieces
- 1 ½ cups pepper jack cheese, shredded
- ¾ cup cayenne hot sauce
- 2 cups ranch dressing
- 2 tbsps salted butter
- ¼ cup blue cheese crumbles
- 2 ribs celery, thinly sliced
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Celery leaves (for garnish)
- Green onions (half reserved for garnish)
Instructions
- Preparation: Ignite the oven to 450°F (232°C). Lavishly coat frozen potato tots with chili powder and cumin across a baking sheet, ensuring uniform seasoning distribution.
- Roasting Tots: Bake potato tots for 35 minutes until achieving a golden, crispy texture. Simultaneously, activate a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat for chicken preparation.
- Chicken Sauté: Melt butter and introduce seasoned chicken pieces. Incorporate chopped celery, minced garlic, and half the green onions. Cook until chicken reaches 165°F (74°C), developing rich, complex flavors.
- Sauce Integration: Infuse hot sauce into the skillet, allowing the mixture to simmer and create a glossy, concentrated coating on the chicken. Remove from heat once sauce reduces and thickens.
- Layering and Broiling: Transition oven to broil. Strategically layer half the shredded cheese over crispy tots, then distribute the spicy chicken mixture. Crown with remaining cheese and broil for 3 minutes, monitoring closely to prevent scorching.
- Blue Cheese Drizzle: Craft a tangy blue cheese ranch by blending ranch dressing and crumbled blue cheese, seasoning with salt and pepper for enhanced flavor profile.
- Finishing Touch: Extract casserole once cheese melts and caramelizes. Embellish with blue cheese ranch, residual hot sauce, celery leaves, and remaining green onions. Serve immediately, presenting a vibrant, texturally complex dish.
Notes
- Crisp Tots Technique: Spread tots evenly and season generously before baking to ensure maximum flavor and crunchiness.
- Chicken Cooking Precision: Use medium-high heat and cook chicken just until internal temperature reaches 165°F for tender, perfectly done meat.
- Hot Sauce Balance: Simmer sauce with chicken to create a slightly thickened coating that enhances overall flavor without making the dish too wet.
- Broiler Watch Strategy: Monitor cheese melting closely during the final 3 minutes to prevent burning and achieve golden-brown perfection.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking, Broiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 1200 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 41 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
Michael Thompson
Founder & Culinary Director
Expertise
Classical & Contemporary Cooking Techniques, Global Cuisine Appreciation, Nutrition & Menu Engineering, Sustainable Cooking Practices, Farm-to-Table Cuisine
Education
Southwestern Oregon Community College
Michael grew up in Oregon, where he learned early that food tastes better when it’s fresh, local, and made with care.
After earning his degree from the Southwestern Oregon Community College, he focused his career on teaching others how to cook with the seasons, reduce food waste, and reconnect with what’s on their plate.
Michael keeps his cooking simple, sustainable, and full of flavor. His favorite part of the process? Watching people realize how easy and satisfying it can be to cook a single great meal from scratch.