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
Scale
- 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