If you love buffalo sauce, this buffalo chicken casserole with tater tots is for you! The creamy ranch-flavored chicken has a hint of spice from the buffalo sauce and is topped with crispy tater tots, drizzled with homemade ranch dressing made from Greek yogurt.
We love quick dinner recipes like Big Mac tater tot casserole, chicken spaghetti with rotel, and of course, gluten-free tater tot casserole without canned soups! The best part is that they are made with ingredients we can pronounce, and everyone in my family loves them! We also call this recipe a hotdish - Minnesota girl forever!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It tastes like Buffalo Chicken Dip topped with tater tots - yes it's true!
- Nonfat plain Greek yogurt adds extra protein without the fat
- Gluten Free, Dairy Free, and Low FODMAP Recipe Variations Available
What You'll Need
Ranch Dressing Ingredients:
- Nonfat Plain Greek Yogurt - Adds creminess and protein without fat the ranch dressing.
- Mayonnaise - Another component to achieve a rich, creamy ranch dressing.
- Ranch Seasoning Mix - Use homemade dry ranch seasoning or your favorite store-bought. The spice combination creates that signature ranch flavor.
- Lemon Juice - Just a touch of lemon juice adds brightness to the dressing.
- Kosher Salt - A little bit of salt to balance it all.
Casserole Ingredients:
- Cream Cheese - The ultimate creamy ingredient that holds the buffalo chicken layer together.
- Buffalo Wing Sauce - Use homemade buffalo sauce or purchase your favorite, like Franks Buffalo Wing Sauce or Primal Kitchen Buffalo Sauce.
- Ranch Dressing - Made from the ingredients above, the non-fat Greek yogurt base makes a delicious ranch dressing.
- Cooked Shredded Chicken - Use rotisserie chicken, Dutch oven shredded chicken, or crock pot meal-prepped chicken for a quick and easy way to have cooked chicken on hand.
- Cheddar Cheese and Pepper Jack Cheese - Classic cheese and a spicy cheese option that adds another layer of spice.
- Tater Tots - Frozen tater tots that create a crispy potato-ey layer.
See the recipe card for the exact measurements and complete instructions.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Homemade Ranch Dressing Instructions
Ranch Dressing Step 1: Using a wide-mouth mason jar or a container with a tight-fitting lid, add the nonfat plain Greek yogurt and mayonnaise to the jar. Mix until combined.
Ranch Dressing Step 2: Next, add the ranch seasoning mix, lemon juice, and kosher salt. Stir. If it is too thick, add 1-2 teaspoons of water to thin it out and make it pourable.
Buffalo Chicken Casserole Instructions
Casserole Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, add the softened cream cheese, 1 cup of the homemade ranch dressing, and the buffalo wing sauce. Use an electric mixer or your muscles to combine.
Casserole Step 2: Next, add the shredded chicken. Stir until fully coated.
Casserole Step 3: Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan and add the buffalo chicken mixture. Spread it out evenly.
Casserole Step 4: Sprinkle ¾ cup of both cheddar and pepper jack cheese over the buffalo chicken layer. Reserve the extra cheese to sprinkle over the tater tots after baking.
Casserole Step 5: Next, add a single layer of tater tots over the shredded cheese. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 50-60 minutes or until the tater tots are crispy.
Remove from the oven after 30 minutes of baking and sprinkle the remaining cheddar and pepper jack cheese over the tater tots.
Casserole Step 6: After baking, add a few sprigs of chopped green onions. Top each serving with extra ranch dressing and buffalo sauce if wanted.
Tips and Tricks
Double the homemade ranch dressing! Use it as an appetizer served with baby carrots and celery while everyone waits for the casserole to be done.
Leftover nonfat plain Greek yogurt? Use it up with these recipes: Greek chicken yogurt marinade or cookies and cream overnight oats.
Ingredient Swaps
Homemade Ranch Dressing Swaps
- Greek Yogurt - Whole plain Greek yogurt will also work. Make sure it isn't flavored, or you will have a vanilla-flavored ranch dressing. Yum….ah nope.
- Sour Cream - If you don't want to use yogurt at all, swap in sour cream for plain Greek yogurt.
- Cottage Cheese - Use whipped cottage cheese for the Greek yogurt for a higher protein amount.
- Lemon Juice - Swap it for apple cider vinegar if you don't have a fresh lemon on hand.
Buffalo Chicken Casserole Swaps
- Diced Turkey - If you have leftover Thanksgiving turkey, swap it in for the chicken for a different flavor profile, and it's a great way to use leftovers!
- Cream Cheese - Use a lower-fat cream cheese like Neufchatel. The texture may be a bit grainy compared to the full-fat option, but if you want a lower-fat option, it will work.
- Cheese Options: Swap in blue cheese if you love it, or for a lower spice option, use Monterey Jack for the melty cheese without the spice.
- Sweet Potato Tater Tots - For a fun spin on the tater tots, use the sweet potato version!
Special Diet Variations
Gluten Free Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole: If not making ranch dressing from scratch, make sure the swap does not have any hidden gluten. Use a gluten free tater tot like the Ore-Ida brand.
Dairy Free Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole: Use dairy free ranch dressing, dairy free cream cheese like Kite Hill, and a dairy free buffalo sauce like Primal Kitchen's version. Skip the cheese or swap in a plant-based shredded cheese.
Low FODMAP Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole:
- Ranch Dressing: Make low FODMAP ranch dressing recipe or use lactose-free plain Greek yogurt. For the seasoning, use dairy free dry ranch seasoning without garlic or purchase a certified low FODMAP ranch seasoning.
- Buffalo Chicken Layer: Use a lactose-free cream cheese and a low FODMAP buffalo wing sauce. Use tater tots without onion or a tolerated brand. Ingredient guidance is based on testing on the Monash Univeristy Food App-the leader in low FODMAP diet research.
FAQs
A hotdish typically includes a protein, vegetable, and starch, all held together by a rich, creamy sauce. A casserole is essentially the same dish but with a wider variety. If you live in Minnesota, it will always be a hotdish.
If concerned about the spice level, purchase a mild buffalo sauce or make your own buffalo sauce to the desired spice level.
Make the buffalo chicken layer up to a day in advance, and add the tater tots right before baking.
Storing and Reheating
Store: Keep leftovers covered and store them in the refrigerator for up to four days.
Reheat: Leftovers can be reheated in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. The tater tots will not be crispy, but they will still be delicious.
Freeze: Do not freeze the casserole combined. The buffalo chicken layer can be kept in a freezer-friendly container. Defrost before using. Top with frozen tater tots and bake for the best results.
What To Serve With Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
Complete this delicious dinner with a lettuce salad - topped with ranch dressing! Add a side of broccoli or oven-roasted vegetables. Crunchy coleslaw with a homemade dressing would be great too! It would also be delicious with gluten free cornbread.
Picky Eater Tips
If someone in your family doesn't love Buffalo-flavored anything, reserve a serving of the cooked chicken before mixing. Microwave at dinner time to heat the chicken and serve with a side of the Greek yogurt ranch dressing. Bake a serving of tater tots alongside the casserole, too! There should be just enough left over in the bag.
More Loveable Buffalo Flavored Recipes
Love This Recipe?
Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating + comment. It helps so much, and we love hearing from everyone! Thank You -Venessa
Recipe
Buffalo Chicken Casserole With Tater Tots
Ingredients
Homemade Ranch Dressing:
- 1 cup nonfat plain greek yogurt
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning mix
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice (Note 1)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1-3 teaspoons water (Note 2)
Buffalo Chicken Layer:
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 ½ cups homemade ranch dressing divided (Note 3)
- ½ cup buffalo wing sauce Note 4
- 4 cups cooked chicken 2 pounds shredded (Note 5)
Cheese Layer:
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded, divided
- 1 cup pepper jack cheese shredded, divided
Tater Tot Layer:
- 32 ounces frozen tater tots (Note 6)
Optional Toppings:
- chopped green onions
- remaining homemade ranch dressing
- buffalo wing sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a wide-mouth mason jar, add the ingredients for the ranch dressing: nonfat plain greek yogurt, mayonnaise, ranch seasoning mix, fresh lemon juice, and kosher salt. Stir until combined. If needed, thin with water, 1 teaspoon at a time. Store in refrigerator until needed.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the softened cream cheese, 1 cup homemade ranch dressing, ½ cup buffalo wing sauce. Stir until combined, or use an electric mixer to make the process easier.
- Next, add the cooked shredded chicken to the bowl. Stir until the chicken is well coated.
- In a greased 9x13-inch baking dish, pour the chicken buffalo mixture into the pan. Spread it out evenly.
- Next, sprinkle ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese and ¾ cup pepper jack cheese evenly over the chicken buffalo mixture. Reserve the remaining shredded cheese to top the cooked tater tots.
- Arrange the tater tots in a single layer over the cheese.
- Bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 45-60 minutes or until the tater tots are crispy.
- After baking for 30 minutes, sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese over the tater tots.
- Remove from the oven.
- If using, sprinkle the chopped green onions over the tots.
- Drizzle ranch dressing and buffalo sauce over each serving for even more ranch flavor.
Venessa Mandelkow says
My teenage son could eat an entire pan of this buffalo chicken casserole. He even brought leftover for lunch the next day!