Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole: 5 Easy Steps

Name: Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients: 3 cups shredded cooked chicken (rotisserie chicken works well); 8 oz cream cheese, softened; 1 cup buffalo wing sauce (like Frank's RedHot); 1/2 cup ranch or blue cheese dressing; 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided; 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided; 1/4 cup chopped green onions or chives, plus more for garnish; 1 bag frozen tater tots (32 oz)

Rachael

November 24, 2025

This Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole is the ultimate comfort food mashup, guaranteed to become a new family favorite. Imagine a warm, bubbly dish right out of the oven, featuring a creamy and spicy buffalo chicken dip as the base, loaded with tender shredded chicken, tangy buffalo sauce, and a rich blend of cheeses.

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This flavorful foundation is then topped with a perfectly arranged layer of crispy, golden tater tots, creating a textural contrast that’s simply irresistible. It’s the perfect easy weeknight dinner, combining the beloved flavors of buffalo chicken wings with the hearty, satisfying nature of a classic tater tot casserole. Simple to assemble and quick to bake, this recipe delivers a powerhouse of flavor with minimal effort, making it a go-to for game days, potlucks, or any night you’re craving something truly delicious and comforting.

There are certain flavor combinations that just feel like a warm hug, and for me, buffalo chicken is at the top of that list. I first fell in love with the spicy, tangy flavor during college game days, where wings were a non-negotiable staple. Fast forward a few years, and my love for easy, one-pan dinners led me to the classic tater tot casserole. One evening, staring at a bag of frozen tots and some leftover shredded chicken, a lightbulb went off.

Why not combine these two ultimate comfort foods? The result was this incredible Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole. It’s a dish that brings back the fun and excitement of a tailgate party but in the form of a cozy, family-style meal that’s incredibly simple to whip up any night of the week.

Why You’ll Love This

Easy Weeknight Meal: With simple ingredients and minimal prep, this Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole comes together in under an hour.
Crowd-Pleasing Flavors: The combination of spicy buffalo sauce, creamy cheese, and crispy tots is a certified hit with both kids and adults.
Perfectly Customizable: Easily adjust the spice level, swap cheeses, or add extra veggies to make it your own.
Great for Leftovers: This casserole reheats beautifully, making it a delicious lunch for the next day.

What Makes This Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole Special

What truly sets this dish apart is the perfect balance of textures and flavors. It’s more than just a simple casserole; it’s a culinary experience. The base layer is a rich, creamy mixture of tender chicken, softened cream cheese, and your choice of ranch or blue cheese dressing, which provides a cooling counterpoint to the heat. But what hot sauce is best for Buffalo chicken flavor? For that authentic tangy kick, Frank’s RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce is the classic choice. It provides the signature buffalo flavor without overwhelming heat.

This spicy and savory filling contrasts beautifully with the crispy, salty crunch of the golden-brown tater tot topping. The final layer of melted cheddar and mozzarella cheese ties everything together, creating a gooey, satisfying finish in every single bite.

Key Ingredients for Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

Shredded Chicken: The star of the show. Using a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken is a great shortcut to save time.
Cream Cheese: This is the secret to an ultra-creamy and rich filling. Make sure it’s fully softened for easy mixing.
Buffalo Wing Sauce: Provides the signature tangy and spicy flavor. Frank’s RedHot is the traditional go-to for that authentic taste.
Ranch or Blue Cheese Dressing: Adds creaminess and cools down the spice. Use whichever you prefer for dipping your wings!
Shredded Cheese: A combination of sharp cheddar and mozzarella offers the best of both worlds: sharp flavor and that perfect cheesy pull.
Frozen Tater Tots: The crispy crown on top of the casserole. Do not thaw them before baking for maximum crispiness.
Green Onions: Adds a touch of fresh, mild onion flavor that cuts through the richness.

How to Make Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole: Step-by-Step

Prepare the Filling:: Start by preheating your oven and grabbing a 9×13 inch baking dish. In a large bowl, you’ll create the heart of the casserole. Combine the softened cream cheese, shredded chicken, buffalo sauce, and your choice of ranch or blue cheese dressing. Mix until it’s smooth and creamy, then fold in half of your shredded cheeses and the green onions.
Assemble the Layers:: Spread this delicious buffalo chicken mixture evenly across the bottom of your prepared baking dish. Next, comes the fun part. Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single, neat layer over the filling. A common question is, ‘Should I thaw my tater tots first?’ The answer is no! Using them directly from the freezer is key to getting them perfectly crispy and preventing a soggy casserole.
Bake to Perfection:: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for about 25-30 minutes. You’re looking for the filling to be bubbly and the tots to be turning a light golden brown. Then, sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top and bake for another 5-10 minutes until the cheese is gloriously melted and the tots are perfectly crisp.

Storing Your Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

Leftovers are one of the best parts of making a big casserole! To store, allow the Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole to cool completely. Then, either cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil or transfer individual portions to airtight containers. It will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, you can use the microwave for a quick meal, but for the best texture, reheat it in an oven or air fryer at 350°F until warmed through. This will help the tater tots crisp up again. This recipe is also great for meal prepping lunches for the week ahead.

Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole Variations & Substitutions

This recipe is wonderfully versatile. If you’re wondering how to make it less spicy, simply reduce the amount of buffalo sauce and increase the amount of ranch or blue cheese dressing. You could also use a milder wing sauce. For extra veggies, try stirring in a cup of steamed and chopped broccoli or cauliflower into the chicken mixture. Don’t have cheddar and mozzarella? Feel free to substitute with Monterey Jack, Colby, or a Mexican cheese blend. For a different topping, you could use crispy fried onions or crushed tortilla chips sprinkled on during the last few minutes of baking for a unique crunch.

Serving Suggestions for Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

This hearty casserole is a meal in itself, but a few simple sides can round it out perfectly. A crisp, refreshing salad with a light vinaigrette is a fantastic way to balance the richness of the dish. Classic buffalo wing accompaniments like celery and carrot sticks with a side of extra blue cheese or ranch dressing are always a winning combination. For a touch of green, consider serving it with steamed green beans, roasted asparagus, or broccoli. The key is to choose something light that won’t compete with the bold flavors of the casserole.

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The History of This Comfort Food Mashup

The Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole is a modern American culinary invention, born from the love of two iconic comfort foods. Buffalo wings themselves were famously created in Buffalo, New York, in the 1960s, with their signature spicy cayenne pepper sauce becoming a nationwide sensation.

The tater tot casserole, or ‘hotdish’ as it’s known in the Upper Midwest, has been a staple of potlucks and family dinners since the 1950s when tater tots were first commercially available. It was only a matter of time before creative home cooks decided to merge these two beloved concepts. This fusion recipe combines the zesty, addictive flavor of buffalo chicken dip with the hearty, satisfying structure of a hotdish, creating a new classic that feels both nostalgic and excitingly new.

Whether you’re making it for a game day celebration, a potluck, or just a simple weeknight dinner, this Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole is sure to impress. It’s a simple recipe with huge flavor payoff. Give it a try and let us know what you think in the comments below. We’d love to hear how it turned out!

Pro Tips

Avoid a Soggy Casserole: To ensure your tater tots get super crispy, don’t thaw them before baking. You can also bake the tots separately for 10-15 minutes before adding them to the casserole for an extra-crispy top layer.
Soften Cream Cheese Quickly: If you forgot to take your cream cheese out, unwrap it and microwave it on a plate for 15-20 seconds until it’s soft enough to mix easily.
Make it Ahead: You can fully assemble the casserole (without the tots) up to a day in advance. When ready to bake, just top with the frozen tots and add about 10 minutes to the initial baking time.

Can I use rotisserie chicken for this recipe?

Absolutely! Using a rotisserie chicken is a fantastic time-saver for this Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole. Simply shred the meat from one store-bought rotisserie chicken, and you’ll have the perfect amount needed for the recipe, which is about three cups. This shortcut eliminates the need to cook and shred your own chicken, making this an even quicker and easier meal to assemble on a busy night. Just make sure to remove the skin before shredding the meat.

Can Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole be frozen?

Yes, this casserole freezes very well. For best results, assemble the entire casserole in a freezer-safe baking dish but do not bake it. Cover it tightly with a layer of plastic wrap followed by a layer of aluminum foil. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to eat, you can bake it directly from frozen, adding about 20-30 extra minutes to the baking time, or thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before baking as directed.

What goes well with Buffalo chicken casserole?

This casserole is quite rich, so it pairs best with lighter, fresh sides. A simple green salad with a vinaigrette dressing, steamed green beans, or roasted broccoli are excellent choices to cut through the richness. Celery and carrot sticks with a side of blue cheese or ranch dressing are also a classic pairing for anything Buffalo-flavored. For a heartier meal, you could serve it with a side of cornbread.

How do I know when the casserole is done?

You’ll know the casserole is done when the filling is hot and bubbly around the edges and the tater tots on top are a deep golden brown and crispy. The internal temperature of the casserole should reach 165°F when checked with a food thermometer. This usually takes about 30-40 minutes in a preheated oven, but cooking times can vary slightly depending on your oven and the baking dish you use.

Can I use homemade ranch or blue cheese dressing?

Definitely! Using a homemade ranch or blue cheese dressing will elevate the flavor of your casserole. Store-bought dressings work perfectly fine for convenience, but the fresh herbs and seasonings in a homemade version add an extra layer of deliciousness. If you have a favorite recipe for either dressing, feel free to use it in place of the bottled variety for a more gourmet touch to this comforting dish.