This cozy chicken tater tot casserole is the ultimate one-pan comfort food! Juicy shredded chicken, creamy homemade sauce, plenty of veggies, and crispy tater tots come together for a crowd-pleasing dinner that’s easy to make any night of the week.
Heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion along with a couple large pinches of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, for 4 minutes.
Add garlic, Italian seasoning, rubbed sage, and a couple pinches of salt and pepper. Cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently.
Add butter to the pan and stir until it melts. Sprinkle flour over the mixture and stir to combine. Cook for another minute or so, stirring frequently.
Slowly stir in chicken stock until well combined, deglazing the bottom of the pan and scraping all the yummy bits off.
Then stir in heavy cream and mix until well combined. Heat for 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens slightly and gets creamy.
Add shredded chicken, frozen peas and carrots, and a couple pinches of salt and pepper to the pan and stir to combine. Cook for about a minute.
Spread shredded cheddar cheese in an even layer over the meat and veggies.
Then add tater tots in a single layer.
Bake, uncovered, for 45 minutes or until the tater tots are crispy and the casserole is warmed through and bubbling around the edges. Broil for a couple minutes if desired to get the tater tots a little extra crispy on top.
Remove from oven and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.
Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and enjoy!
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Notes
You can use any leftover chicken or turkey for this recipe. I’ve used chopped leftover grilled chicken thighs and it was delicious!
Use salt and pepper moderately in this casserole recipe! The ingredient list here is short and simple, so adding salt and pepper throughout the cooking process is going to go a long way in boosting the overall flavors of the dish.
If the casserole seems a bit loose after baking – don’t worry! As the casserole rests, the juices will redistribute and you’ll end up with a creamy and delicious chicken casserole.