Try out my Mexican tater tot casserole recipe made with taco style ground chicken, and cheese. It is a super easy and filling weeknight dinner recipe. Plus, I guarantee your whole family will love this one!
Why do I Love Taco Tater Tot Casserole
It is a super easy and filling weeknight dinner recipe. Plus, I guarantee your whole family will love this one!
This really does not require much cooking and is pretty much three steps: cook tater tots, cook meat, then, put everything together!
You can add tons of different taco items such as beans, corn, chili, enchilada sauce or so much more.
This recipe can be easily substituted for some of your favorite items. Plus, it is great with a lot of toppings. I prefer adding some pickles or jalapeños if you want some spice.
It makes me very excited for lunch leftovers the next day.
Quick Substitutions for a Tater Tot Casserole
For my Mexican tater tot casserole recipe, I make it with tater tots, ground chicken, cheese. However, there are many substitutions you can make.
The base layer is tater tots; however, you can substitute that for any similar potato such as hash browns or French fries. As you can see from the post later on, I needed to add in a couple fries to fill up some empty space.
Our second layer is going to be the meat. I use ground chicken breast; however, you can use ground beef (or another meat). This recipe is great if you add some beans into the meat too.
All I add to the top, in this recipe, is shredded cheese; however, there are tons of toppings you can include such as pickles, jalapeños, tomatoes and much more!
Essential Ingredients
These are the essential ingredients to make a chicken taco casserole; however, we can go over some suggestions and substitutions.
- Tater tots
- Diced onion
- Minced garlic
- Ground chicken
- Taco sauce
- Shredded cheese
Tater Tots
The base layer is tater tots; however, you can substitute that for any similar potato such as hash browns or French fries. As you can see from the post later on, I needed to add in a couple fries to fill up some empty space.
Minced Garlic and Diced Onion
You can buy pre-minced garlic; however, I love mincing my own with this mini food processor. You can also use that for the onion, depending on how big you like the pieces.
Ground Chicken
Our second layer is going to be the meat. I use ground chicken breast; however, you can use ground beef (or another meat). This recipe is great if you add some beans into the meat too.
Shredded Cheese
Feel free to use whatever type of shredded cheese that you like. I prefer low fat or fat-free.
All I add to the top, in this recipe, is shredded cheese; however, there are tons of toppings you can include such as pickles, jalapeños, tomatoes and much more!
How to Make this Cheesy, Taco Casserole
This really does not require much cooking and is pretty much three steps: cook tater tots, cook meat, then, put everything together!
Add tater tots to the bottom of an 8x8 glass casserole dish, in a single layer. Cook them according to package instructions. If you want them crispier, air fry them.
Meanwhile, start cooking the meat. Heat a large pan over medium high heat. Drizzle with oil or grease with cooking spray. Once heated, add the diced onion and cook for 2-3 minutes, until softening. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute, until fragrant.
Add the ground chicken and start breaking it up. Sprinkle on the seasonings and continue to breakup while cooking. Continue to break up and mix in the seasonings until the chicken is fully cooked.
Add in half the shredded cheese, mixing to allow it to melt. You can also add in 2 ounces of cream cheese here for an extra creamy dish. Beans are also a great addition in this step.
Pour in the taco sauce (sub enchilada sauce) and allow it to come to a simmer for one minute.
Once the chicken is cooked, add it to the tater tots in an even layer. Finally, sprinkle with the remaining shredded cheese.
Then, broil or cook in the oven until the cheese is melted, about 3 to 5 minutes.
Divide in four pieces, add your favorite toppings and enjoy!
FAQs
- Substitute your potato - use French fries or hash browns
- Not a fan of chicken? I use chicken; however, you can try ground beef
- Add your favorite taco toppings on top
What to Serve with a Chicken Casserole
Mexican casserole is almost a complete dish, in my mind. It is just missing some vegetables! Since this dish is already cheesy and you can make it slightly spicy, I love serving this with a sweeter vegetable like my maple bacon Brussels sprouts, my candied carrot chips or crunchy crack broccoli.
Some of my Favorite Similar Recipes
I love making recipes in a casserole dish! Find some more of my other casserole recipes here:
Don't forget to give this recipe a 5 STAR review if you loved it!
Taco Tater Tot Casserole
Try out my Mexican tater tot casserole recipe made with tater tots, taco style ground chicken, and cheese. It is a super easy and filling weeknight dinner recipe. Plus, I guarantee your whole family will love this one!
Taco Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients
- 60 tater tots mini sized
- ⅛ cup onion diced
- 4 cloves minced garlic
- 1 pound ground chicken breast
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ⅛ cup Taco Bell Sauce
- ⅔ cup shredded lite Mexican cheese
- taco toppings
Instructions
- Add tater tots to the bottom of an 8x8 glass casserole dish, in a single layer. Cook them according to package instructions. If you want them crispier, air fry them.
- Meanwhile, start cooking the meat. Heat a large pan over medium high heat. Drizzle with oil or grease with cooking spray. Once heated, add the diced onion and cook for 2-3 minutes, until softening. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute, until fragrant.
- Add the ground chicken and start breaking it up. Sprinkle on the seasonings and continue to breakup while cooking. Continue to break up and mix in the seasonings until the chicken is fully cooked.
- Add in half the shredded cheese, mixing to allow it to melt. You can also add in 2 ounces of cream cheese here for an extra creamy dish. Beans are also a great addition in this step.
- Pour in the taco sauce (sub enchilada sauce) and allow it to come to a simmer for one minute.
- Once the chicken is cooked, add it to the tater tots in an even layer. Finally, sprinkle with the remaining shredded cheese.
- Then, broil or cook in the oven until the cheese is melted, about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Divide in four pieces, add your favorite toppings and enjoy!
Nutrition
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Click here to automatically calculate your Weight Watchers points. It is seven points for me; however, may be different for you. Substitute with less cheese or a fat-free cheese to lower your points.
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