Cracked Out Tater Tot Casserole Recipe – easy Cheddar, Bacon and Ranch potato casserole using frozen tater tots. So simple and tastes amazing! The flavor combination is highly addictive!! Can freeze casserole for easy side dish later.
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Pin This RecipeStop what you are doing and go get the ingredients to make this yummy “Cracked Out” Tater Tot Casserole! This was SO good! I wanted to eat the entire pan myself! I didn’t, but I totally wanted to!
In case you are new here, “Cracked Out” is what I call the flavor combination of cheddar, bacon and ranch. It all started with the original “Crack Dip” way back in 2008. I made it for a football game, and we couldn’t stop eating it. We started calling it “Crack”. This Tater Tot Casserole is no different. It is so addictive. It is also super easy to make. This casserole can be made ahead of time and frozen for later too! Make it!
Cracked Out Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients:
- 1 (16-oz) container sour cream
- 1 (10.5-oz) can Unsalted Cream of Chicken Soup
- 1 (1-oz) package ranch dressing mix
- ¾ cup cooked chopped bacon
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 (2-lb) bag frozen tater tots
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray a 9×13-inch pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix together sour cream, soup, Ranch mix, bacon and cheese. Fold in frozen tater tots. Spoon mixture into prepared pan.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes, until bubbly.
Notes:
- You don’t need to thaw the tater tots before using in the casserole.
- Can use low-fat soup and sour cream.
- Can make casserole ahead of time and refrigerate or freeze for later.
- To bake after freezing, thaw completely and bake as directed above.
- I suggest using Unsalted Cream of Chicken Soup in this dish to control the sodium.
- You can buy it by the case at Amazon: https://amzn.to/49n4uZE
- Need Gluten-free Cream of Chicken Soup? You can buy it here: https://amzn.to/3MtqQ1s
- Here is our recipe for Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup: https://www.plainchicken.com/homemade-cream-of-chicken-soup/
Steph
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Can you use ranch dressing rather than dried ranch packet?
This recipe uses dried ranch seasoning, but you can make it however you want. I don’t know how it turns out with any modifications.
How long will this stay good as leftovers in the refrgerator if I don’t want to freeze them?
I'm making this tonight and want to add chicken. I hope two cups of shredded chicken will work. I might add a little milk to make up for the additional chicken! Thoughts?
I think that sounds delicious!
How many people does this recipe serve? We bought all the stuff now I'm just going it feeds all 7 of us or should we double it?
What do you think is the best way to reheat leftovers?
I usually just microwave the leftovers
Thank you!!
Hi! Sorry to bring this up months later.. I'm making this for a holiday party on Monday but wanted to make it in advance and freeze it.. I read online to thaw casseroles overnight, but since the tater tots are supposed to be frozen, I'm afraid thawing them ovenight will ruin it. I am known for ruining just about everything I have ever attempted to bake so I figured I'd ask incase anyone happens to be looking at this post anymore ???? sorry if this sounds dumb ???? thanks!
I do thaw this before baking and it is fine. You can also cover it with foil and bake for 20 minutes and uncover and bake an additional 40 to 45 minutes.
Is the receipe suppose to say 1 1oz pack of ranch dressing mix? Thanks!
yes – it is 1 one-ounce packet of Ranch dressing mix
Do you bake it covered or uncovered?
Uncovered – enjoy!
I make this recipe every Thanksgiving! It is absolutely delish and gets rave reviews! I am planning on making it tomorrow for a family with a new baby. I mistakenly bought cream cheese instead of the cream of chicken soup. Do you think that could work as a sub or more cheddar? Thanks!
If you freeze it in 8x8s do you thaw it out first and then follow original baking instructions?
Yes – enjoy!
Do you use just the condensed soup or do you add water to make the soup and add both?
just use the soup as it is in the can – don't add any water
I made this recipe and added chicken and more bacon and cheese. Turned out great. I did use a bigger casserole dish though 11×14
How long do you cook the "Cracked Out" Tater Tot Casserole in the crock pot and at which temperature? I would like to include chicken breast cut up (cooked or uncooked?)
There is no chicken in this recipe. This is a tater tot potato casserole recipe.
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Can this be made the night before?
Sure!
Do you thaw the tots before mixing it with the rest of the ingredients?
I tried this casserole and it was delicious! All my kids loved it. Score!! 🙂
Has anyone tried this with ground beef?
I used this as the base of my casserole tonight and it was delicious! I used mushroom soup since I don't like cream of chicken. As Mary suggested, I added some chopped up chicken thighs as well and just upped the temp. Add some extra spices and it was super tasty!
I used this as the base of my casserole tonight and it was delicious! I used mushroom soup since I don't like cream of chicken. As Mary suggested, I added some chopped up chicken thighs as well and just upped the temp. Add some extra spices and it was super tasty!
This was amazing! I added a couple of chicken breasts, cubed, to the recipe. They weren't fully cooked at the end of 45 min at 350, so I upped the temp to 375 for 20 more min. Next time I'll just cook it at 375 the whole time.
Thanks for the meal!
When you added the chicken, did you also add more of the wet ingredients? If not, was it dry?
Is the cream of chicken soup the smaller can or family size? thanks! 🙂
The 10.75oz can – enjoy!
Did u cook the bacon ahead of time?
You buy the Oscar Mayer bag of bacon pieces that already cooked. It should be next to the salad dressing at your grocery store.
Stephanie, your site has become my "go to" for yummy recipes…thank you! Teenage son especially loves all your "Crack" recipes…I added some cooked chicken to this for a quick meal & he raved. Keep up the great work!
Lori – I'm thrilled you are enjoying the site! Great idea for adding chicken. I will give that a try next time!
I live in UK, can you tell me what Ranch dressing mix is? What can I use as a substitute? This looks and sounds a delicious dish and want to try it.
Could not find "2 lb." tater tots. Everywhere its 28 oz. So I used 2- 28 oz. bags of baby taters tots. An extra can of cream of chicken soup, a white onion, chopped. And a 12.5 oz. can of cooked chicken meat. Just fit in my pan. Gave it an extra 15 minutes to bake. Fantastic! Definitely a keeper.
I was wondering about the chicken. I have chix breast and don't know how much to put in. I thought this was supposed to be a chicken recipe. No chix listed in recipe?
Do you think it would be ok to replace the sour cream with plain Greek yogurt?
You could. I've done that in other potato casseroles and it tastes fine.
Can you use ranch dressing instead of mix
This recipe uses the dry mix
Can I make this in a crock pot? I'm going to a party and I want to keep it warm.
Can you make this in a crock pot? I want to take it to a party and want to keep it warm.
I think it would be fine in the crockpot.
But how would you make it in a crockpot? Low for 4 hours?
Unfortunately, without further recipe testing, I cannot answer with certainty. As always, please use your best judgment regarding substitutions and modifications.
If it was split into two 8×8 pans, could it be frozen and if so, would you freeze it before or after cooking.
I freeze it unbaked
I thought this was good, but I’m not sure where I went wrong – so, so salty. Do you use reduced sodium, I didn’t add any salt whatsoever. Thank u for sharing:)
You should use our Homemade Ranch Dressing Mix that is linked in the recipe notes and look for unsalted Cream of Chicken soup.
If it was split into two 8×8 pans, could it be frozen and if so, would you freeze it before or after cooking.
This is literally my go to recipe for any family gathering. It's also my husbands favorite thing I make. In fact, it's the holidays and my aunt contacted my mother to ask me for this recipe two days ago so she can make it for her family gather. This recipe is great!