Ingredients
Scale
To create this delightful dish, you’ll need a handful of simple, wholesome ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced
- 1 cup ranch dressing
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots
- 1/2 cup chopped green onions
- 1/2 cup cooked and crumbled bacon (optional, but adds a lovely smokiness)
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
You can substitute the chicken with turkey for a slightly different flavor or use a vegan ranch dressing and cheese for a plant-based version. The beauty of this dish lies in its flexibility — much like the kitchen experiments my mum and I would embark on, forever tweaking and discovering new flavors.
Instructions
Creating this bake is a breeze, and I promise it will fill your home with an irresistible aroma. Here’s how it’s done:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked chicken, ranch dressing, 1 1/2 cups of cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir until well mixed — I find this part quite therapeutic, almost like kneading dough.
- Spread the mixture evenly in a 9×13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle the crumbled bacon and green onions over the top for added flavor and color.
- Arrange the tater tots over the chicken mixture in a single layer. This step always reminds me of the meticulous care my mum would take when decorating her famous pies.
- Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese over the tater tots.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown and the cheese is bubbly.
- Let it cool for a few minutes before serving, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: International
