Buffalo Chicken Tater Tots
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If it's game day, you gotta have Buffalo Chicken Tater Tots on the table. This appetizer combines two popular tailgate foods to create the ultimate game day snack!
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What Makes This Recipe Special?
At our house, football is a big deal. Since I'm the daughter of a former football coach and wife of a high school quarterback, we get excited about sports around here. And of course, tailgate food is at the top of our list.
Buffalo Chicken Tater Tots is a mash up of favorite football party foods. Crispy tater tots meet zesty buffalo chicken dip while still hanging out with blue cheese dressing. Some folks call these Totchos! It's an interesting combo, but worth every bite.
This entire skillet dish is topped with blue cheese crumbles, bacon, dressing and green onions. It can be scooped out with chips, served with celery sticks, or dipped with a big spoon. It might remind you of the infamous Minnesota Hotdish with a twist!
Ingredients Needed
Using frozen tater tots and rotisserie chicken helps this dish come together quickly!
- frozen tater tots - the star of this dish
- shredded cheddar cheese - tops the tater tots
- cream cheese - gives the dip its creamy base
- buffalo sauce - mild, yet sassy spice
- rotisserie chicken - makes things easy
- ranch dressing - cools things down
- blue cheese crumbles - adds a little bite
- bacon - because everything's better with bacon
- green onions - the crowning touch
Add tater tots to skillet 
Sprinkle with cheese 
Spread with buffalo mixture 
Sprinkle with bacon
How to Make It
- Place frozen tater tots in the bottom of a cast iron skillet or casserole dish.
- Cover tots with shredded cheddar.
- Mix cream cheese and buffalo sauce together with a mixer. Beat on high for 2 minutes. Fold in chicken.
- Spoon chicken mixture over cheese on top of tots. Crumble bacon over the top.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes until bubbly.
- Mix ranch dressing with half of the blue cheese crumbles.
- Top tater tots with dressing, other half of the blue cheese crumbles, and green onions.
- Serve hot with tortilla chips, celery sticks, or just dip and eat with a fork.
Top Tips
- Spray the cast iron skillet with cooking spray before adding tater tots to avoid sticking.
- Using rotisserie chicken is more convenient and saves a ton of time, but if not handy, any type of cooked chicken will work.
- If freezing, do so before baking and leave off the ranch dressing, blue cheese and green onions until after it's baked.
Recipe FAQS
Totchos are a cross between nachos and tots. When you eat totchos, pretend tater tots are nachos and top them with whatever you like! I used ranch dressing to go with the buffalo chicken theme, but you can load up your Totchos with any topping you wish.
Sure! If you're not a fan of blue cheese, use pepper jack instead, or just add more shredded cheddar. Use blue cheese dressing instead of ranch, or plain sour cream for a completely different taste.
Yes! You can freeze this entire dish before in an airtight container for up to 3 months. When it's time to serve, thaw it out in the refrigerator overnight, then bake on 350 degrees as directed in the recipe. Be sure to put the ranch dressing and blue cheese crumbles on AFTER baking because they don't freeze well.
More Game Day Recipes
Buffalo Chicken Tater Tots make the perfect appetizer for parties of all shapes and sizes. They're easy to make, and even more fun to eat!
If you love this appetizer, check out my other game day treats that go well together! The combination below makes a great appetizer buffet.
- Spinach Artichoke Dip
- Sheet Pan Taco Bake
- Fried Chicken Wings
- Sheet Pan Italian Sliders
- Tailgate Meatballs
- The Best Sausage Balls
Recipe Card
Buffalo Chicken Tater Tots
*See notes in blog post for detailed tips, photos and instructions.
Ingredients
- 32 oz. bag frozen tater tots
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 8 oz. cream cheese softened
- ½ cup buffalo sauce
- 2 cups rotisserie chicken diced
- 1 cup ranch dressing
- 5 ounces blue cheese crumbles
- 6 slices cooked bacon chopped
- ½ cup green onions chopped
Instructions
- Place frozen tater tots in the bottom of a cast iron skillet or casserole dish.
- Cover tots with shredded cheddar.
- Mix cream cheese and buffalo sauce together with a mixer. Beat on high for 2 minutes. Fold in chicken.
- Spoon chicken mixture over cheese on top of tots. Crumble bacon over the top.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes until bubbly.
- Mix ranch dressing with half of the blue cheese crumbles.
- Top tater tots with dressing, other half of the blue cheese crumbles, and green onions.
- Serve hot with tortilla chips, celery sticks, or just dip it out and eat with a fork.
Notes
- Spray the skillet with cooking spray beforehand to avoid sticking.
- Using rotisserie chicken makes this dish come together quicker.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is an auto generated estimate.
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This recipe looks amazing! Can’t wait to try it!
Great for game days!
Perfect crowd pleaser. This would be great at my next party.