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!

buffalo chicken tater tots with blue cheese dressing and scallions in a cast iron skillet
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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!

multi colored spoon on a cast iron skillet filled with tater tots

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

How to Make It

  1. Place frozen tater tots in the bottom of a cast iron skillet or casserole dish.
  2. Cover tots with shredded cheddar.
  3. Mix cream cheese and buffalo sauce together with a mixer. Beat on high for 2 minutes. Fold in chicken. 
  4. Spoon chicken mixture over cheese on top of tots. Crumble bacon over the top.
  5. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes until bubbly.
  6. Mix ranch dressing with half of the blue cheese crumbles.
  7. Top tater tots with dressing, other half of the blue cheese crumbles, and green onions.
  8. 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.
colorful spoon scooping out a big scoop of buffalo chicken tater tots in a cast iron skillet

Recipe FAQS

What are Totchos?

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.

Can I substitute other cheeses and dressing?

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.

Can buffalo chicken dip be frozen?

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.

inside of cast iron skillet showing buffalo chicken

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.

Recipe Card

buffalo chicken tater tots with blue cheese dressing and scallions in a cast iron skillet

Buffalo Chicken Tater Tots

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!
5 from 3 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizers
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings12
Calories: 506kcal

*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

Calories: 506kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Sodium: 1398mg | Potassium: 319mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 236mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition info is an auto generated estimate.

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