Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
Growing up in the Midwest my mom would often make hamburger tater tot casserole. It was only a few ingredients: ground beef, tater tots, canned cream soup and dried minced onion flakes. It was not only a simple recipe for her to make but fed the whole family for relatively cheap. Often, she would serve green beans on the side to make a whole meal. I have replicated her recipe as an adult and find it to be bland and flavorless. My palate has developed to crave a more developed dish.
I have classed up her recipe using chicken instead of beef and making my own rue to replace the gelatinous blob of canned cream soups. I use fresh onion rather than dried onion and a healthy blend of vegetables (carrots, peas, corn, green beans).
Tater Tots: I used the potato frozen version of tater tots. A healthier option would be frozen cauliflower tater tots, that would reduce the calories on this dish. Serving size is one ramekin or ¼ of dish and is very filling.
Ingredients
- 1 medium boneless, skinless chicken breast
- 1-2 teaspoon chicken seasoning
- 1/2 cup diced yellow onion
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoon flour
- 1 1/2 cups frozen mixed vegetables (place in microwave safe container and thaw for 1 minute in microwave on high)
- 1 cup 1/2 and 1/2
- 1 cup water room temperature
- 1 teaspoon Better than Bullion Chicken Roasted Chicken
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 bag Frozen tater tots (about 48 tater tots)
- For: 4 Servings
- Preparation: 15 min
- Cooking: 1 h
- Ready in: 1 h 15 min
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Place chicken on foil lined tray sprayed with non-stick cooking spray
- Season with chicken seasoning mix.
- Cook for 30-35 minutes or until the internal temperature of chicken is 165 degrees Fahrenheit then remove from oven, let cool and then shred.
- Turn oven temperature up to 450 degrees
- In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat.
- Add diced onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes then add mixed vegetables and cook until vegetables are warm and softened (about 5 minutes)
- Stir in flour until combined, about 2 minutes.
- Add water, Better than Bullion and ½ and ½ slowly stirring often
- Once boiling add salt and black pepper, reduce to simmer stir occasionally until thickened, about 5 minutes.
- Add shredded chicken
- Divide mixture into 4- 4 ½ inch ramekins and place ¼ of tater tots on each ramekin or place in 7 x 9-inch glass baking dish.
- Place ramekins on the cooking sheet and place in oven for 25 minutes to bake tater tots to golden brown.
- Remove from oven and rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- Per serving
- Energy: 452 kcal / 1889 kJ
- Fat: 23 g
- Protein: 20.5 g
- Carbs: 45 g
