Tater Tots Are Getting Their Chance to Shine in This Crispy Casserole Dish

By: Caitlyn Callegari
Show: Chopped
Chicken and Tater Tot Casserole

Photo by: Petrina Tinslay ©Owned

Petrina Tinslay, Owned

Tater Tots have long been a side dish darling, with the versatility to accompany nearly any meal, from breakfast to dinner. But in this week’s Chopped Dinner Challenge for Chicken and Tater Tot Casserole, those craved-after Tater Tots serve as the basket ingredient, and that means they’re being upgraded to the main dish. As the Food Network Kitchen chefs point out, this meal is a perfect, crunchy substitution for a typical pot-pie dish.

To get started on this meal, melt butter over medium-high heat in a large, heavy pot. Then, add carrots, celery and onions, and season with salt and pepper. Stir the vegetable and butter mixture occasionally, until the vegetables are golden. Stir in flour and whisk in the milk and broth, and bring the mixture to a boil. Boil until it is slightly thickened and then stir in the chicken. Once done, put the concoction in a baking dish. Put the Tater Tots and thyme into a food processor and pulse until they’re medium ground. Sprinkle the mixture over the top of the casserole, and bake until the filling is bubbling and the topping is crisp and golden.

The Chopped Dinner Challenge is a series of recipes showing you how easy it is to cook like a winning Chopped competitor. Every week, FN Dish will showcase a recipe created by Food Network Kitchen that uses at least one of the Chopped basket ingredients from an episode, plus basic grocery goods and simple staples. Consider it your very own Chopped challenge. Just take this frequent tip from the judges: Don’t forget to season!

Next Up

This Spicy Sichuan Pork Dish Will Make You Want to Skip Takeout Tonight

Try this Roasted Eggplant with Sichuan-Style Pork recipe as part of this week's Chopped Dinner Challenge.

East Meets West in This Kimchi Pizza

Take the Chopped Dinner Challenge and make this recipe for dinner tonight. You'll feel like you've become a winning Chopped competitor in your own home.

Reinvent Cube Steak as Crispy Open-Faced Tacos

Take the Chopped Dinner Challenge and transform cube steak into these chalupas, served with mashed black beans and mango salsa.

WATCH: Food Network Stars Dish on the Scariest Chopped Judge

Watch Food Network stars reveal who's the scariest judge on Chopped.

Catfish Po' Boys Get the Extra-Crispy Treatment with Tortillas

Try cooking these Catfish Po' Boys for dinner tonight as part of the Chopped Dinner Challenge.