BBQ Chicken Tater Tot Skillet: The Ultimate One-Pan Comfort Food Casserole

Prepare for a delightful culinary adventure with this BBQ Chicken Tater Tot Skillet! This exceptional dish offers a modern twist on the classic Midwestern tater tot hot dish, transforming it into a convenient, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying one-pan meal. From the stove to the oven, and then straight to your table, this skillet masterpiece brings together all the beloved elements of comfort food: perfectly toasted tater tots, savory crispy bacon, rich melted cheddar cheese, and tender, shredded BBQ chicken. If you’re a fan of hearty, easy-to-make dinners that burst with flavor, you might just find yourself wondering why this recipe hasn’t been in your life all along!

The Inspired BBQ Chicken Tater Tot Skillet: A Modern Take

My goal for this BBQ chicken tater tot skillet was to take the foundational concept of a traditional tater tot hot dish and elevate it with a few clever adjustments. The result is a dish that’s not only incredibly delicious but also surprisingly simple to prepare and clean up. Here’s what makes this skillet dinner stand out:

One-Pan Wonder: Instead of a separate casserole dish, this entire meal comes together in a single 10-inch oven-safe skillet. This design streamlines the cooking process from start to finish and drastically reduces the amount of washing up afterwards – a true weeknight warrior!
Chicken Takes Center Stage: While classic tater tot hot dishes often feature ground beef in a creamy, savory sauce, I opted for tender chicken. Before shredding, the chicken is cooked in rich bacon fat, infusing it with an irresistible smoky depth. This sets the stage for the vibrant BBQ theme, complemented by sweet bell peppers, mildly spicy poblano peppers, and your favorite store-bought BBQ sauce.

This recipe is an ideal choice for anyone looking for robust flavors without the fuss. It’s a fantastic way to enjoy the beloved textures of a tater tot casserole with a fresh, exciting BBQ twist. The combination of ingredients creates a symphony of tastes and textures that will satisfy even the pickiest eaters and make its way into your regular dinner rotation.

Looking for more easy skillet dinners? Don’t miss these other one-pan favorites:

30-Minute One Pan Beef Penne
Skillet Chicken Lasagna
Easy Skillet Chicken Parmesan

Key Ingredients for Your BBQ Chicken Tater Tot Skillet

Understanding each ingredient’s role is key to mastering this recipe and making smart substitutions if needed. Below, I’ll share specific tips and recommendations for the components that make this BBQ Chicken Tater Tot Skillet truly shine. The complete list of ingredients with precise measurements can be found in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Bacon: I highly recommend using thick-cut bacon for this recipe. Not only does it add a wonderful crispy texture to the final dish, but the rendered bacon fat is crucial. Since boneless, skinless chicken breasts have very little fat on their own, a small amount of this smoky, rich bacon fat goes a long way in building the foundational flavors of our skillet sauce.
Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts: These are a lean and versatile protein choice. Pounding them to an even thickness (about 1-1½ inches) ensures they cook quickly and uniformly, resulting in juicy, tender shredded chicken.
Aromatics & Peppers:
- Onion: Finely chopped yellow onion provides a sweet and pungent base for the sauce.
- Garlic: Minced garlic adds a crucial layer of aromatic flavor.
- Bell Pepper: I used red bell pepper for its sweetness and vibrant color, but feel free to substitute with your favorite color (yellow, orange, or green work just as well).
- Poblano Pepper: This pepper offers a mild, earthy heat that enhances the BBQ profile without making the dish overtly spicy. If you prefer a spicier kick, a diced jalapeño pepper would be an excellent substitute.
Dried Oregano: This herb adds a classic savory depth that complements the chicken and peppers beautifully.
Chicken Stock: Don’t underestimate the power of chicken stock! As the bacon, chicken, and vegetables cook, they leave behind flavorful browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Adding chicken stock to the hot pan allows you to scrape up these bits, a process known as deglazing. This action incorporates all that delicious concentrated flavor directly into your sauce.
All-Purpose Flour: A small amount of flour helps to thicken the sauce, giving it a smooth and luscious consistency. If you prefer a gluten-free option or don’t have flour on hand, cornstarch can also be used as a thickening agent.
BBQ Sauce: The heart of the BBQ flavor! I used a standard store-bought tomato-based BBQ sauce, which works perfectly for its convenience and balanced flavor. However, feel free to use your absolute favorite brand, whether it’s sweet, smoky, or tangy. If you happen to have a cherished family BBQ sauce recipe, this is the perfect opportunity to use it – and please, do share the secret!
Cheddar Cheese: This is my “soapbox” moment! Please, *please* shred your own cheddar cheese from a block. Pre-shredded cheeses often contain anti-caking agents that prevent them from melting smoothly and beautifully. Buying a block of cheese and shredding it yourself (a food processor makes this incredibly easy!) will result in a perfectly melted, gooey, and irresistible cheese topping that makes a huge difference in the overall dish. You can shred extra and store it in the fridge for future recipes.
Frozen Tater Tots: The star topping! Store-bought tater tots are wonderfully convenient and transform into crispy, golden bites when baked on top of the casserole, adding that signature comfort food element.
Fresh Parsley: A sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley at the end adds a touch of brightness, freshness, and color, elevating the presentation of the dish.

Essential Kitchen Tools for This Skillet Recipe

Having the right tools can make cooking a breeze. For this BBQ Chicken Tater Tot Skillet, these items will prove especially helpful:

10-inch Oven-Safe Skillet: The MVP of this recipe, allowing for seamless transition from stovetop to oven and simplifying cleanup. Cast iron or an oven-safe stainless steel skillet works best.
Wooden Spoon: Ideal for stirring ingredients, scraping up browned bits, and generally being gentle on your skillet’s surface.
Meat Mallet: Essential for pounding chicken breasts to an even thickness, ensuring they cook through uniformly.
Cutting Board: A sturdy surface for preparing your chicken and chopping vegetables.

How to Make This Irresistible BBQ Chicken Tater Tot Skillet

This BBQ chicken tater tot skillet, with its luscious melted cheese, crispy bacon, and golden tater tot topping, is more than just a meal; it’s a comforting experience. For me, anything “got tots” is guaranteed to be good, and this recipe is a prime example. Follow these steps to create a family-favorite dinner:

Prepare Your Oven: Start by preheating your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit (220 degrees Celsius). This ensures it’s ready for baking as soon as your skillet is assembled.
Tenderize the Chicken: Place the boneless chicken breasts on a clean cutting board. Cover them with plastic wrap – this prevents any splashing. Using a meat mallet, pound each chicken breast until it reaches an even thickness of about 1 to 1½ inches. This step is crucial for even cooking. Season both sides generously with a few pinches of salt and pepper.
Cook Bacon and Chicken: In your 10-inch oven-safe skillet, cook the sliced thick-cut bacon over medium heat until it’s wonderfully crispy. Remove the bacon and transfer it to a plate lined with paper towels to drain, but *be sure to reserve the bacon fat in the pan!* Drain off all but about 1 tablespoon of the bacon fat. Add the prepared chicken breasts to the hot pan and cook for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway, until they are thoroughly cooked through and lightly browned. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside.
Sauté Vegetables: Add the chopped onion, minced garlic, and diced bell and poblano peppers to the same skillet, utilizing the remaining bacon fat for extra flavor. Sauté these vegetables over medium heat for approximately five minutes, or until they have softened. While the vegetables are cooking, take the opportunity to shred the cooked chicken – this can be easily done with two forks or by hand once slightly cooled.
Build the Flavorful Sauce: Pour the chicken stock into the pan with the softened vegetables. Bring the mixture to a boil, then use your wooden spoon to scrape up all those delicious browned bits from the bottom of the pan – this is where much of the flavor resides! Stir in the dried oregano and half a teaspoon of kosher salt. Sprinkle the tablespoon of flour over the top of the vegetables and stock, stirring continuously until the sauce begins to thicken. Finally, return the shredded chicken to the pan and stir well to combine everything.
Assemble the Skillet: Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the BBQ sauce until the chicken and vegetables are evenly coated. Spread the mixture into an even layer in the skillet. Generously top the BBQ chicken mixture with the shredded cheddar cheese. Carefully arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer over the cheese. Lastly, sprinkle the reserved crispy bacon bits evenly over the tater tots.
Bake to Perfection: Transfer the skillet to your preheated oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the filling is bubbling around the edges, the cheese is melted and gooey, and the tater tots are golden brown and baked through to crispy perfection. Before serving, garnish with a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley for a burst of color and fresh flavor.

The Backstory: My Journey to Tater Tot Hot Dish Enlightenment

Growing up in the heart of the country, in the beautiful state of Wyoming, my childhood was surprisingly devoid of a true Midwestern classic: the tater tot hot dish. Perhaps our small-town 1980s grocery store simply didn’t stock frozen tater tots, a critical component. Or maybe it was a geographical oversight – Wyoming isn’t technically part of the Midwest, and perhaps an invisible culinary barrier prevented this comforting classic from migrating westward. Or, quite possibly, my mom had a sneaky suspicion that if she ever served a casserole topped with crispy tater tots, we’d never want anything else for dinner again. And honestly, she might have been right – I mean, who can resist tater tots?

It wasn’t until a few years ago that I stumbled upon this culinary treasure on Pinterest. The concept of tater tots as a topping, not just a side, was revolutionary to me. I quickly realized what I had been missing out on. Since then, I’ve spent what now seems like an excessive amount of time wondering how I managed to live all these years without the pure comfort and joy of this BBQ chicken tater tot skillet in my life. Up until that point, tater tots had always held an independent role on my dinner plate, with ketchup as their sole companion. The revelation that they could be an integral part of the main dish, adorning the top with their golden, potato goodness, was a revelation too good to ignore. This skillet embodies everything I now love about this style of cooking: ease, comfort, and undeniably delicious flavors.

More Comforting and Easy Recipes You Might Enjoy

If you loved the simplicity and hearty flavors of this BBQ Chicken Tater Tot Skillet, you’re in for a treat with these other fantastic recipes:

Chicken Pot Pie Tater Tot Casserole: Similar in its comforting deliciousness, this casserole combines tender chicken, mixed vegetables, and a creamy sauce under a golden blanket of tater tots. It’s all the flavors of a classic pot pie, made easier!
Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta: An ever-popular choice, this easy weeknight skillet dinner brings together the savory flavors of a bacon cheeseburger with satisfying pasta.
John Wayne Casserole: A famous and hearty casserole packed with ground beef, cheese, and a creamy sauce – a true crowd-pleaser.
One-Skillet Chicken Broccoli and Rice: For another incredibly simple one-pan meal, this dish features tender chicken, fresh broccoli, and fluffy rice cooked together in a single skillet.
Skillet Broiled Cod: A delicious and healthy option, this recipe offers flaky cod cooked to perfection in a skillet.
Rotisserie Chicken Nachos: If you’re looking for a quick and fun meal or appetizer, these nachos are made with convenient rotisserie chicken and loaded with your favorite toppings.

Enjoy exploring these easy and delicious options!

tater tot casserole garnished with bacon

BBQ Chicken Tater Tot Skillet

A twist on a traditional Midwestern tater tot hot dish, this BBQ Chicken Tater Tot Skillet goes from stove to oven, to the table in just one pan.

★★★★★

5 from 7 votes

IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!

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Course:
Dinner

Cuisine:
American

Servings:
6

55 minutes

Calories:
561

Author:

Amanda Davis

Ingredients

1 pound boneless chicken breasts
3 slices thick-cut bacon sliced into 1 inch pieces
½ cup finely chopped yellow onion about ½ a small onion
2 cloves garlic minced
1 cup diced red bell pepper about 1 small pepper
½ cup diced poblano Pepper about 1 small pepper
¼ cup chicken stock
1 teaspoon oregano
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon flour
1 cup bottled BBQ Sauce
1 ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
16 ounces frozen tater tots
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 C).
Prepare the chicken breasts: Place the chicken breasts on a cutting board and cover with plastic wrap. Pound the chicken with a meat mallet until each piece is of even thickness, about 1 – 1 1/2 inch thick. Season both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper (a few pinches of each).
Cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon, reserving the fat, and transfer to a plate lined with paper towels. Drain off some of the fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan. Add the chicken breasts to the pan and cook through, about 8-10 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
Add the onion, garlic, and peppers to the pan. Cook them until they soften, about five minutes. While the veggies are cooking, shred the chicken.
Add the chicken stock to the pan with the veggies and bring it to a boil. Scrape all the browned bits off the bottom of the pan. Add the oregano and salt and stir. Sprinkle the flour over the top of the veggies and stir until the mixture thickens. Add the shredded chicken to the pan and stir it all to combine.
Add the BBQ sauce to the pan and stir to combine. Turn the heat off and top the BBQ chicken with the shredded cheese. Top the cheese with the frozen tater tots. Sprinkle the crispy bacon over the top.
Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the dish is bubbling and the tater tots are hot and baked through. Garnish with chopped parsley before serving.

Nutrition

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The recipes on this blog are tested with a conventional gas oven and gas stovetop. It’s important to note that some ovens, especially as they age, can cook and bake inconsistently. Using an inexpensive oven thermometer can assure you that your oven is truly heating to the proper temperature. If you use a toaster oven or countertop oven, please keep in mind that they may not distribute heat the same as a conventional full sized oven and you may need to adjust your cooking/baking times. In the case of recipes made with a pressure cooker, air fryer, slow cooker, or other appliance, a link to the appliances we use is listed within each respective recipe. For baking recipes where measurements are given by weight, please note that results may not be the same if cups are used instead, and we can’t guarantee success with that method.