Some recipes need paragraphs to explain why they’re delicious. Other recipes—such as, say, the one for Loaded Chicken and Tots—simply rely on their names to show you how tasty they’ll be. Honestly, going into detail about the crispy, golden-brown tater tots, roasted herbaceous broccoli, tender seasoned chicken, and sharp cheddar that combine to make this dish delicious just feels redundant. The title says it all… apart from the fact that it takes less than 45 minutes to make.
Ingredients
- 1 pound tater tots, frozen
- 1 head broccoli, cut into florets
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- kosher salt, to taste
- black pepper, to taste
- 6 slices bacon
- 1 pound chicken tenders
- 1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- chives, chopped, for topping (optional)
- sour cream, for serving (optional)
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
Step 2 –On a rimmed baking sheet, spread the tater tots evenly and bake until crisp and golden, about 25 minutes.
Step 3 –When the tater tots first enter the oven, on a second rimmed baking sheet, toss the broccoli with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
Step 4 –After the tater tots have baked for about 5 minutes, put the broccoli in the oven as well and roast until charred and tender, about 20 minutes. This way, the tater tots and broccoli should be finished cooking around the same time.
Step 5 –While the tater tots and broccoli roast, heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat.
Step 6 –Cook the bacon slices until crisp, about 7-8 minutes.
Step 7 –Drain the bacon on paper towels and break it into pieces.
Step 8 –Reserve 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat and drain the rest from the skillet.
Step 9 –In a large bowl, toss the chicken tenders with paprika and garlic powder, then season with salt and pepper.
Step 10 –Heat the reserved bacon fat in the skillet over medium-high heat.
Step 11 –Place the chicken tenders in the skillet and cook until browned on all sides, 1-2 minutes per side.
Step 12 –Combine the baked tater tots and roasted broccoli on one rimmed baking sheet in an even layer. Top with the chicken.
Step 13 –Then top everything with the shredded cheddar.
Step 14 –Bake until the cheese is browned and bubbly and the chicken reads 165 degrees F when a meat thermometer is inserted into the thickest part, about 3-5 minutes.
Step 15 –Top with the bacon pieces, chives, and sour cream.
Step 16 –Serve hot!
