Frito Pie Casserole is a dream! The beans and corn add some chewy bites while the Fritos are perfectly crispy and mix well with the melty cheese. If you want an easy dinner that you can prepare ahead, I recommend that you give this one a try.
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I layer this casserole so you get chips and cheese in every bite. The taco seasoning and garlic add some fantastic flavor as well as the salsa. It’s so addictive that you will be coming back for a second portion!
If you like easy ground beef recipes, you will love this Beef Taco Skillet, Big Mac Tater Tot Casserole and my Slow Cooker Chili Mac.
Why You’ll Love This Frito Pie Casserole Recipe
- Kids love this meal: What’s better than a taco casserole with Fritos? The flavors and texture will have your little ones asking for it by name.
- It’s a great recipe to prepare ahead: I love to prep the casserole and store it in the refrigerator in advance to save time when we’re ready to eat dinner.
- The ingredients are inexpensive: This easy Frito pie casserole is affordable, too. You won’t spend a fortune on the components you’ll need to make it.
Ingredients
With the beef, beans, veggies, and more, it seems like there are a ton of ingredients in this recipe! However, they are cheap and easy to find. I use garlic and onion often, so I always have them in my pantry.
- Ground beef: I like to use 80% lean beef so there isn’t a lot of excess grease but you still get some fatty flavor. Ground chicken or turkey would work here as well if you prefer.
- Onion: I use sweet yellow onion. I don’t like to use red here because I feel like the flavor can be a little overpowering. White onion is great, too. Don’t like it? Leave it out!
- Garlic: The sharp flavor of the garlic really works in this recipe. I feel that it adds complexity to the flavor of the Frito casserole.
- Black beans: I enjoy the texture of beans and to make this a classic Texas Frito pie, you need them. I like black beans, but kidney or pinto beans are amazing in this casserole, too.
- Corn: Sweet corn helps to balance the savory flavor of the other ingredients. I typically go with canned corn but frozen is great too.
- Salsa: You may use any brand and variety of salsa that you like. I go with mild or medium salsa since not everyone can handle a lot of spice.
- Seasoning: I use taco seasoning as the main flavoring for the meat mixture but I also add additional chili powder for more smokey flavor.
- Worcestershire sauce: The umami flavor of Worcestershire sauce lifts the entire recipe. A little goes a long way!
- Fritos: Ensure that you get the original Fritos and not the scoops. They are thinner and smaller. They cook better in the oven, too!
- Cheese: I kept it simple and used shredded Monterey Jack cheese. Feel free to use a taco blend or cheddar instead.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Extra cheesy: Add cream cheese and extra shredded cheese to the filling to make it extra creamy and cheesy. You may even add some queso!
- Vegetarian: Swap the meat for more beans for an extra hearty, meatless rendition of this recipe. Add in a can of pinto beans to replace the ground beef.
- Hot and spicy: Add diced jalapenos and hot sauce to take the heat up a notch. You may even use shredded pepper jack cheese, too.
How to Make Frito Pie Casserole
Making this Frito pie recipe is easier than ever! To get started, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and spray a 9x13 dish with nonstick cooking spray or oil.
Step 1: Cook the beef, onions, and garlic. Brown the ground beef in a heated skillet. When the meat is halfway cooked, add the onions and garlic. Drain the excess grease when the beef is browned and the onions and garlic are soft.
Step 2: Add the filling ingredients and simmer. Stir in the corn, black beans, salsa, spices, and Worcestershire sauce. Cook over low heat for about 2 minutes. Then, remove it from the heat and set it aside.
Step 3: Sprinkle chips and cheese. Add half of the shredded cheese and Fritos to the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
Step 4: Layer the beef mixture and bake. Then, spoon the beef mixture evenly over the top.
Step 5: Bake. Cover the pan with foil and bake it for about 20 minutes or until it’s hot and bubbly.
Step 6: Top with chips and cheese and serve. Uncover it and top it with the remaining cheese and chips. Bake it uncovered for about 5 minutes or until the cheese on top melts. Top with your favorite garnishes like cilantro, green onion, and tomatoes. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Prepare the components ahead: Simple things like cooking the ground beef or combining the ingredients for the filling can make cooking easier.
- Don’t add the chips too early: I like to add chips towards the end of the cooking process to prevent them from becoming soggy.
- Make it in a cast iron skillet: Turn this into a true one-pan meal and use a cast iron skillet. All of the sauteeing and baking can be done in the same pan. Just make half the recipe or split it up into two skillets.
If you love easy recipes like this one for dinner, you may also enjoy this Walking Taco Bake or this Million Dollar Chicken Casserole!
Storage Directions
- Storing: Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. I recommend tightly covering the casserole to freeze it. Store it in your freezer for up to 3 months. Just remember the fritos will get soggy as it sits.
- Reheating: For individual portions, reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. Place the whole casserole dish in a 350-degree oven uncovered for 15-20 minutes. After reheating, top with additional Fritos and any other toppings you like.
- Make Ahead: Prepare the casserole up to 24 hours in advance and store it in the refrigerator. You can also place it in a disposable 9x13 to make it a freezer meal. Double wrap it and freeze for up to three months. Thaw it out before baking it. It’s great to make a weeknight dinner easier.
Serving Suggestions
- Various toppings are delicious with this recipe! I top mine with tomatoes, cilantro, and green onions. A dollop of sour cream is great, too.
- Serve this Frito taco casserole with an easy side dish like slow cooker corn on the cob or this viral hot girl summer salad.
- I also enjoy this recipe with cornbread. Try this broccoli cheese cornbread for a yummy twist.
- I like to drizzle a spicy sauce on my portion. Give this creamy jalapeno sauce or this homemade Taco Bell diablo sauce for a kick.
Recipe FAQs
Yes. Follow all of the directions except layer it in the slow cooker. Add the Fritos right before serving so they stay crunchy.
If you add them to the casserole too early, it may cause them to get soggy. If you add the chips before covering the Frito pie with foil, the Fritos will steam.
This can happen if for some reason you didn't drain all the grease from the meat, you used frozen corn, or the beans weren't drained well. Mistakes can happen but if you bake the casserole dish uncovered a bit longer any extra liquid should evaporate.
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More Delicious Casserole Recipes
Do you like easy casserole recipes? Here are some recipes you may also like to try
If you try this recipe and love it please leave a star rating in the recipe card below or even better, drop a review in the comment section, I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to follow along with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube for more easy recipes!
Frito Pie Casserole
Equipment
- 9x13” casserole dish
Ingredients
- 1 pound 80/20 ground beef
- 1 medium sweet onion diced
- ½ tablespoon minced garlic
- ½ 15-ounce can black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 15-ounce can sweet corn
- 1 ½ cups chunky salsa
- 1 1-ounce package taco seasoning
- ½ tablespoon chili powder
- ½ tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 9-ounce bag Fritos corn chips original not scoops
- 3 cups Monteray jack cheese shredded
Optional garnishes:
- ¼ cup chopped green onion
- Cilantro
- Diced cherry tomatoes
- sour cream for serving
Instructions
- Prepare your pan. Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray a 9x13 casserole dish with non-stick spray.
- Brown the beef. In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the beef, crumbling it with a spatula as it cooks. Half way into browning, add the onion and garlic and sauté until the beef is fully cooked. Drain the excess grease.
- Season. Add the black beans, corn, salsa, taco seasoning, chili powder and Worcestershire sauce to the skillet with the beef and stir well until incorporated. Simmer on low for about 2 minutes stirring frequently. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Layer. In the casserole dish, spread half of the Fritos in an even layer and then top with half of the cheese.
- Add the meat. Pour the ground beef mixture over the cheese evenly.
- Bake. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes or until hot and the edges are bubbly.
- Make it cheesy and serve. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with the remaining cheese and Fritos. Place back in your oven uncovered for about 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Top with the green onion, tomato, cilantro, and serve with sour cream.
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Notes
- Make in a slow cooker. Follow the same directions to cook the beef and vegetables but then layer it in the slow cooker. Cook for 4-5 hours on low heat. Add the Fritos right before serving so they stay crunchy.
- Make Ahead and Freeze: Prepare the casserole in a disposable 9x13 to make it a freezer meal. Double wrap it and freeze for up to three months. Thaw it out before baking it using the directions in the recipe, though it may need to cook a bit longer to heat it all the way through. This is a great way to make a weeknight dinner easier.
- Extra cheesy: Add cream cheese and extra shredded cheese to the filling to make it extra creamy and cheesy. You may even add some queso on the top!
Nutrition
This post was originally posted in April 2021. It's been updated with new content, images, and a revised recipe.
Mike says
Made it for dinner tonight. Not a bad super easy to prepare casserole. I added some sun dried tomatoes, finely sliced, tabasco sauce & increased the garlic, worster sauce & half the water for the taco seasoning. Worked out fine. I even missed the top layer of Fritos & it lacked nothing (and guest does not do crunchy - so it's fine.)
Karin and Ken says
So happy you enjoyed it! Loved your changes. Might just try it myself! All the best. Karin
Wilma says
Fritos are a huge family favorite in out house. So we just love this recipe. Thanks for the inspiration on an old favorite.
Karin and Ken says
I’m so happy to hear! We love this recipe too. All the best. Karin