Frito Pie Recipe

A casserole with beans, beef, and fritos

5 from 3 votes

A classic Tex-Mex beef casserole loaded with seasoned ground beef, chili beans, melted cheddar cheese, and of course, Fritos.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Tex-Mex

Keyword frito casserole, frito pie, taco casserole

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 45

Total Time 1

Servings servings

Calories 781kcal

Author Eileen Kelly

Equipment

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9x13 inch casserole dish
Cast Iron Skillet
Cutting Board
Knives

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef Note 1
1 yellow onion, peeled and diced
2 Tablespoons taco seasoning 1 ounce packet
½ cup water
15 ounce chili beans, not drained optional
14 ounce can diced tomatoes with juices Note 2
1 cup tomato sauce
1 cup corn frozen or canned, drain and discard juice if using can
5 cups Fritos® corn chips 9.25 ounce bag
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
¼ cup green onions, chopped garnish
¼ cup fresh tomatoes, diced garnish
non-stick cooking spray
sour cream garnish

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray with non-stick cooking spray or grease a 9" x 13" baking dish. Set aside.
In a large skillet, over medium heat, brown the ground beef until crumbled and cooked through. There will be no more pink in the meat.
Add in the diced yellow onions, stir occasionally for about 3 minutes to soften onions.
Mix in the taco seasoning, water, and chili beans. Simmer about 5 minutes, sauce will thicken slightly.
Add in corn, tomato sauce, and diced tomatoes, simmer for another 3-4 minutes. Stir occasionally, to blend flavors. Remove the skillet from the heat.
In the prepared baking dish, spread a layer of the corn chips on the bottom of the dish.
Pour the cooked meat mixture over the the chips.
Next, spread the shredded cheese over the meat.
Add a final layer of the remaining corn chips.
Bake uncovered for 30-35 minutes. The casserole will be cooked through and the cheese fully melted.
For garnish, top the casserole with the diced green onions and fresh diced tomatoes.
Serve warm with a dollop of sour cream. Additional topping ideas in the notes.

Notes

Be sure to check Expert Tips and FAQs above with important tips and questions that can help make a delicious recipe.

Note 1: 80/20 ground meat is our preferred ratio.

Note 2: Use Rotel brand tomatoes or fire-roasted tomatoes are great choices. Salsa is another option in lieu of diced tomatoes.

Waking Tacos: A fun idea that many people do for parties and tailgating is a walking taco. Make the beef filling but do not make a casserole. Instead, take individual serving size bags of Fritos and put some of the meat filling in each bag and hand out to family and guests.

Optional Toppings:

Guacamole pairs beautifully with Frito Pie. Salsa, pico de gallo, sour cream, black olives, diced tomatoes, jalapeños, shredded lettuce are all fabulous toppings.

Variations:

For the beef, you can vary and use turkey, chicken, or vegan crumbles.
We've made this using cooked chicken with delicious results.
Shredded Beef is another great choice in lieu of ground beef.
Add in any type of beans to the filling. A 14 ounce can of drained beans is fabulous addition.
A can of diced green chiles is another fabulous choice.
Colby or Monterey Jack cheese are great in this taco casserole.
Add in some refried beans for a variation in flavor.

Leftovers can be kept in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat in the oven at 350°F until warm, about 10 minutes. Microwave leftovers following manufacturers instructions.

Freezer Instructions:

The Frito casserole can made ahead of time. Just don't add the top layer of Fritos until ready to bake the casserole. Once it has cooled, cover well with plastic wrap and foil before placing in the freezer. It can be kept for about 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight before adding the remaining layer of chips.

Be sure to check Expert Tips and FAQs above with important tips and questions that can help make a delicious recipe.

Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation. Actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and portion sizes.

Don’t forget to shop at the Everyday Eileen store on Amazon.

Nutrition