Frito Pie Casserole Recipe

A delicious dish that comes together very quickly and is easy on the pocketbook. Perfect for the family or for your next social gathering!

Frito pie casserole in a white bowl.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

Frito pie casserole is a guilty pleasure, I won’t lie. In our house, we ‘attempt’ to eat healthy most of the time.

Scratch that. It’s me that attempts (and fails) to eat healthy, Leigh does great. I am the sinner of the pair.

This casserole dish is not going to win any weight loss awards, but it will satisfy that crunchy, cheesy, fatty craving you might be having.

What’s great about this recipe is that it is cheap, it is delicious, and it will feed a crowd.

So, if you’re looking for something a little more waist-friendly, search our recipes for ‘healthy’. If you want to indulge yourself just a little bit … read on!

Ingredients Needed

The basic ingredients are pretty simple. You will need the following:

For the base– Ground beef and taco seasoning is the base. White onions and garlic add some much-needed aromatics.

The filling – Ro-tel, enchilada sauce, black beans, canned corn, and some chili powder added to the ground beef adds even more flavor and texture.

Cheeses – A Mexican blend or cheddar cheese brings the melty goodness.

Fritos – Can’t have Frito Pie without fritos!

Garnish – sliced jalapenos, green onions, sour cream, and cilantro, just to name a few. All optional, of course. Any of your favorite taco toppings work with this easy dinner recipe.

How To Make Frito Pie Casserole

This comes together so easily.

Grease a 9×13 baking dish and preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Ground beef and onion browning in a skillet
Lean ground beef will require little to no draining.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the ground beef. Brown the beef and drain if needed.

Once almost browned, add the onions and continue cooking until the onions start to become translucent. Add the garlic and cook for an additional minute.

Browned beef, onions, and mexican spices in a skillet

Add the taco seasoning packet, chili powder, and a 1/4 cup of water and stir.

Frito pie mixture cooking on stovetop

Next, add the Ro-tel, beans, enchilada sauce, and corn to the ground beef mixture and stir to combine well.

Continue cooking for 5 minutes.

Frito pie casserole assembled and ready for baking

Add half the Fritos to the bottom of the 9×13 baking dish evenly. Add 1/2 cup of cheese on top of the Fritos.

Next, add the meat mixture, then top with 1 cup of cheese. Add the remaining Fritos and top with the remaining cheese.

Frito pie casserole right out of the oven
Look at that yummy melted cheese!

Bake uncovered for approximately 20 minutes until the cheese is melted. Remove from the oven and allow to stand for 5-7 minutes before serving.

That’s it, folks. It comes together so easily and is damn tasty.

While I have never done this, I heard that people will just dump the beef mixture into a Fritos bag and walk around eating it out of the bag. Sounds amazing, actually.

Frito Pie Casserole in a white bowl
A delicious meal. Perfect for a weeknight dinner or for game day!

I think what makes this dish so tasty is that you’re getting all sorts of tastes and textures.

You get the seasoned beef, the beans, the sweet corn coming through, and the tanginess of the cheese. And, of course, the crunch of the Fritos themselves.

It all just goes well together. Of course, top it with whatever you like. I tossed some sliced jalapenos, green onions, and some sour cream on mine.

I also ate it directly from the baking dish … I don’t care. It was good!

Frito pie casserole in a white bowl
Add all your favorite toppings!

This dish is perfect for serving up to the family as well as gatherings, and it doesn’t take much to fill the belly.

It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s not that expensive to prepare. But most importantly … it’s good!

Frito pie casserole in a white bowl
The whole family will love this delicious meal. Perfect for busy weeknights!

Crunchy corn chips, deliciously seasoned beef, and lots of cheese make this walking taco casserole a dish you will want to make time and time again.

It’s an easy recipe to throw together, and when you want some comfort food, this hits it perfectly!

Tips And Variations

  • This dish is perfect for adding your own flair. Top with black olives, green onions, cilantro, or even shredded lettuce.
  • Sour cream, guacamole, pico de Gallo, and/or your favorite salsa add additional flavors.
  • Chili beans, kidney beans, and pinto beans are all fine substitutes for black beans.
  • Use ground turkey or ground chicken to save some calories.
  • Monterey Jack or Pepper Jack cheese would go great in this dish.
  • Want a bit more heat? Add some diced jalapenos or green chiles to the meat mixture.

FAQs

Is Frito Pie the same as a walking taco?

Pretty much, yes. It’s the same ingredients, but a walking taco is eaten directly from the bag of Fritos, whereas Frito pie is served on a dish.

Can I make Frito Pie ahead of time?

Yes. Prepare and assemble the casserole without the corn chips on top. Allow to cool to room temperature. Wrap tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freezer for up to 2 months.

More Tex-Mex Recipes to Try

Are you on Pinterest? Click the button below to add this recipe to one of your boards!
Frito pie casserole in a white bowl.

Frito Pie Casserole Recipe

A delicious dish that comes together very quickly and is easy on the pocketbook. Perfect for the family or for your next social gathering!
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer, Main, Party Food
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Resting: 5 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 384kcal
Author: Brad Harris

Ingredients
 

  • 1 lb Ground beef
  • 1 Onion medium, diced
  • 2 clove Garlic minced
  • 1 package Taco seasoning
  • 1 tbsp Chili powder
  • 10 oz Ro-tel
  • 10 oz Enchilada sauce
  • 15 oz Black beans
  • 1 cup Corn
  • 2 cup Cheese

Instructions

  • Grease a 9×13 baking dish and preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the ground beef. Brown the beef and drain if needed. Once almost browned add the onions and continue cooking until onions start to become translucent. Add the garlic and cook for an additional minute.
  • Add the taco seasoning packet, the chili powder, and a 1/4 cup of water and stir. Next add the Ro-tel, the beans, the enchilada sauce, and the corn to the skillet and stir to combine well. Continue cooking for 5 minutes.
  • Add half the Fritos to the bottom of the 9×13 baking dish evenly. Add 1/2 cup of cheese on top of the Fritos. Next, add the beef mixture then top with 1 cup of cheese. Add the remaining Fritos and top with remaining cheese.
  • Bake uncovered for approximately 20 minutes until cheese is melted. Remove from the oven and allow to stand for 5-7 minutes before serving.

Notes

Substitute ground beef with ground turkey or ground chicken for fewer calories.
Storage
Leftover Frito pie can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
To freeze, allow to cool completely, then wrap tightly. Store in the freezer for up to 2 months.
To reheat, tent loosely with aluminum foil and bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes or reheated to your preferred temperature.
Individual portions can be reheated in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 384kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 895mg | Potassium: 521mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1322IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 248mg | Iron: 4mg

Share With Your Friends And Family!

5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *