This Frito pie is made with a taco seasoned ground beef base with beans and corn then baked with plenty of cheese and crunchy Fritos. It’s a family friendly meal everyone loves!
This 30 minute meal may remind you of a walking taco or a combination of two family favorites, homemade chili and ground beef tacos!
Table of Contents
Frito Chili Pie
This recipe for Frito pie is the best comfort food! There’s nothing elegant about cheesy chili casserole, yet the saucy, beefy, and cheesy combination topped with crispy corn chips is just as crazy delicious as my baked taco casserole.
It’s made with simple ingredients like taco meat in a tomato sauce mixture, similar to my family-friendly easy chili. Add black beans and corn, top with cheese and Fritos then bake until bubbly and melty. Serve with cornbread and it’s a dinner recipe that will be on repeat!
Ingredients in Frito Pie
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Ground beef: You’ll need about 1 lb of lean ground beef. I’m not looking for extra moisture or a ton of beefy flavor from extra fat in this recipe, so lean is perfect.
- Diced onion: Gets cooked with the beef until soft for extra flavor. The beef gives the onion flavor and the onion gives the beef flavor.
- Seasoning: Salt, taco seasoning, and chili powder. You can use more or less of any of them to suit your tastes.
- Tomato sauce & diced tomatoes: If you like a little heat, you can swap the diced tomatoes with Rotel which is diced tomatoes with green chiles.
- Black beans & corn: For extra Tex Mex flavor and to bulk up the meat mixture a bit.
- Fritos: Strips of fried corn chips that are deliciously seasoned and slightly salty.
- Shredded cheese: I use a Mexican blend for even more signature taco flavor, but use what you like. Cheddar cheese also works.
Substitutions and Variations
- Use ground turkey or ground chicken instead of ground beef.
- Make it vegetarian and add an extra can of beans in place of the meat.
- Swap the black beans for kidney beans or pinto beans.
- To bring up the heat, along with Rotel, you can add extra chili pepper, red pepper flakes, or a dash of cayenne pepper.
- Add some chopped bell peppers while cooking the onions. Minced garlic is also a great way to add extra flavor.
- If you love Fritos, add some to the bottom of the pie as well. The Fritos will soften almost like a bottom tortilla layer would.
- A casserole dish instead of a large skillet works just as well for baking it in the oven.
How to Make Frito Pie
- Cook meat. Brown ground beef and onion then stir in taco seasoning, chili powder, and tomato sauce. Simmer for 3-5 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Add remaining chili ingredients. Stir in the tomatoes, beans, and corn to the mixture.
- Cover with toppings. Remove from the heat and top with shredded cheese and Frito corn chips.
- Bake and serve. Bake for 10-15 minutes at 350°F. Top Frito pie with your favorite toppings and serve!
Topping Ideas
Frito pie casserole can be enjoyed with the same toppings as any chili or taco recipe.
- Sauces: Salsa, guacamole (or diced avocado) and sour cream.
- Veggies: Cilantro, shredded lettuce, jalapeños, black olives and green onions.
Recipe FAQs
It is basically a baked casserole version of the classic walking taco. If you’re unfamiliar with either, a walking taco was a genius invention that takes the filling of ground beef tacos and all its toppings and puts them into a Frito or Dorito bag for added crunch. It’s meant to be portable and fun!
This baked casserole version has the same flavors but is more of a sit-down meal!
Sure! Assemble it up to the layer of cheese, but don’t add the chips yet. Cover in plastic wrap and store in the fridge overnight. Bring it to room temperature, add the chips, and bake!
Keep leftover frito pie in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the fridge.
You can! Cook up the beef mixture and keep it in a freezer-safe container and keep it frozen for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to eat it, thaw it in the fridge overnight, top it with chips, and bake it.
Need more comfort food dinners? Try hamburger casserole, taco lasagna, and chili and cornbread skillet.
More Chili Inspired Recipes to Try
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Frito Pie Recipe
Video
Equipment
- 1 10-inch cast iron skillet
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ½ cup diced onion
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt , more to taste
- 1 ½ – 2 Tablespoons taco seasoning , more to taste
- 1 Tablespoon chili powder
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes , or Rotel
- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans , rinsed and drained
- 1 cup corn
- 1 1/2-2 cups Fritos® corn chips
- 1 1/2-2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend , divided
Optional toppings: Sour cream, Shredded lettuce, Guacamole, Salsa, Cilantro
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In a 10-inch cast-iron skillet, cook the beef and onion over medium-high heat until the beef is no longer pink. Stir in taco seasoning, chili powder, and tomato sauce. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low. Simmer 3-5 minutes, or until slightly thickened.
- Stir in tomatoes, beans, and corn. Simmer an additional 2 minutes. Remove from heat and top with shredded cheese. Then sprinkle the fritos over top.
- Bake 10-15 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Top with your favorite toppings to serve.
Notes
- Swap the ground beef for ground turkey. You could also omit the meat and add an extra can of beans.
- You can also use a can of rotel in place of the tomatoes to bring up the heat. You could also add in extra chili pepper.
- Add in chopped bell peppers while cooking the onions. Could also add in 2 cloves minced garlic.
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: 30 Minute Meals, 30 Minute Meals, American, Dinner, Freezer-Friendly, Kid-Friendly, Nut-Free, Super Bowl
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. Here you will find easy family-friendly recipes for every occasion.
This is quickly becoming our favorite dish! I made it last night for dinner and it has been requested again for dinner today. The crunch is the most amazing part! I had also used a little pico de gallo on mine for that kick of freshness. SO GOOD!
Oh. My. Lanta. The saltiness and crunch from the Fritos, to the savory of the meat made this recipe one of the best things I have made in a while! thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe
Yes!! A recipe all of my kids will eat and LOVE! Thank you!