Cheesy, crunchy, and loaded with flavor, this Easy Frito Pie Casserole is a terrific weeknight meal! Seasoned ground beef, beans, corn, and salsa are layered beneath a generous topping of melty cheese and crispy Fritos. Every bite is hearty, satisfying, and packed with the flavors everyone loves.
Why you'll find this recipe irresistible
This casserole is the kind of easy dinner recipe busy families love. It comes together in about 30 minutes with simple pantry ingredients and is packed with hearty ground beef, beans, corn, salsa, and plenty of melty cheese.
The crunchy Fritos add the perfect texture, while all your favorite taco toppings make it easy for everyone to customize their own serving. It's a budget-friendly meal that's filling, flavorful, and always a hit at the dinner table.
Watch me make it
Frito Pie Casserole
Equipment
- Cast Iron Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 yellow onion medium onion, peeled and diced
- 1 package taco seasoning mix
- 1 cup salsa
- 15 ounce kidney beans drained and rinsed
- 15 ounce cream style corn
- 9 oz. bag Fritos corn chips divided
- 2 cups shredded cheese divided
- top with your favorite taco toppings: green onion, cilantro, sliced black olives, tomato and a dollop of sour cream. optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Prepare a 9x13-inch glass baking dish by spraying it with non-stick cooking spray, set aside.
- Crumble the ground beef into a large skillet. Add the onions and cook over medium-high heat, stirring often, cook ground beef until fully browned. Drain off the excess fat if desired.
- Add the taco seasoning mix and cream style corn stir to combine. Add the salsa, corn and beans; stir well; bring to a simmer and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring often.
- Pour half Fritos into the bottom of the large baking dish and sprinkle with 1 cup of the cheese. Evenly spread the meat mixture over the chips. Add the rest of the corn chips then add the remaining cheese on top of the Frito corn chips.
- Cover the casserole and bake the casserole at 350ºF for 18-20 minutes until hot and bubbly.
- Cool slightly before serving. Sprinkle with garnishes; cilantro, sliced onions and tomatoes, serve with a dollup of sour cream and salsa.
Notes
Nutrition
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Ingredients
- ground beef, ground chuck, ground chicken or ground turkey.
- yellow onion or white onion.
- taco seasoning mix - fajita seasoning would works as well!
- salsa - substitute with Rotel or enchilada sauce, tomato sauce mixed with green chilis would even work!
- kidney beans - black beans, chill beans, pinto beans or ranch style beans - you could even substitute ranch style beans - delicious!
- cream style corn - I like the sauciness of cream style, but you could also used canned or frozen corn
- Frito chips, a bag of chips like Doritos or tostada would be good as well.
- shredded cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack or pepper jack cheese would also be tasty!
- favorite toppings; green onion, cilantro, sliced black olives, tomato and a dollop of sour cream.
Variations
- Love the dish but not all the sodium? Omit the chips on the bottom. Personally, I love the way the chips and cheese combine to almost make a crust on the bottom, but it totally works with just the chips on top.
- No Frito corn chips? - use any crunchy corn chips, like Doritos or Tostitos! Super yummy as well!
- Green chilies would add wonderful flavor to this dish.
- Lighten it up by substituting ground chicken or ground turkey for the beef.
- Make it vegetarian by omitting the meat entirely and just use three cans of beans. Just be sure to rinse and drain them well.
Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions for the Texas Frito Pie. For the complete directions for this delicious comfort food recipe check the recipe card.
FAQ's
It's not really a pie, it's more like a Doritos casserole except with Frito corn chips!
Well the sky is the limit! Think of your Frito pie like a taco - top it with diced tomatoes, sliced onions, cilantro, olives, guacamole or avocado (yum!), salsa or sour cream. Really anything you love on a taco, goes great on top of this casserole.
It's a popular casserole dish, especially in the midwest and southern portions of the United States. Because this dish is normally served with Fritos corn chips, it's called a Frito Pie!
Deb's tips
Cover the casserole for baking and when time is up, place it under the broiler for 2-4 minutes for a golden crust.
Serving suggestions
I've somehow justified this easy Frito Pie recipe as a complete meal as is 😋 BUT if you want to round it out, it would be delicious served with a loaf of French bread and fresh garden salad. Serve with plenty of toppers on the side: sour cream, hot sauce, pico de gallo, olives and salsa!
Finishing the meal with this old fashioned blueberry cobbler, mmmm! Now that would be one delicious meal!
Related Recipes
If your family enjoys hearty, comforting casseroles, be sure to add these favorites to your menu! Cowboy Tater Tot Casserole is loaded with seasoned beef, creamy sauce, and crispy tater tots for a dinner everyone loves. Beef Noodle Casserole is a classic comfort food recipe with tender noodles, a rich beefy filling, and plenty of cheesy goodness.
And when you're craving all the flavors of stuffed peppers without the extra work, Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole delivers a hearty, satisfying meal that's always a hit around the dinner table.
Time to dig in
Frito Pie Casserole is comfort food at its finest-crunchy, cheesy, beefy goodness all baked into one delicious dish. It's easy, it's satisfying, and it's earned its place in our regular dinner rotation! Hope you love it as much as we do!
Ready to dig in? Make this Frito Pie Casserole for dinner this week and watch it disappear faster than you can say "pass the sour cream!" Don't forget to snap a pic and tag me-I'd love to see your casserole magic!
Annie says
Sounds yummy
Matt Smaltz says
When I grew up in Texas, a Frito Pie was served in the small bag of Fritos. A walking taco was served in a small bag of Doritos.
Debra Clark says
Good to know Matt, thanks for sharing!!
Lois says
This is a great meal. We really loved it.
Bowl Me Over says
Awesome, glad you found a recipe you really love. This is a winner in my book as well!
Michelle Gosser says
I actually used this recipe today as inspiration for my own frito pie casserole! 2lbs ground meat, 2 packs of chili seasoning, 2 cans of red beans, let simmer. Grease 9x13 pan, preheat oven to 350. Cook meat, add seasoning and canned beans (undrained), stir. Simmer for about 5 minutes. Add meat mixture to 9x13 pan. Top with 2 cups of shredded Mexican style cheese. Top with corn chips. Sprinkle more shredded cheese. Bake 30 minutes. Serve with salsa and sourcream. Yum!
Bowl Me Over says
That sounds drool-worthy and fabulous. Great job Michelle!
Michelle Gosser says
Thank you it was drool worthy! It was your recipe that gave me the inspiration! Today was left overs, I made homemade Mac and cheese, and layered that with the leftovers in a bowl. Mac and cheese, Frito pie casserole, topped with salsa and sourcream. Served with a side salad; spinach, black and green olives, minced onion, duced tomatoes, 4 slices of cooked bacon (crumbled), shredded cheese, and topped with fried onions and ranch!
Thank you again for all your inspiring recipes!
Jerry Travis says
could this be made in a crockpot?
Bowl Me Over says
That's a great question Jerry! Yes, you can make this in the slow cooker. Brown the ground beef, drain and pour into the crockpot. Add the onion, taco seasoning, salsa, kidney beans, cream style corn and give it a mix. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Stir in one cup of cheese. Top with chips and the remaining cheese. Add the lid and cook until the cheese is melted. Enjoy - we love this dish!
Bonnie says
Do the corn chips get Mushy?
Bowl Me Over says
Not in my opinion. The chips on the bottom form a crust almost like a tamale pie, the chips on the top turn into a cheesy layer.
Lauren says
Do you use the directions for the taco mix (add water) or do you just do the dry mix with no water.
Bowl Me Over says
Hey Lauren - great question, there's no need to add the water. Just add in the dry mix. Enjoy. the casserole!
angela says
This looks so yummy! could it be made with leftover chicken instead of ground beef?
Bowl Me Over says
You bet, that would be delicious - enjoy the casserole!