Combining crunchy Fritos, savory ground beef and gooey melted cheddar cheese in one hearty, beloved meal, this Frito Pie recipe mixes up an irresistible dish. It makes for great weeknight dinners, or the ultimate game day spread with bold, Tex-Mex inspired flavors ranging from cheesy, crispy to spicy and hearty. Top your surefire recipe with all your favorite fixings — sour cream, jalapeños, fresh veggies — to make a dish everyone will fight for.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
10 Simple Ingredients: You likely have most of the ingredients in your pantry or fridge.
Crowd-Pleaser: It’s a weeknight and game day favorite with kids and adults alike.
Customizable: You can load it with your favorite taco toppings, and it’s easy to adapt to your dietary preferences.
Fast: Frito pie comes together in under 40 minutes, making it a perfect pick for a weeknight dinner when you need something comforting and don’t want to devote too much time in the kitchen.
Key Ingredients:
What If I Don’t Have Ground Beef: Make this with ground turkey, chicken ground plant-based meat.
Beans: If you don’t have ranch-style beans, you can swap in pinto beans or black beans, but they should be drained and rinsed.
Corn: Use fresh corn kernels if in season for a fresher flavor. Otherwise, canned or frozen corn are both just fine.
Cheese: The classic choice here would be Cheddar cheese, but you can switch out for Monterey Jack or Pepper Jack if you want things spicier. For a cheesier version, you could layer on some Velveeta or queso blanco before baking.
Quantities and instructions are all in the complete list of ingredients in the recipe card below
Would you like to save this?
Just drop your email here and I'll send it right away!
Instructions:
Step 1: Preparation
Preheat the Oven:
You want to make sure your oven is hot and ready once your pie is assembled, so it makes sense to preheat to 350°F (175°C) at this point.
Step 2: Layer the Base
Prepare the Fritos:
In a 9×13 inch baking dish, sprinkle ¾ of the Fritos evenly over the bottom. This forms a crunchy layer in the Frito pie.
Step 3: Cook the Meat
Brown the Ground Beef:
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 lb ground beef, and 1 chopped onion to your skillet. Sauté until the beef is no longer pink and the onion is soft, 7 to 10 minutes.
Drain the Fat:
Discard excess fat from the pan so the dish isn’t greasy.
Step 4: Season the Meat
Add Taco Seasoning:
Stir in 1 packet taco seasoning. Be sure to thoroughly combine so the seasoning gets evenly spread through the beef and the onions.
Step 5: Mix in Vegetables
Save for the beef: Stir in 1 can diced tomatoes (drained), 1 can black beans (drained and rinsed) and 1 cup corn kernels. Then mix all the ingredients well.
Step 6: Assemble the Pie
Layer the Beef Mixture:
Distribute the beef and vegetable mixture evenly over the Fritos in the baking dish. Evenly spread through the whole base filling all the gaps.
Step 7: Add the Cheese
Sprinkle Cheddar Cheese:
Spread 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese on top of the beef mixture. The cheese will ooze and become gooey delicious topping.
Step 8: Bake the Frito Pie
Bake:
Cut them into smaller pieces and mix it in with cheese and sauce in a greased baking dish, just as if you were making lasagna!
Step 9: Serve and Garnish
Garnish with Toppings:
Pull the pan of Frito pie from the oven. Top it with sprinkled remaining Fritos for extra crunch.
Add Your Favorite Toppings:
Add your favorite taco toppings to the Frito pie like:
Sour cream
Sliced jalapeños
Chopped tomatoes
Shredded lettuce
Chopped cilantro (optional)
Serving Suggestions:
Although Frito Pie can definitely hold its own as a meal, you could serve a few sides alongside to make it an evening meal:
Mexican Rice: A serving of Mexican rice pairs well with the Tex-Mex flavor of the pie.
Refried Beans: Creamy refried beans make this meal even heartier.
Guacamole: Pair with fresh guacamole or chips and salsa for a snack before or with your pie.
Salad: A light green salad with a zesty lime vinaigrette would be a light contrast against the pie’s richness.
Storage and Meal Prep Tips:
Refrigerate: If there are any leftovers of Frito pie, transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Reheat in microwave or oven until heated through.
Freeze: Frito pie can be frozen, but do so before adding the top layer of Fritos. Wrap the assembled (but unbaked) pie in plastic wrap and foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. To serve, thaw overnight in the refrigerator, add the Fritos on top and bake as directed.
Meal Prep Tip: The beef mixture may be prepared ahead and refrigerated for up to 2 days. When you are ready to toss the whole kit and kaboodle together, spread your Fritos, layer beef, and bake!
Recipe Variations:
Chili Frito Pie: Use your favorite chili instead of the taco-seasoned beef for a heartier, spicier dish. You can even make this if you’ve got leftover homemade chili.
Vegetarian Frito Pie: Substitute black beans, pinto beans or a meat substitute — like textured vegetable protein (TVP) — for the ground beef. Use vegetarian taco seasoning, also be sure you use vegetarian-friendly beans.
Spicy Frito Pie: If you’re an aficionado of heat, stir in jalapeños or chipotle peppers into the beef mixture or use spicy taco seasoning. You can also replace the cheddar cheese with pepper jack.
Conclusion:
Frito Pie Recipe {A Tex-Mex favorite!} This is a recipe for a casual dinner at home, or one for a potluck, or one for game day: Whatever you’re making it for, it’ll be a hit. Easy to assemble and flexible for customization, Frito pie is a new family favorite.
Frito Pie
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies (10 ounces), drained
- 1 can ranch-style beans (15 ounces)
- 1 cup corn kernels fresh, canned, or frozen
- 1 bag Fritos (10.25 ounces), divided
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Spread ¾ of the Fritos in a 9x13 inch baking dish to form the base.
- In a skillet over medium-high heat, brown 1 pound of ground beef and 1 chopped onion for 7-10 minutes. Drain excess fat.
- Add 1 packet of taco seasoning to the cooked beef. Stir to combine.
- Add 1 can of diced tomatoes, 1 can of ranch-style beans, and 1 cup of corn to the seasoned beef. Stir well.
- Pour the beef mixture over the Fritos in the baking dish and spread evenly.
- Sprinkle 1 ½ cups of shredded cheddar cheese over the beef mixture.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Remove from the oven, sprinkle with remaining Fritos, and serve with toppings such as sour cream, jalapeños, or chopped tomatoes.