Frito Pie

This easy Frito Pie recipe is a cheesy, crunchy casserole made with seasoned ground beef, black beans, corn, and Fritos for a flavorful, family-friendly dinner perfect for busy weeknights.

Walking tacos are one of our favorite quick snacks and light meals, so turning that into this cheesy casserole has been a major win! This easy Frito pie is one of the easiest casserole recipes. It’s great to make this on a busy evening and pop some zucchini fries into the air fryer to make a quick and easy complete dinner.

Plus, it’s one of those classic meals that just never gets old. It’s always a meal I can count on that everyone in the house loves. There’s always plenty of protein in this budget-friendly meal and it’s super filling. And if I remember, I love to buy extra bags of Fritos at the grocery store and we make Frito bars for dessert! So much love for this classic dish turned into a Mexican inspired Frito taco bake.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• You can have this easy dinner on the table in just about 30 minutes. No need to stand in the kitchen and follow a recipe that takes forever to make.
• This Frito pie casserole recipe is easily adaptable. You can add tons of different ingredients to give this dish a different flavor profile.
• All you need is 8 simple ingredients to make a tasty meal that the whole family will enjoy.

Ingredients for Frito Pie Casserole

• Ground beef – Using a lean ground beef like 93/7 will help keep the grease content down. You can try ground turkey or ground chicken if you prefer.
• Yellow onion – The mild flavor of yellow onion won’t overpower everything else but will still add a great strong flavor! White onion is a good substitute.
• Salsa – You can use store-bought salsa or make your own homemade salsa to use in Frito taco bake.
• Taco seasoning mix – All you need to season the beef well is one pack of taco seasoning, but you can also make your own taco seasoning!
• Frito corn chips – The classic thin strip Fritos are the best kind to use for this easy casserole.
• Black beans – If you’re not a fan of black beans, you can omit them or replace them with another type of beans.
• Sweet corn – You don’t have to use corn in this recipe, but the mild sweetness does go so well with everything else.
• Mexican style cheese – Cheddar cheese and Colby Jack cheese are both good substitutes for Mexican style cheese in this recipe. Shred your own cheese for the best flavor and meltability.

What toppings can I use for frito pie casserole?

Use sour cream, olives, extra cheese, sliced jalapeños, diced tomatoes and any of your other favorite taco toppings on Frito taco bake. Fresh pico de gallo or guacamole would also be delicious!

How to Make Frito Pie Casserole

Place ground beef and diced onions into a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat until there is no pink left in the beef, then drain off the grease.

Add taco seasoning to the browned beef and stir well to combine. Then add salsa, corn, and beans to the seasoned meat and stir again. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring often.

Pour half the bag of Fritos into the bottom of the previously prepared baking dish and sprinkle 1 cup of cheese over the chips. Spread the meat mixture evenly over the layer of chips. Then add the rest of the Fritos and remaining cheese to the top.

Cover the Frito taco bake with foil or an oven safe lid and bake for 18-20 minutes. Once the casserole is hot and bubbly, it’s ready!

Allow casserole to cool slightly, then serve and enjoy.

Storage and Reheating

FRIDGE: Transfer leftovers to an airtight container or wrap the casserole dish tightly in plastic wrap. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When transferring, try to keep the top layer of Fritos on the top so they get crispy when reheated.

FREEZER: Baked leftovers don’t typically store very well in the freezer. However, you can store an unbaked casserole without the top layer of chips and cheese! Wrap the baking dish in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Leftover Frito casserole is best when reheated in the oven instead of the microwave. You’ll want the top layer of chips to crisp up as they reheat.

How can I make this recipe a chili cheese frito pie?

Omit the taco seasoning, salsa, and beans from this recipe. Season the beef well with a beef seasoning instead. Then after you drain off the cooked fat, add a can of chili to the meat and mix well.

You can also make the meat mixture extra creamy by mixing in some cream cheese or sour cream.

This Frito pie casserole is so easy to make and is loaded with incredible flavor. You’re going to love this crunchy and cheesy casserole!

What to Serve with Frito Pie

Got some extra Fritos? Make a crunchy Lettuce Frito Salad. This BLT Caesar Pasta Salad is a great refreshing side dish too.

If you need an easy side dish that you can quickly throw together, air fryer potatoes and fruit salad are two great options. Mexican street corn dip goes great with this easy casserole, you’ll love how the flavors go so well together.

Finish out your meal with an easy dessert like Strawberry Lemon Cake or Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies.

More Great Casseroles

• Change things up on taco night and make this cheesy Taco Casserole instead! This is a super hearty meal made with egg noodles, taco beef, enchilada sauce, cheese and veggies.
• Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole is a lovely twist on a classic cheesy chicken dish. Simply layer chicken, ham and cheese sauce without the hassle of stuffing a chicken.
• This Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole is a great easy dish to make for breakfast, especially if you are serving a crowd. Tater tots, eggs, sausage, cheese, bacon and green onion make a perfect combination.
• Make Cheesy Ham Casserole with Bow Tie Pasta when you need a quick and hearty dinner. This is also a great way to use up some leftover ham after a big family dinner.