Frito Pie

Frito pie is an easy casserole loaded with rich and savory ground beef, gooey cheese, and (you guessed it) Frito corn chips. Simple, quick, and packed with flavor, this recipe is comfort food at its finest!

Looking for more flavor-packed Tex-Mex casserole recipes? Try my sour cream chicken enchiladas and fiesta chicken casserole.

Why You’ll Love This Frito Pie Recipe

Frito pie isn’t really a pie. It’s a Tex-Mex-inspired casserole loaded with delicious corn chip crunch (like a Doritos casserole). Layered with seasoned ground beef, corn, beans, and oodles of cheese, this is one weeknight recipe you need to try ASAP! Here’s why:

  • Full of flavor. The seasoned ground beef filling is a lot like hearty beef chili. Layered into a deep-dish casserole with enchilada sauce, salty corn chips, and shredded cheese, this recipe is packed with savory flavor and spice.
  • Quick and easy. The filling comes together fast and easily on the stovetop. Then it’s just a matter of assembling and baking your casserole. Frito pie is perfect for weeknights and reheats well the following day.
  • Customizable. When it comes to toppings, load up this Frito pie with any of your taco favorites. If you’re looking for a fun way to change things up on taco night, you won’t regret giving this casserole a go!
Frito pie served in a bowl topped with guacamole and sour cream.

Frito Pie Ingredients

Below are my notes on what you’ll need to make this easy Frito pie casserole. Scroll down to the recipe card for a printable ingredients list.

  • Ground Beef – I like to use lean ground beef. You can swap out beef for ground chicken or ground turkey if you prefer.
  • Onion – Diced yellow onion, or any mild onion you have on hand.
  • Seasonings – Salt, pepper, cumin, ground coriander, chili powder, garlic powder, and sweet or smoked paprika. You can also substitute the individual spices with a chili seasoning blend.
  • Corn and Beans – Canned sweet corn and black beans. Remember to drain and rinse them first.
  • Enchilada Sauce – Choose your favorite jar of red enchilada sauce from the store. You’ll bulk up the sauce with canned tomato sauce.
  • Fritos – You’ll need one standard-sized bag of Fritos corn chips. You can make this casserole with Original Fritos or your favorite flavor.
  • Cheese – Use a shredded Mexican cheese blend or shredded cheddar cheese.
  • Toppings – Sour cream, guacamole, and any taco-style toppings your heart desires.

How to Make Frito Pie 

This Frito pie recipe is super quick to prep, and it bakes in just 20 minutes! Follow this short step-by-step and check out the recipe card for printable instructions.

  • Make the filling. Start by sautéing the beef and diced onion in a large skillet until the meat is cooked through. Next, stir in the seasonings, beans, corn, enchilada sauce, and tomato sauce. 
  • Assemble the pie. Spread a layer of Fritos into the bottom of a 9×13” baking dish. Top this with the ground beef filling, and sprinkle over the shredded cheese.
  • Bake. Bake the Frito pie at 400ºF for 20 minutes. When the cheese and filling are bubbly, your pie is ready! Garnish the casserole with more Fritos and serve with your favorite toppings. See below for ideas.
Overhead view of Frito pie in a 9x13 baking dish, topped with dollops of sour cream and guacamole.

Recipe Tips and Variations

These are a few easy tips if you’re looking to make the perfect Frito pie:

  • Make ahead. If you’re planning on storing the finished casserole, I recommend leaving off the garnish of Fritos until you’re ready to serve. See below for more storing and reheating instructions.
  • Make it spicy. To give this Frito pie filling some kick, feel free to add diced jalapeños, or you can add crushed red peppers or cayenne to the seasoning.
  • Try a walking taco. It’s believed that Frito pie was originally inspired by a “walking taco”: a bag of corn chips garnished with taco toppings. Make your own by scooping the prepared ground beef mixture into a single-serving bag of Fritos. Add cheese and toppings, and take it to go!
Overhead close up view of Frito pie in a baking dish, topped with dollops of sour cream and guacamole.

Topping Ideas

Just like tacos, this Frito pie only gets better with toppings! I love having our favorites on the table so that everyone can DIY their bowls. Here are some ideas:

  • Sauces. Salsa, sour cream, guacamole, avocado salsa, and extra enchilada sauce.
  • Garnishes. Diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, jalapeños, green onions, olives, fresh cilantro.
  • Lime. Serve your Frito pie with lime wedges to squeeze over top.

What to Serve With Frito Pie Casserole

Round out your next Tex Mex night with easy appetizers like cowboy caviar with tortilla chips for dipping. We also love our Frito pie with a starter of cheesy chicken taquitos, or a side of fluffy crescent rolls. For a veggie option, serve your casserole with a Southwestern quinoa salad, this easy Cobb salad, or corn on the cob.

Frito pie served in a bowl topped with guacamole and sour cream.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

  • Refrigerate. Store any leftover Frito pie airtight in the fridge for up to 3 days.
  • Reheat. Warm leftovers in the microwave or the oven until hot throughout. I like to sprinkle the reheated servings with extra Fritos to revive some of the crunch.
  • Freeze. You can store the casserole airtight and freeze it whole or in portions for up to 3 months. If you know you’ll be freezing leftovers, consider leaving off the garnish of Fritos until you reheat it. Defrost in the fridge overnight before reheating and serving. 

More Casserole Recipes

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Frito pie served in a bowl topped with guacamole and sour cream.

Frito Pie

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  • Author: Shelly
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 12 servings 1x
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American

Description

Frito Pie is an easy casserole loaded with savory ground beef, cheese, and Frito corn chips! Simple, quick, and packed with flavor, this recipe is comfort food at its finest.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds lean ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 (15- ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 (15- ounce) can corn, drained
  • 1 (10- ounce) can red enchilada sauce
  • 1 (15- ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1 (9 1/4- ounce) bag Fritos
  • 2 cups shredded Mexican Cheese
  • optional sour cream and guacamole to garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
  2. In a large skillet brown the ground beef and onion together over medium-high heat until cooked through. Drain the excess grease from the pan. Turn the heat to medium-low and season the meat with the salt, pepper, cumin, coriander, chili powder, garlic powder, and paprika. Stir to coat. Add in the beans, corn, enchilada sauce, and tomato sauce. Stir to combine and cook util heated through. Remove from the heat.
  3. In a 9×13 baking dish, spread 2/3 of the bag of Fritos onto the bottom. Spread the meat mixture on top of the Fritos and top with the grated cheese. Bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the mixture is bubbly.
  4. Garnish with the remaining Fritos and serve warm.
  5. Top with sour cream and guacamole if desired.

Notes

  • Refrigerate airtight for up to 3 days.

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5 comments on “Frito Pie”

  1. We loved this! I used 21oz of ground turkey instead of beef. And I don’t have coriander so didn’t use it. I listened to the other comment and here is what I did: kept everything in the skillet and added cheese and Fritos to the top. Threw the skillet in the oven. So it was a one pot dish!

  2. I made this for dinner last night and it was easy and delicious. Next time I will not put Fritos on the bottom but just on top. I used Monterey Jack as my cheese and this is perfect game day food! I love fritos but usually do not buy them because it’s hard to stop munching on them, so this was an extra treat for me! I would add fresh jalapeño rings next time along with sour cream and avocado. Thank you!

  3. The recipe looks yummy and easy. I have to complain a little about your video, I had to watch a 2 minute long commercial in the middle of it. that is longer than the video itself! I know you probably have no control over what commercials air, but I thought you may want to know.

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