Description
Frito Pie Casserole is a comforting and easy-to-make southwestern-inspired dish combining seasoned ground beef, beans, salsa, corn, and layers of crunchy Fritos corn chips topped with melted cheese. Baked to bubbly perfection and served with your favorite taco toppings, this casserole is perfect for family dinners and casual gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and diced
- 1 package taco seasoning mix (about 1 oz)
- 1 cup salsa
- 15 ounces kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 15 ounces cream style corn
- 9 ounces Fritos corn chips, divided
- 2 cups shredded cheese, divided (cheddar or Mexican blend recommended)
Optional Toppings
- Green onion, sliced
- Cilantro, chopped
- Sliced black olives
- Diced tomato
- Dollop of sour cream
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 350ºF (175ºC). Lightly spray a 9×13-inch glass baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
- Cook Ground Beef and Onions: Crumble the ground beef into a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced onions and cook, stirring frequently until the beef is fully browned and the onions are softened. Drain excess fat if desired to reduce grease.
- Add Seasoning and Vegetables: Stir in the taco seasoning mix and cream style corn until combined. Add the salsa and kidney beans, stir well, bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Cook for 3-4 minutes while stirring often to combine flavors and heat through.
- Layer the Casserole: Spread half of the Fritos corn chips evenly over the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle 1 cup of the shredded cheese over the chips. Carefully spread the prepared meat and vegetable mixture evenly on top of the cheese. Add the remaining Fritos chips over the meat, and top with the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheese.
- Bake the Casserole: Cover the dish with foil or a lid and bake in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes until the casserole is hot and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve and Garnish: Remove the casserole from the oven and allow to cool slightly. Garnish with your choice of green onions, cilantro, sliced black olives, diced tomatoes, and a dollop of sour cream. Serve warm with additional salsa if desired.
Notes
- If you don’t have ground beef or kidney beans, substitute with canned chili and proceed with the other ingredients for a quick alternative.
- To reduce sodium, omit the chips and cheese on the bottom layer of the casserole.
- For a fun variation, serve the meat mixture as ‘walking tacos’ by scooping it into small individual bags of Fritos corn chips topped with your favorite garnishes—great for gatherings or kids’ parties.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
