Frito Pie is quick to become a family favorite because of its ease of preparation and affordability! I mean, who doesn’t LOVE corn chips, seasoned ground beef and beans!
Traditionally, called a Texas Frito Pie, this is an easy crowd pleaser anywhere you go! Game night? Make this easy and delicious casserole and wow the crowd! You’ll be the hit of the night!
Frito Pie Recipe
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What is Frito Pie?
This pie recipe takes on many shapes and mainly depends on where you ‘hail’ from. Frito Pie bake can be a full-on baked casserole that looks and serves like a lasagna, but also a little frito-pie recipe that can serve as a ‘grab-and-go’ meal, even still in the bag if you’re on the run to a special gathering or even a work potluck!
No matter where you hail from, this delicious, beefy pie casserole has evolved into a universally American dish! While it did originate in the Southern, Midwestern, and Southwestern United States, you can find the basic ingredients in any local supermarket: chili, cheese, and corn chips! But, why not add your own signature ingredients? Get creative while creating your signature dish that will keep everyone begging for more!
Some additional ingredients we recommend:
- jalapeños
- onions
- sour cream
- green chilies
- salsa – change up the spice level of this dish by serving it with mild, medium, hot salsa!
How to Make Frito Pie
- Prep: Preheat your oven and prepare a 2-quart (9×9) casserole dish. Don’t forget to dice and chop up your vegetables!
- Cook: Frito taco pie is so easy to make, simply cook the ground beef, onion, and bell pepper together until fully cooked. Then add the remaining ingredients and simmer until everything is thickened.
- Layer: For a frito pie casserole, just layer two thirds of the Frito chips on the bottom of the casserole dish and scoop the ground beef mixture over the top evenly. Cover with shredded cheese and top with extra corn chips.
- Bake: Bake this dish until the cheddar cheese is melted and bubbly, then add sliced green onions for a garnish and a dollop of sour cream for each serving! You can always reserve a few Frito chips until the end to sprinkle on top for an extra crunch!
What to Serve with Frito Pie
Even though this casserole can totally stand on its own with a dollop of sour cream or salsa, why not try a marinated combination of onions and cucumbers or a clear, crisp salad of fresh greens with a brightly flavored vinaigrette!
More Delicious Casserole Dishes…
- Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole – delicious but easy to prepare!
- Taco Casserole – spicy flavors that will dazzle your taste buds!
- Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Casserole – perfect easy weeknight meal.
- Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole – simply and tasty comfort food.
- Cheesy Broccoli Potato Casserole – super satisfying side dish!
Frito Pie Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 onion diced
- 1 green bell pepper
- 1 cup salsa
- 1 (1 ounce packet) taco seasoning about 2 tablespoons
- 16 oz chili beans
- ½ cup water
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 10.5 oz corn chips crushed
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Cook ground beef, onion and bell pepper until not pink remains. Drain any fat.
- Add the taco seasoning mix, salsa, chili beans with 1/2 cup water. Simmer 10-15 minutes or until thickened.
- Place 2/3 of the chips in the bottom of a 2qt casserole dish. Spoon ground beef over the top of the corn chips, spreading evenly.
- Cover with the shredded cheese and top with remaining corn chips.
- Bake 25-30 minutes or until golden and bubbly.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
©The Shortcut Kitchen. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
Made this tonight & it was delicious!
So glad you enjoyed it, Stacey!
My Family Loved it. I am definitely sharing Guys, Thanks For sharing this Great Recipe. this recipe and this website with my friend. Hope they also love it. Thank you again for sharing such a great recipe.
Hi! Your recipes look and sound marvelous! But, (always a “but,”) my husband is VERY allergic to any dairy product, eggs or anything resembling dairy or eggs. He can’t even get a flu shot! Sicker with the shot than with the flu. It isn’t a lactose intolerance, more a chemical thing. Have you, or do you ever run across anything without cheese, south cream, etc. When I make a Casserole/hot dish, I have to use cream of celery or more often a broth base for whatever else. But I have to admit, I, personally am a bit tired of spaghetti. Any suggestions? Thank you.
Hi Dawn, I have a few ideas that you may be able to make some substitutions to accommodate your requirements, or at least give you some inspiration! In many, you’ll maybe leave out the cheese, or separate into 2 smaller dishes so that you can enjoy the cheese.
Chili cheese dog bake
From my other site, Spend With Pennies, here are a few more ideas:
Cabbage roll casserole
Shepherd’s pie (even a Shepherd’s pie soup!)
Lentil shepherd’s pie
Taco lasagna (omit cheese layer)
Mexican stuffed peppers
Baked Chinese chicken and ricePork and saurkraut bake
Unstuffed peppers
Chicken pot pie (there are a few options for this)
Stuffed zucchini boats
Stuffed pepper casserole
Hope that helps!!
I immediately thought of you as I have been following Spend with Pennies for YEARS! I didn’t know this was your site too!, This frito pie is DELICIOUS and I looked for an hour for one that I had all of the ingredients for. THANK YOU,!
Is the calorie count on a serving or the whole casserole
Hi Carly, it is per serving 🙂
I love Frito pie. I think you need a little help with its origins especially when you call it Texas Frito Pie. It was invented in Santa Fe, New Mexico in the 1950s in a 5 and dime store. It might have been Woolworths. It was made with local NM red chili and assembled in the small bag of Fritos. Layer chile over Fritos then add cheese, lettuce, onion, and tomato. You are handed this and a fork or spoon and you can carry it out to the Santa Fe Plaza to eat it. Very popular with tourists.
Thanks for letting us know Mia, we appreciate it! We definitely love the grab and go feature of making this in a bag!
It’s called a walking taco at any fair or carnival around here.
Love it! Tried and true favorite BUT… salty as hell. Really need to cut back on the 3 cups of corn chips but easy, tasty and doesn’t require a bank loan to make.
Glad you loved it Ray! You could try unsalted butter and other lower sodium ingredients if you prefer.
I am from New Mexico, where we eat frito pie all the time! Your recipe is nice and all but it’s missing something important. Green Chile! It’s not real without it.
This has become a family favorite. My kids ask for it each week and are disappointed when we don’t have it.
I made this & it was “ok”. We all thought it was dry. If I make it again I may try putting some extra salsa in there somewhere. Maybe on the burger. I’m not sure what made this dry on the bottom. Maybe the combo of the crust and the frito’s. It wasn’t bad it just needs a little more of something on the bottom layer so it isnt so dry.
Made this tonight and it’s a HIT! Hubby loved it (I did too!). Easy to make, quick to bake. Will make a few up ahead of time, freeze them and take camping with us. Super good.
sounds easy quick and very good. this is one to try
Congratulations!
Your recipe is featured on Full Plate Thursday this week. Hope you are having a great day and enjoy your new Red Plate.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Holy Cats! We ca’t wait to try this!!! Thank YOU!
This looks so darn good I want to eat it for breakfast! Pinning for later. Thanks
Got this in the oven right now. Will post tomorrow how everyone liked it.
This looks yummy -I love fritos!! Pinning & stopping by from Mix It Up Monday, have a great week!!