This fun and easy Frito Pie combines taco-seasoned ground beef, beans, and tomatoes, all topped with cheddar, Monterey Jack, and crispy, crunchy Fritos. For even more deliciousness, add your favorite toppings like diced tomatoes, green onion, guacamole, chopped cilantro, or sour cream.
What’s In This Post
A Blast From The Past
If your family is anything like mine, then this time of year is very busy, and you can’t keep up with the day’s demands. You need some family-friendly recipes that are quick to make, easy on the pocketbook, and yet delicious and wholesome for your loved ones. This Frito Pie is all that and more.
To suit your family’s taste, top with any or all of your classic favorites. It tastes very similar to my walking tacos and Doritos casserole recipe.
Ingredients Needed
- Ground Beef: with a bit of fat in it. Fat is what gives it flavor
- Vegetables: onion, garlic, canned diced tomatoes, green onions
- Seasonings: taco seasoning, chili powder, fresh cilantro
- Beans: kidney beans, black beans, ranch-style beans, or pinto beans
- Corn chips: like Fritos
- Cheese: cheddar and Monterey Jack
- Toppings: such as Pico de Galo, salsa, shredded lettuce, guacamole, black olives, tomatoes, jalapeno, or sour cream.
How to Make Frito Pie
Start by browning some ground beef. When the ground beef is about halfway browned, add the onion and cook until the beef is browned and the onions are soft. Reduce the heat and add the minced garlic. Cook for 1 minute while stirring.
Now, carefully drain any excess grease from the meat mixture. Add the taco seasoning, chili powder, water, Rotel Tomatoes, and kidney beans. Simmer for about 10 minutes. Layer about 2 cups of Fritos in the bottom of a greased baking dish. Spoon half the ground beef mixture on top. Sprinkle with half the cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack Cheese.
Add 2 more cups of Fritos, followed by the remaining meat and bean mixture. Top with remaining Fritos and cheese. Bake for about 20 minutes or until the cheese is well melted and the casserole is hot. Top with all of your favorite toppings and serve immediately.
Preparation Tips
- Use a good taco seasoning with plenty of flavor. If I have time, I prefer to make it homemade. However, Spice Islands brand is my second choice, and I purchase it from Costco.
- You can substitute ground turkey, chicken, or pork for the beef.
- If you run short on time, use canned or leftover chili and skip to step 3.
- This recipe has plenty of wiggle room. If you want more cheese or a different kind that also melts well, substitute it. If you don’t like kidney beans but love black beans, ranch-style beans, or pinto beans, go with what you love.
Serving Suggestions
This is a hearty meal by itself, but if I have heavy eaters or guests, I like to serve with black bean and corn salad or layered taco salad. Black bean soup and gazpacho are also great choices as an alternative to salad.
Storage and Reheat
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. They can also be reheated in the microwave at reduced power, but the chips will no longer be crunchy.
Freeze individual portions in sturdy freezer containers for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power.
More Casserole Recipes
Frito Pie
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- ½ cup water
- 1 10 ounce can mild Rotel diced tomatoes
- 1 15 ounce can kidney beans, drained
- 4-5 cups Fritos corn chips
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 2 green onions sliced
- Sour cream
- Diced tomatoes
- Chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 9×13-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, brown ground beef. When ground beef is about halfway browned, add the onion and cook until the beef is browned and the onion is soft. Reduce the heat to low and add the garlic. Cook for 1 minute; stirring constantly. Drain any excess grease.
- Stir in the taco seasoning, chili powder, water, Rotel Tomatoes, and kidney beans. Simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Layer about 2 cups of Fritos in the bottom of a greased casserole dish. Spoon half the ground beef mixture on top. Sprinkle with half the cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack Cheese.
- Sprinkle with 2 more cups of Fritos, followed by the remaining meat and bean mixture. Top with the remaining Fritos and cheese.
- Bake for about 20 minutes or until the cheese is well melted and the casserole is hot. Top with all of your favorite toppings and serve immediately.
Video
Nutrition
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Carol
My husband would love this! I wonder why it called frito pie?
Beth Pierce
Because it is made with fritos, often made in a pie dish, and layered like a pie!
Debbie
Yum – this Frito Pie was delicious. It was the perfect combination of flavors and textures. I topped ours with some fresh Pico de Gallo, sour cream, and avocadoes.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Debbie!
Cindy
My husband and kids love this frito pie. It is always a huge hit. Thanks for sharing the recipe! We love it.
Julie
We love this frito pie! We make at least once a month for as long as I can remember. You have the best recipes!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Julie! I am so glad that you like my recipes.
Jen
Every time I’ve made this it is SUCH a crowd-pleaser. It’s the perfect combination of satiating and snacky. It’s so so good!
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Jen! I ma so glad that everyone likes it.
Nyxie
This looks amazing and sounds even better once you find out whats in it! So many flavours!
Monica
This was a really fun and tasty dish to try on the family. My husband and kids loved it. It will on regular rotation at our house. Next time I am going to serve it with some fresh guacamole.
Sonia
This is a family favorite. We make it every few weeks. It has so much flavor and the kids just love it. Thanks for sharing the recipe, Beth.
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome, Sonia! I am so glad that you like it.
Carol
Thank you so much. My husband loved this dish. Easy, tasty, with all the flavors the we know and love.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Carol! So glad that you liked the frito pie.
Mary
Such a fun recipe! We have tried some taco salads with different types of chips, and this is along those same lines, flavorful and easy. We made ours with ground turkey, and topped it with tomatoes and thin slice of jalapeno. It was delicious.
Oliver
My boys loved this frito pie. We topped ours with some pico de gallo and guacamole and it was amazing. We will make this again, soon.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Oliver. I am so glad that you liked the frito pie.
Laurie
This sounds and looks amazing! What a great way to spice up taco night, I will try this out. Thanks for sharing this!
Debbie
I love everything about this Frito Pie it combines so many of my favorite things like fritos, cheeses, and ground beef. We are huge fans of adding some crunch to our dinners.
Steph
I always loved Fritos but I love them even more after making this! A delicious and satisfying meal the whole family enjoyed.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Steph! I am so glad that they liked the frito pie!
Ben
I highly suggest that anyone reading this post make this Frito pie! I grew up on Frito pie, and my mom’s recipe is hard to beat. I think Beth did it, though!
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Ben! So glad that you liked it.
Bed
Frito pie seems like a fun dinner item with a Mexican twist. Quick question – could you please suggest a vegetarian alternative to beef, many of my family and friends are vegetarians.