Frito Pie

This fun and easy Frito Pie combines taco-seasoned ground beef, beans, and tomatoes, all topped with cheddar, Monterey Jack, and crispy, crunchy Fritos. Add your favorite toppings like diced tomatoes, green onions, guacamole, chopped cilantro, or sour cream.

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, taco pie, and Doritos casserole recipe.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

• 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 Gallo, 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 and Storage

• Use a good taco seasoning with plenty of flavor.  If I have time, I prefer to make it homemade. However, the Spice Islands brand is my second choice, and I purchase it from Costco.
• 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. 
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power, but the chips will no longer be crunchy.

Serving Suggestions

This is a hearty meal, but if I have heavy eaters or guests, I like to serve it with black bean and corn salad or layered taco salad. Black bean soup and gazpacho are also great choices.

More Casserole Recipes

Frito Pie

A Frito Pie recipe loaded with seasoned ground beef, sweet onions, tomatoes, beans, and Fritos all topped with a generous helping of Cheddar Cheese and Monterey Jack Cheese and baked to golden perfection. 

4.98 from 97 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: main meal beef

Cuisine: Southern

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 673kcal

Author: Beth Pierce

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

Calories: 673kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 47g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 89mg | Sodium: 714mg | Potassium: 389mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 887IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 383mg | Iron: 3mg

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