Who doesn’t love a good bag of Frito chips? Frito Pie is one of the quickest casseroles to make and is a One-Pan Meal. This Hungry Man Dinner will have your picky eaters coming back for more.
Recipe First Seen on Savory Experiments
Frito Pie is a family favorite and the perfect dish for those picky eaters too. I guarantee your family will come back for seconds on this casserole. That's a #momwin for sure.
The saying "Everything is bigger in Texas", they were not kidding with this Frito Chili Pie. This dish will make you want to visit Texas immediately and give a personal thank you to all the people there for making the Tex-Mex cuisine and Frito Pie so popular.
Growing up, casseroles were always a popular dinner recipe for their ease, convenience, and low budget option. Casserole recipes are endless. This is honestly what I find really fun about making casseroles, is that you can really create a great dish with only a few different ingredients.
Some of my favorite other casseroles are, Tuna Noodle Casserole, Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole, Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Casserole and Fiesta Chicken Casserole. Let me know in the comments what your favorite casserole to make is.
Ingredient Roll Call for Frito Pie
Let’s take a quick look at what makes this Frito Pie Recipe so irresistible:
- Ground Beef – A lean option that still keeps the mixture juicy and flavorful.
- Kidney Beans – Adds hearty texture and extra protein.
- Corn – Sweet kernels balance the spice and add pops of color.
- Salsa – Your favorite store-bought or homemade salsa adds bold flavor and a little kick.
- Chili Sauce – Brings rich depth and warmth to the beef mixture.
- Taco Seasoning – The secret to those classic Tex-Mex notes.
- Crushed Garlic – Because garlic makes everything better!
- Cheddar Cheese – Melts beautifully over the chips for that gooey, irresistible top layer.
- Frito Corn Chips (Chili Cheese Flavor) – The crunch factor that makes Frito Pie so fun and satisfying.
The Must Haves!
Here’s what you’ll need from your kitchen to make this easy dinner come together fast:
- Colander – To drain beans and corn quickly.
- Mixing Spoon or Spatula – For stirring the filling and combining sauces.
- Cheese Grater – Fresh-grated cheese melts smoother and stretches beautifully.
- 9x13 Baking Dish – Perfect for layering and baking until bubbly.
- Cast Iron Skillet – Ideal for browning beef evenly and transferring straight to the oven.
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Let's Make It! Frito Pie Casserole
Making a Frito Pie is really easy. This is a recipe I have used to help teach my sons how to cook as the process is simple. It takes a few minutes to gather the ingredients and it's all downhill and easy from there.
- Preheat Oven to 350F
- In a Cast Iron Skillet cook hamburger over medium/high heat. Add crushed or minced garlic to the hamburger.
- Drain excess fat from Hamburger when fully cooked.
- Rinse and drain corn and beans and add to the cooked hamburger.
- Add chili sauce and taco seasoning and stir to combine all ingredients.
- Heat until hot and bubbly and then remove from heat.
- Add Frito Corn Chips on top and top with shredded cheese
- Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes
Fridge & Freezer Magic
Frito pie is a delicious Freezer Meal. Mix ingredients and freeze. Add Frito Chips and Cheese prior to baking. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Frito Pie can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 - 4 days, make sure it is put away in an airtight container.
Kitchen Secrets / Fun facts
- Frito’s were invented by Charles Elmer Doolin in San Antonio, Texas in 1932.
- No one knows who created the Frito Pie or where it came from.
- Frito Pie is popular among the Midwestern and Southwestern United States.
- Texas made the Frito Pie even more huge than it already was.
- Many people find this casserole to be the best camping meal because you can just pour the meat and toppings into a Frito bag and then enjoy your own personal Frito Casserole.
Flavor Fixes
You can easily customize your Frito Pie Recipe to fit your cravings. Swap the ground beef for ground turkey or shredded chicken to lighten things up. Prefer a bit of spice? Mix in a few diced jalapeños or use hot taco seasoning.
If you’re feeding little ones, go mild with the salsa and chili sauce — the flavor stays big without being spicy. Want to add more veggies? Toss in chopped bell peppers or onions for extra texture and color.
Kitchen FAQ's
Frito Pie can be served with many different foods. I would recommend trying this Frito Pie with a rice base. For an even more mexican cuisine inspired dinner, I would try a mexican/spanish rice as the base.
I also recommend serving this dish with salsa, sour cream, lettuce, or tomatoes. These are just some of the many options that would be fantastic served with Frito Pie.
Frito Chili Pie is not really a pie, it is more of a casserole based dish. This pie is Tex-Mex style beef chili topped with Fritos and cheese and then baked for about 20 minutes.
Frito Chips are indeed gluten-free. I know it can be tough to find recipes that are gluten-free, but this is the most ideal recipe you can make that will meet the dietary needs of everyone.
There really are no specific types of meat or hamburger required in this recipe. I prefer using a 93/7% Lean Ground Beef, use whatever you or your family prefers.
Yes, Make Frito Pie and store it in the refrigerator until ready to bake. Add Chips and Cheese prior to baking for best results.
Sour Cream, Diced Tomatoes, Sliced Jalapenos, green onions, or even avocado all make great additions.
Favorites Camping Meals
- Dutch Oven Potatoes
- Cowboy Beans
- Chili Cheese Fries
- Fruit Waffle Cone
- S'mores Dip
- Cowboy Caviar
- Frito Pie
- Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
- Green Chicken Chili Pasta ~ Instant Pot Recipe
- Chicken Broccoli Casserole - Instant Pot Recipe
- Chicken Pot Pie
- Turkey Tetrazzini
Frito Pie Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground Beef - 93/7% Lean
- 1 Cup Kidney Beans - Rinsed and Drain
- 1 Cup Canned Corn - Rinsed and Drain
- ¾ Cup Salsa
- ¾ Cup Chili Sauce
- 1 Taco Seasoning Packet
- 1 teaspoon Crushed Garlic
- 2 Cup Cheddar Cheese - grated
- 3-4 Cup Frito Chips - Chili Cheese Flavor
Optional Toppings
- Tomato
- Sour Cream
- Green Onion
- Jalapeno
Instructions
- In a Cast Iron Skillet cook hamburger over medium/high heat. Add crushed or minced garlic as the hamburger is cooking.
- Once the hamburger is fully cooked drain off excess fat.
- Rinse and drain corn and beans and add to the cooked hamburger.
- Add chili sauce and taco seasoning and stir to combine all ingredients.
- Heat until hot and bubbly and then remove from heat.
- Add Frito Corn Chips on top and top with shredded cheese
- Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes
- Top with additional toppings (optional)
Nutrition Disclaimer
All nutrition values are approximate and calculated by a plugin and are provided as a courtesy. Adding or subtracting ingredients will change the nutritional value.
Jeri
I saw this posted a few days ago and kept thinking about it. Made it last night exactly how it is written. We loved it! All the different flavors go well together. We will definitely be making it again. Daughter requested I try subbing pinto beans next time. 👍🏼👍🏼
Robin Aleszczyk
I made this without the Fritos. My daughter does not care for Fritos so, I substituted gluten-free tortilla chips. It was still fantastic!!!! I have shared this recipe with many of my coworkers. We will definitely be making this again. During the holidays, we will have family visiting who are vegetarians - we will then be substituting "beyond beef crumbles" for the ground beef.