Crunchy and Cheesy Frito Pie Casserole
Hearty ground beef mixed with tomatoes, green chilies, Ranch beans, and taco seasoning, topped with crunchy Frito corn chips and gooey cheese. This Frito Pie Casserole is a family favorite for sure!
Frito Pie Casserole
I had never heard of Frito pie until I met my friend from the midwest. Once I tasted it, I was in love! It’s my favorite way to each chili and corn chips.
My husband eats Fritos like they are going out of style if I have them in the house, so he is a big fan of this too. But I do need to hide an extra bag of corn chips, otherwise I wouldn’t have any left to make it with.
It reminds me of a southwestern version of this walking taco casserole. And it’s perfect for a weeknight dinner and even game day!
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Ingredients Needed
- Ground Beef – Use lean ground beef of substitute ground turkey.
- Beans – I like to use Ranch Style beans for the smoky flavor. Substitute flavored chili beans if you prefer.
- Rotel – Diced tomatoes & green chilies.
- Chips – Frito corn chips. If you want to get some more seasoning in there then using the chili flavored Fritos is ok too.
- Cheese – Shredded Mexican cheese blend or your favorite. Monterey Jack is great too.
- Kitchen staples – Spices, onion, garlic, tomato paste, beef broth, sour cream, salt and black pepper.
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For the full recipe and detailed baking instructions, please see the recipe card at the end of this post.
How to Make Frito Pie Casserole
- Preheat oven to 350F. Cook onions and brown ground beef in a large skillet with the oil. Drain fat.
- Add the garlic, tomatoes, beans, spices, and broth to the ground beef and onions. Bring to a simmer and stir in sour cream.
- Transfer the beef mixture to a 9×13 casserole dish. Top with cheese and corn chips.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and corn chips are starting to brown.
- Remove and serve with your favorite toppings.
For the full recipe and detailed baking instructions, please see the recipe card at the end of this post.
Can I make it ahead of time?
You absolutely can! That’s one of the things I love about this recipe. Prep everything like normal, but leave off the Fritos. Cover and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Add the corn chips right before baking.
Can I freeze it?
You can also prep and bake it, cool completely, wrap tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating in the oven.
You might want to leave off the corn chips and add them right before reheating.
What are ranch style beans?
Ranch style beans are beans that are typically seasoned with taco seasonings like cumin, some chili powder, smoky paprika, and garlic powder. You can find them by the rest of the canned beans in the store.
If you can’t find them, then you can use seasoned pinto beans (and even seasoned black beans) as well.
Tips for the Best Casserole
- You can easily make this ahead of time but save adding the last layer of Fritos and cheese for just before it goes in the oven. That keeps the crunch in the chips best.
- If the meat is too soupy after you cook it and and the other ingredients, then drain a bit more of the liquid first.
- The rest of the ingredients are already cooked going into the oven. Watch the cheese, and cook until just melted.
- Spraying some cooking oil on the inside of the baking dish makes clean up after serving a lot easier.
If you love this recipe as much as I do, pin this to your favorite casserole Pinterest board and share it on your favorite social media channels!
This Frito Pie Casserole is super easy to make, full of ground beef, beans, and cheese, and topped with crunchy corn chips!
Frito Pie Casserole
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 large sweet onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 15oz can Ranch Style beans
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 3.5oz bags Fritos corn chips
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 10oz can diced chilies & tomatoes (Rotel)
- 2 cups Mexican cheese shredded
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- salt and pepper to taste
- avocado green onions, shredded lettuce, jalapenos, cherry tomatoes (optional garnishes)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13 dish with nonstick spray.
- Add the oil to a large skillet. Heat over medium heat and add the diced onions. Cook until until they soften and then add the ground beef.
- Cook until no longer pink and drain the fat if desired.
- Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant (1-2 minutes).
- Add the tomato paste and cook for a few minutes.
- Add the Ranch Style Beans (with the juice), diced green chilies and tomatoes (with the juice), and the broth.
- Stir in the spices and continue to cook on medium-low simmer for 15 minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper as preferred.
- Stir in the sour cream and transfer to the prepared dish.
- Top with the shredded cheese and Fritos corn chips last.
- Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly and the chips are a light golden brown.
- Remove from oven and top with your favorite garnishes. Serve warm.
Notes
-
- You can easily make this ahead of time but save adding the last layer of Fritos and cheese for just before it goes in the oven. That keeps the crunch in the chips best.
- If the meat is too soupy after you cook it and and the other ingredients, then drain a bit more of the liquid first.
- The rest of the ingredients are already cooked going into the oven. Watch the cheese, and cook until just melted.
- Spraying some cooking oil on the inside of the baking dish makes clean up after serving a lot easier.
Nutrition
{Originally published 05/05/22 – recipe notes and tips updated 10/31/24}
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Yum looks so good can’t wait to try
Thank you!
You’re instructions are missing a step. After spraying the casserole dish put down one bag of Fritos. The way it reads We’d be putting all Fritos on top…
For this recipe it just uses two small bags so I do put both of them on top. If you like to have some on the top and the bottom, you can use a large bag and split it up for the top and the bottom.