Frito Pie Recipe

This Frito pie recipe is packed with creamy and crunchy textures and big taco-style flavor. This easy dish comes together in just over 30 minutes!

Frito pie isn’t really a pie, it’s a casserole of Fritos with tasty toppings! Ours has a creamy beef layer, lots of cheese, and a few fresh pops to top it off. It’s somewhat similar to our Dorito Casserole and Tamale Pie!

Quick, Easy, and SO Flavorful!

Frito pie was made popular in the Mid and Southwest United States years ago.

If you love Walking Tacos, you will love this dish. It typically includes chili, Fritos, and cheese. While there are many variations, I think ours is beyond delicious.

We take that chili and turn it into a creamy meaty layer packed with chili flavor. Frito pie is crazy easy to make and does not dirty up many dishes…another bonus! You can mix it up by adding beans or jalapeños (if you are craving even more spice).

This Frito pie recipe be a weeknight dinner win for sure!

How To Make Frito Pie

Frito chili pie is more of a casserole, but either way, it’s easy and delicious! Frito pie ingredients are simple and few.

PREP. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.

BEEF. Cook the ground beef in a large skillet. Once browned drain, add the taco seasoning, sour cream, and the enchilada sauce and stir.

LAYER. Spread ⅓ of the Fritos (about 2 cups) over the bottom of a casserole dish. Slightly crush them and spread half of the ground beef mixture over the top. Next, add a layer of cheese (1 cup).

Add another layer of Fritos (about 2 cups, slightly crushed). Add the rest of the meat mixture and another cup of the cheese. Sprinkle evenly with the remaining chips and cheese.

BAKE. Tent a piece of foil over the top so that the melting cheese doesn’t stick to it. Bake for 30 minutes then remove the foil and bake for another 5-10 minutes or until the cheese is fully melted.

GARNISH. Let the frito pie cool for 5 minutes and top with tomatoes, avocados, and cilantro.

Recipe Tips

Change up the flavor profile of this Frito pie recipe with your favorite chips or toppings.

Variations. A great thing about casseroles is that they are very forgiving when you want to make changes. Some variation ideas include:

• Meat. Replace ground beef with ground turkey, ground chicken, or Italian sausage.
• Sauce. Use Red Enchilada Sauce instead of Green Enchilada Sauce.
• Beans. Drain a can of pinto beans, black beans, or kidney beans to use as another layer. The beans can also be used to replace the ground beef.
• Chips. Use flavored Fritos, regular tortilla chips, Doritos.
• Veggies. Add in zucchini, black olives, and diced peppers would all be yummy.
• Cheese. Use your favorite cheese like cheddar cheese or a Mexican blend.
• Season with your favorite spices like cumin or garlic salt. Add a bit of heat using chili powder, or red pepper flakes. Make your own Taco Seasoning. There is about 3 tablespoon in a packet.
• Toppings. Have Salsa, Guacamole, and sour cream available for toppings.

Serving ideas. Another reason casseroles are the best is that they can often stand alone without any other sides to prepare. Should you wish to add more to the meal Spanish Rice would be delicious. You could even have a plate of Tortillas ready to wrap a scoop of the casserole into a burrito.

Storing Casserole

Make ahead of time. To make taco frito bake a day ahead of time, you’ll want to complete all of the steps except for baking. Wrap the pan with plastic wrap and keep it in the refrigerator.

FREEZE. Wrap it again with foil and store it in the freezer for 1-2 months. Thaw in the fridge before baking and add a freshly grated layer of cheese and chips to the top before baking.

STORE. Keep leftovers in an airtight container, or divide them into individual-sized portions. Refrigerate for 2-3 days or freeze for 1-2 months. Reheat in the microwave or oven.

Recipe FAQ

For More Easy Casseroles, Check Out:

• Taco Casserole
• Mexican Casserole
• Chicken Enchilada Casserole
• Enchilada Casserole