Description
This Easy Frito Pie Casserole is a comforting and flavorful American dish that combines seasoned ground beef, chili beans, corn, and melted cheddar cheese layered over crunchy Fritos corn chips. Perfect for a family-friendly dinner, it’s baked to bubbly perfection and topped with optional fresh ingredients like sour cream and jalapeños for extra zest.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Mixture
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 packet (1 ounce) taco seasoning
- 1 can (15 ounces) chili beans, drained
- 1 can (10 ounces) diced tomatoes with green chilies, drained
- 1 cup frozen corn, thawed
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Cheese and Chips
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 3 cups Fritos corn chips
Optional Toppings
- Sour cream
- Sliced green onions
- Diced tomatoes
- Sliced jalapeños
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare dish. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Cook beef and onions. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and diced onion together for 5 to 7 minutes until the beef is browned and cooked through, stirring occasionally. Drain any excess grease if necessary.
- Add garlic and seasonings. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Then add the taco seasoning, chili beans, diced tomatoes with green chilies, thawed corn, tomato sauce, salt, and black pepper. Mix well and let simmer for 5 minutes so all the flavors blend nicely.
- Layer Fritos and beef mixture. Spread half of the Fritos corn chips evenly on the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Pour the beef mixture over the chips and spread it out evenly.
- Add cheese and bake. Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese over the beef layer. Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 15 minutes, until everything is heated through and the cheese is melted.
- Top with remaining chips and cheese. Remove the casserole from the oven. Evenly sprinkle the remaining Fritos and cheddar cheese over the top. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes until the cheese melts again and the toppings are warm.
- Rest and serve. Allow the casserole to rest for 5 minutes after baking. Serve with optional toppings such as sour cream, sliced green onions, diced tomatoes, or jalapeños to taste.
Notes
- For a spicier flavor, use hot taco seasoning or add diced jalapeños directly to the beef mixture.
- You can substitute ground turkey for a lighter protein alternative.
- To maintain the crunchiness of the Fritos, add part of the chips after baking as directed in the recipe.
