Description
Southwestern comfort arrives with this classic Frito Pie, a hearty Texas-style dish layering crisp corn chips with spicy ground beef, melted cheese, and zesty toppings. Comfort meets convenience in this quick, crowd-pleasing meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
- 1 small finely chopped onion
Beans and Vegetables:
- 1 can (15 ounces / 425 grams) ranch-style beans
- 1 cup (150 grams) corn kernels (fresh, canned, or frozen)
- 1 can (10 ounces / 283 grams) diced tomatoes with green chilies, drained
Seasonings and Toppings:
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1 ½ cups (170 grams) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 ¼-ounce (35 grams) bag of Fritos, divided
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C), positioning the rack in the center for even heat distribution.
- Arrange 3/4 of the Fritos corn chips in a uniform layer across the bottom of a 9×13 inch (23×33 centimeter) baking dish, creating a crispy foundation.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and combine of ground beef with one finely chopped onion, cooking for 7-10 minutes until the meat browns completely and loses its pink color.
- Drain excess fat from the meat mixture using a colander, then return to the skillet.
- Sprinkle one full packet of taco seasoning over the ground beef, stirring thoroughly to ensure even coating and flavor integration.
- Add one 14.5-ounce (411 grams) can of diced tomatoes, one 15-ounce (425 grams) can of ranch-style beans, and one cup (240 milliliters) of corn kernels to the seasoned beef mixture.
- Stir the ingredients together until well combined and the flavors meld uniformly.
- Carefully distribute the beef mixture evenly across the Fritos base in the baking dish, creating a consistent layer.
- Generously sprinkle 1½ cups (340 grams) of shredded cheddar cheese over the entire surface.
- Transfer the baking dish to the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese melts completely and develops a slightly golden, bubbly texture.
- Remove from the oven and garnish with the remaining Fritos for added crunch.
- Serve immediately, offering optional toppings such as sour cream, chopped jalapeños, or fresh diced tomatoes to enhance the dish’s flavor profile.
Notes
- Elevate your Frito Pie game with this crowd-pleasing casserole that transforms simple ingredients into a mouthwatering meal.
- Customize toppings to match your flavor preferences, making this dish perfect for family dinners or casual gatherings.
- Prep time is minimal, allowing you to whip up a delicious dinner in under 30 minutes from start to finish.
- Corn and beans add extra nutrition and texture, turning this comfort food into a more balanced meal option.
- Leftovers reheat beautifully, making it an excellent choice for meal prep or next-day lunch.
- Swap ground beef for ground turkey or plant-based crumbles to create a lighter or vegetarian version of this classic recipe.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking, Frying
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 451 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 1100 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg