Frito Pie Casserole is an easy recipe with all the best Tex Mex flavors! Layer up the corn chips, seasoned beef, cheese, and more in a delicious dish that’s perfect for weeknight dinners. Everyone will LOVE this Frito Pie recipe!
Frito Pie Recipe
Frito Pie Casserole is the perfect mix of all the best Tex-Mex flavors, in the form of an easy to eat casserole. Crunchy Frito’s chips, ground beef, black beans, cheese, tomatoes, and so much more!
This Frito Pie recipe is a classic if you’re a fan of easy Tex-Mex food. It’s perfect for Cinco de Mayo, Taco Tuesday, or any weeknight dinner. It’s easy to make and absolutely delicious! Plus you can make it your own by adding your favorite ingredients as extra toppings (guac, sour cream, olives, etc.).
Basically, this dish is just tacos that you can eat with a fork, and what’s not to love about that?! I’ll take tacos in any form, and this casserole is definitely a favorite!
This Frito Pie Casserole recipe is so easy to put together for parties or weeknight dinners!
Frito Pie Casserole
One of the great things about this easy Frito Pie Casserole recipe is that you can add in your favorite ingredients, and leave out the ones you just don’t love. I have a list of what I included, but you don’t have to stick to that.
The base of this recipe is all the stuff that really makes it a Frito Pie (Frito’s, beef, cheese, etc). But you can do what you want with all the extras. Add guacamole if you love it, leave out the olives if you’re not a fan. Make this dish exactly how you want it!
What’s in Frito Pie?
- Frito’s Corn Chips (of course)
- Black Beans
- Tomatoes
- Garlic
- Yellow Onions
- Ground Chuck
- Taco Seasoning
- Mexican-blend Cheese
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Salt & Pepper
- Tomato Sauce
- Butter
How to Make Frito Pie
This Frito Pie recipe is super simple, and doesn’t take long to make. You can have it ready in no time at all for the perfect easy dinner!
- Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet, then add in the chopped onion and cook for about 3-4 minutes. Then add in the garlic and cook about 30 seconds. Transfer the onion & garlic to a plate.
- In the same skillet, cook the ground chuck until browned. Drain fat from the beef, return it to the skillet, and then add the onion/garlic mixture back in.
- Also add in the salt & pepper, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, tomato sauce, and diced tomatoes. Mix everything together and bring it to a boil.
- Reduce heat to low, then mix in the black beans. Let everything simmer for about 15-20 minutes until the mixture has thickened (stir often).
- To assemble the casserole, place an even layer of Frito’s on the bottom of the casserole dish, top with shredded cheese, then taco meat, more cheese, and then more Frito’s.
- Bake 15-20 minutes until everything is heated through.
- Once it’s done cooking, you can add on your preferred toppings. Lettuce, olives, tomatoes, cilantro, etc. Whatever you want!
Be sure to read the recipe card for full detailed instructions.
What can you serve with Frito Pie?
This dish is a whole meal in itself. That’s what I love about casseroles: you just throw everything into one dish, bake, and then it’s ready to serve!
Of course you can also serve some other favorites along with it, which is especially helpful when you’re feeding a lot of people. No Mexican dish is complete without a side of chips and guac, salsa, or queso. And this Cheesy Mexican Rice makes a great side dish too!
Add even more delicious ingredients to your frito pie casserole:
- Chopped Lettuce
- Scallions or Diced Red Onion
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Sour Cream
- Taco Sauce
- Black Olives
- Cilantro
- Guacamole
- Hot Sauce
Looking for more casseroles? Check these out!
- French Onion Soup Casserole
- Doritos Casserole
- Taco Pie
- Garlic Bread Pepperoni Pizza Casserole
- Eggs Benedict Casserole
- Macaroni and Cheese Casserole
- King Ranch Chicken Casserole
- Chicken Pot Pie Casserole
Whether you whip this up for weeknight dinners, Cinco de Mayo, or a casual party, everyone is sure to love this recipe!
See the recipe card for details on how to make Frito Pie Casserole. Enjoy!
Try these other delicious Tex-Mex recipes for Cinco de Mayo, Taco Night, and more:
Favorite Mexican Recipes
These Favorite Mexican Recipes are easy, so delish, and sure to please!
Grilled Chicken Nachos Two Ways
Grilled Chicken Nachos are a delicious and fun way to use your grill, even in the chillier months. Piled high with cheese and favorite toppings, the grilled smokey flavor will really surprise you!
Chicken Fajitas Recipe: Queso Smothered Chicken Fajitas
Chicken Fajitas have quickly become a favorite around here, especially this Queso Smothered Chicken Fajita Recipe!
Shredded Beef Enchiladas Supreme (Best Beef Enchilada Recipe)
Shredded Beef Enchiladas are the perfect thing to serve for dinner. This is the best beef enchilada recipe I’ve ever had!
King Ranch Chicken Casserole (No Canned Soup!)
King Ranch Casserole is a classic Tex-Mex inspired dish. It’s creamy, cheesy, and sooooo delicious!
Creamy Taco Salad Bowls (with Homemade Tortilla Bowl)
TACO SALAD is one of my favorite weeknight meals. It’s simple, fresh, and easy to make. Taco Bowls are like a healthy version of my favorite Mexican dishes!
Mexican Street Corn Dip Recipe (Hot Corn Dip)
This MEXICAN STREET CORN DIP RECIPE is our favorite Hot Corn Dip! This Mexican Street Corn Recipe is a great way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo!
Frito Pie Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 pound ground chuck
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 1.25 ounce packet taco seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 15 ounce can black beans, drained
- 1 8 ounce can tomato sauce
- 1 16 ounce can petite diced tomatoes
- Kosher salt to taste
- 1 9.25 ounce bag Fritos Corn Chips
- 2-3 cups Mexican-style shredded cheese
Extras (optional):
- Chopped lettuce
- Chopped scallions or diced raw onions
- Chopped fresh tomatoes
- Black Olives
- Chopped fresh cilantro
- Sour cream
- Avocadoes or Guacamole
- Hot Sauce
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F and spray a 7x11-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Heat a large skillet, over medium heat, and add the olive oil and butter. Add the chopped onion and cook 3-4 minutes or until translucent and tender. Add the minced garlic, stir and cook 30 seconds until the garlic has blossomed and is fragrant. Transfer the onion and garlic to a paper towel-lined plate; set aside.
- Place the ground chuck in the skillet and cook until browned. Drain the fat from the beef in a mesh colander and return the beef to the skillet. Add the onion/garlic mixture, salt, pepper taco seasoning, Worcestershire Sauce, cider vinegar, tomato sauce and diced tomatoes.
- Mix well and bring the mixture to a low boil over medium heat.
- Reduce the heat to low and add the beans, mix well. Simmer, stirring often, for 15-20 minutes or until the mixture has thickened and most of the liquid has evaporated. Season to taste, with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. *Keep in mind, Fritos are very salty and so is cheese, so use salt lightly.
- To prepare the casserole:
- Place 2 cups corn chips in an even layer on the bottom of the prepared casserole dish. Top with 1 cup shredded cheese, taco meat, 1 cup cheese, and another 2 cups corn chips.
- Bake 15-20 minutes or until the casserole is heated throughout.
- Serve with chopped tomatoes, lettuce, black olives, chopped scallions, chopped cilantro and/or your other favorite taco toppings.
- Enjoy!
Video
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment!
Followed recipe exactly and it turned out really yummy! I liked the soft tortilla-like Fritos on the bottom and crunchy ones on top. And even though the Fritos were all soft the next day, the leftovers were super yummy too!
Thanks for sharing, Susanne!
This Frito pie is AWESOME!!!!
Thanks for stopping by and sharing, Richard!!
So how do you make this into a freezer meal without getting soggy Frito Chips?
Leave the fritos off until you bake it!
You forgot to add the step to add the taco seasoning.
Looks fantastic, this is definitely on my list to make this week.
I’m not a big fan of Black Beans but, I will use them because of the health benefits …
leg cramps.
muscle and bone pain.
anxiety and depressed moods.
high blood pressure.
insomnia.
fatigue.
So, I guess that cancels out anything bad right ? Lol ????
Yes, that definitely does ;). Can’t wait for you to try it, April.
This is a childhood classic. We have it often :)
Isn’t it so comforting?
This is such a family friendly recipe, I’m pinning this for later!
Let me know how you like it :)
I love making frito pie! It’s such a splurge for me but always worth it! YUM!
SO WORTH IT
You are speaking my language! I love this so much; looks delicious!
I love the language you speak!! LOL
So full of flavor – and love that frito crunch!
AGREE!