Frito Pie

When I first had Frito Pie after I moved to Texas, I knew I had to give it my Grandbaby Cakes flair. I hooked it up with the classic beef and bean base but then I jazzed it up with southwest seasonings and lots of cheesy and Fritos. is a Southwestern/Tex-Mex classic, y’all. Inspired by the OG Frito pie recipe, Plus instead of serving it in a mini Fritos bag, I go big with a baking dish! But don’t let the name fool ya – this ain’t really pie. It’s more like a taco casserole (like my Dorito casserole!) that’s packed with so much savory goodness boos. Seconds will be served, I guarantee you that!

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How to make Frito Pie

Step 1: Crush the fritos and layer them

1. Reserve a cup of Fritos and gently crush them. Set aside.
2. Layer in about half of the remaining Fritos, completely covering the bottom of a baking dish.

Step 2: Cook the filling

1. Add olive oil, onion, and bell pepper to a large skillet. Season with kosher salt and cook over medium-high heat until just starting to caramelize.
2. Add garlic and spices and continue to cook for a minute.
3. Add ground beef and break it up into small chunks. Cook until beef is almost cooked through.
4. Add in diced tomatoes, Ranch beans, enchilada sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. Continue cooking until the sauce starts to thicken, but is still thin enough that when you run a spoon through it, it comes back together fairly quickly.
5. Add corn and cilantro.
6. Stir together, and remove from heat.

step 3: assemble the casserole and bake

1. Pour about half of the meat mixture on top of the Fritos layer.
2. Layer on half of the cheese.
3. Layer on the remaining half of the Fritos.
4. Sprinkle the remaining half of the cheese.

5. Place in oven and bake until the mixture is hot and bubbling slightly. Then, remove from the oven and garnish with green onions. Let sit for a few minutes, garnish each serving with crushed Fritos, and enjoy!

Recipe Tips

1. Drain the Excess Moisture: After cooking the ground beef and veggies, drain off any excess liquid so the filling won’t get watery.
2. One-Pot: Use an ovenproof skillet for the whole thing. Cook everything up on the stovetop, then slide that same skillet right into the oven.
3. Don’t Overbake: Most of the ingredients are already cooked, so you just need to heat it until it’s hot and bubbly. Overbaking can dry it out.
4. Rest Before Serving: Let your casserole sit for about 5 minutes after it comes out of the oven so it sets up and the flavors intensify more.

Serving Suggestions

• Sides: Serve along with some Mexican rice or a side of red beans.
• Dips: Whip up some homemade salsa verde or a fresh batch of guacamole.
• Bread: You can’t go wrong with some Mexican cornbread or a basket of warm, buttery hot water cornbread. Perfect for soppin’ up everything.

Recipe Help

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can prep the beef and bean mixture a day or two in advance. Just store it in the fridge, and when you’re ready to bake, layer it with the Fritos and cheese, then pop it in the oven.

Can I make this easy Frito pie recipe vegetarian?

Yep, you can! Swap out the ground beef for a meatless alternative like crumbled tofu or a plant-based ground meat substitute. You can also add extra beans or veggies to bulk it up.

More favorite casserole recipes

• Squash Casserole
• Lemon Chicken and Rice Casserole
• Easy Breakfast Casserole Recipe (With How To Video)
• Dorito Casserole
• Broccoli Cheese Casserole
• Biscuits and Gravy Casserole
• Southwestern Chicken Casserole

*Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating and leave comments below!* Post a photo of how your version of the recipe came out on Instagram (using #grandbabycakes)!!