March 14, 2023
Review RecipeFrito Pie

Table of Contents
This popular family-friendly Frito pie recipe is the perfect choice for a busy weeknight dinner. It’s loaded with hearty chili, melted cheese, and corn chips, plus it has plenty of room to add all of your favorite toppings.

Frito Pie Ingredients

You’ll need:
- 1 pound of ground beef
- 1 onion, diced finely
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 packet of taco seasoning
- 1 cup chili sauce
- 1 cup medium salsa
- 1 (15-ounce) can of kidney beans, rinsed
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1½ cups Monterey jack cheese, shredded
- 1½ cups cheddar cheese, shredded
- 4 cups corn chips
SUBSTITUTIONS AND ADDITIONS
VEGGIES: You can add any veggies you’d like to this Frito chili pie recipe. It’s easy to mix in a wide variety of extras, including corn, diced tomatoes, jalapeños, green chilies, black olives, or bell peppers.
TOPPINGS: One thing I love is how easy it is to offer a variety of toppings for everyone in the family to choose from. Our favorites include guacamole, sour cream, salsa, queso, chopped red or white onions, green onions, diced tomatoes, jalapeños, pico de gallo, and shredded lettuce.
CHEESE: You could use a Mexican blend on this dish as well, or top with a Mexican crema as well.
BEANS: I prefer kidney beans in this easy recipe, but you could also use chili beans, pinto beans, or black beans.
How To Make This Frito Pie Recipe
STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Spray a 9×13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
STEP TWO: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook and crumble the ground beef until no longer pink. Drain excess grease and return the beef to the skillet. Add the onions and garlic. Continue to cook for 5 to 7 minutes, or until the onions are soft and tender.
OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS
Ground beef can be browned ahead of time and stored in the fridge or freezer so that it is ready to add to your recipe.

STEP THREE: Add the taco seasoning, chili sauce, salsa, kidney beans, chili powder, pepper, salt, onion powder, and garlic powder. Stir well and let simmer for 3 to 5 minutes.

STEP FOUR: Pour the beef mixture into the greased dish. Use a spatula to spread the mixture evenly.

STEP FIVE: Top the meat mixture with half of the Monterey jack and cheddar cheeses. Sprinkle corn chips on top of shredded cheese. Top the corn chips with the remaining cheese.

STEP SIX: Place the baking dish in the oven and let cook for about 10 to 12 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted.
PRO TIP:
Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to check your Frito pie at the lower end of the recommended baking time.

How To Serve
Serve this easy dinner recipe with all of your favorite taco toppings, including Spanish rice, guacamole, salsa, and a dollop of sour cream on top. Our Mexican corn salad would be a great way to add a little extra freshness to your meal.
Be sure to try our ground beef stroganoff and tatertot casserole as well!
MORE DINNER RECIPES
Storage
IN THE FRIDGE: Leftovers of this Frito pie casserole can be kept for three days in an airtight container in the fridge. You can reheat it in the oven or individual portions in the microwave.
IN THE FREEZER: To freeze, prepare up to the point where you add the cheese while leaving off the chips, and then wait for it cool. Store covered in the freezer for up to three months.

Your family will love this easy Frito pie recipe with its hearty ground beef, gooey cheese, bold flavors, and crunchy Frito chips. Ready in just half an hour, it’s a great quick dinner option for busy weeknights.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
You can use any type of beans you prefer or have on hand for this great recipe. Pinto beans, black beans, or chili beans would all taste delicious.
We don’t find this dish very spicy, but you could reduce or eliminate spices if you are concerned about the spice.
Using canned chili or leftover chili would be a great way to speed up the prep time for this simple dish. The end result will still be delicious, no matter how you prepare it.
More Recipes You’ll Love
- Classic Meatloaf
- Cheeseburger Casserole
- Hamburger Soup
- Doritos Casserole
- Creamy Beef and Shells
- Beef Stroganoff
- Taco Spaghetti
- Cheeseburger Pie
- Taco Bake
- Shepherds Pie

Frito Pie
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 onion, diced finely
- 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
- 1 package taco seasoning
- 1 cup chili sauce
- 1 cup medium salsa
- 15 ounce kidney beans, rinsed
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1½ cups Monterey jack cheese, shredded
- 1½ cups cheddar cheese, shredded
- 4 cups corn chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook and crumble ground beef until no longer pink.
- Drain grease and return beef to skillet. Add onions and garlic. Continue to cook for 5 to 7 minutes, or until onions are soft and tender.
- Add taco seasoning, chili sauce, medium salsa, kidney beans, chili powder, pepper, salt, onion powder, and garlic powder. Stir well and let simmer for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Pour the meat mixture into the greased baking dish. Use a spatula to spread the mixture evenly.
- Top the meat mixture with half of the Monterey jack and cheddar cheeses. Sprinkle corn chips on top of shredded cheese. Top the corn chips with the remaining cheese.
- Place the baking dish in the oven and let cook for about 10 to 12 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted.
- Serve with your favorite toppings and enjoy!
Notes
- Ground beef can be browned ahead of time and stored in the fridge or freezer so that it is ready to add to your recipe to save time.
- Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to check your Frito pie at the lower end of the recommended baking time.
Comments
Jill says
Could I leave out the kidney beans?
Layne Kangas says
Yes, you could! Enjoy!
Kendra says
Hi. What do you mean by “chili sauce”. Like Siracha? 2 cups would be really hot
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Kendra – it’s just one cup of chili sauce for the recipe. There are several brands but it’s actually chili sauce, it’s not siracha. It’s in the condiment aisle. Hope you enjoy!
Mary says
Can I split the recipe in 2 8×8 pans?
Layne Kangas says
Yes, it probably could!
Melissa says
Could I replace kidney beans with pinto beans or would still get too mushy?
Layne Kangas says
You could swap out! Enjoy 🙂
Lyn says
Is this recipe Spicy? If so, how Spicy? I can’t take any heat/kick, I don’t like HOT Foods. Please reply real soon, Thanks! By the way, your Food Pic looks real Scrumptious🤗. I can’t wait to try this, hopefully! Thank you.
Layne Kangas says
I don’t think this is very spicy, but everyone’s preferences are different. You could reduce or eliminate spices if you are concerned about the spice. Enjoy!
Vicki says
Can chili beans be substituted for the chili sauce and drained beans?? I Love all your casserole type dishes. Very cost effective & budget friendly. Its so much easier to make a big pot and share or freeze. Thanks Vicki
Layne Kangas says
I haven’t tried swapping them our for chili beans so I don’t know if any other adjustments would need to be made, but I think it would work. So glad you’re enjoying the recipes! 🙂
Marquetta says
I made it for dinner and my husband and I loved it . I will for sure make it again.
Judy Lamond Dawson says
I made this for supper this evening I a friend and husband liked it very much easy tasty will make again for sure
Sandy says
If I want to double this recipe can it still be made in the 9×13 dish or would I need to make it in 2 separate dishes?
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Sandy – I would make it in two separate dishes, enjoy!