A cozy chili cheese casserole topped with crunchy corn chips, this one-skillet Frito pie recipe comes together with about 15 minutes of prep!
If you’re looking for even more recipes with ground beef, be sure to try this one-skillet “egg roll in a bowl,” the easiest burrito recipe, this Dutch oven lasagna, and a pot of classic beef chili, too!
A Frito Chili Pie Recipe for Busy Nights
Frito pie is a classic comfort food made with chili, cheese, and corn chips, often served as a casserole or in mini Fritos bags (known as “walking tacos”). While its exact origin is unclear, Texas lays early claim to the dish with a recipe dating back to 1949.
You’ll love the ease of this hearty dish! It takes advantage of ground beef and just a handful of other pantry staples. You can prep the meal in advance, or throw it together in minutes when you need dinner on the table fast. The delicious combination of zesty meat, creamy cheese, and crunchy chips makes this Frito chili pie recipe an appealing option for everyone at the table!
Made it – yummy! Perfect Super Bowl food! Quick & easy to make. My husband loved it & so did I.
– Sheryl
Ingredient Notes and Tips for Success
- Drain off some of the excess liquid from the top of the chili beans so that the meat filling isn’t too runny. You don’t want to drain off all of the liquid from the can because you want some of that left to moisten and flavor your chili.
- This Frito pie requires the BIG (27 ounce) can of chili beans. If you can’t find the big can, you can substitute with two smaller 15-ounce cans.
- If you don’t have a large oven-proof skillet, you can transfer the ground beef mixture to an 11 x 7-inch or 9 x 13-inch casserole dish. Then top with cheese and Fritos and bake the casserole in the oven as instructed.
- I’ve shown big “Scoops” Fritos here, but you can use any bag of Fritos that you prefer.
How to Make Frito Pie
- Brown the ground beef, onion and garlic in an oven-proof skillet. Drain off the excess fat.
- Add chili powder, chili beans, and diced tomatoes. Simmer for about 10 minutes. This gives the filling a chance to thicken so that you don’t end up with a watery base for your casserole. Stir, and then season with salt and pepper.
- Top with grated cheese and Fritos.
- Bake in a 350°F oven for about 15-20 minutes, or just until the casserole is bubbly and the cheese is melted. It’s all about the toppings! Don’t forget to set out an array of tasty additions to finish off your meal. Good Frito pie (or walking taco) toppings include sour cream, diced avocado or this easy guacamole recipe, salsa, diced red onion, sliced green onion, jalapeños, shredded lettuce, sliced black olives, and extra Fritos.
Serving Suggestions
Serve the Frito pie with Southern succotash, corn salad, roasted broccoli, traditional coleslaw, vinegar coleslaw, marinated cucumbers, Jiffy cornbread with creamed corn, or a green salad dressed in creamy buttermilk dressing.
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
Watch How to Make It
Frito Pie
Equipment
- 11-12 inch cast iron skillet (or braiser)
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic (or 1 teaspoon dried garlic powder)
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 (27 ounce) can chili beans (drain just a little bit of the liquid off of the top of the can, but don’t fully drain off all of the liquid from the beans)
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can petite diced tomatoes, drained
- Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 cups Fritos corn chips (about 3 ounces)
- 1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese, or more to taste
- Optional garnish: sliced green onion; sour cream; diced avocado or guacamole; salsa; chopped fresh cilantro; lime wedges
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Brown the ground beef, onion, and garlic in a large, oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat until the beef is no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Drain and return the beef mixture to the skillet.
- Stir in the chili powder, beans, and tomatoes. Simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently, to allow the flavors to come together and the liquid to thicken. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Sprinkle the grated cheddar over top. Top with corn chips.
- Bake, uncovered, until the casserole is warm and the cheese is melted, about 15-20 minutes. Garnish with optional toppings and serve immediately.
Notes
- If you don’t have a large oven-proof skillet, you can transfer the ground beef mixture to an 11 x 7-inch or 9 x 13-inch baking dish before topping with cheese and chips.
- Bake the casserole just until it’s heated through. All of the ingredients are already cooked, so you just want to warm it in the oven until bubbly.
Nutrition
Preparation and Storage
- This is a great make-ahead dinner. You can assemble the casserole up to 24 hours in advance and keep it covered in the refrigerator until ready to bake. Wait to add the Fritos until just before baking so that they don’t get soggy. When ready to bake, allow the dish to sit on the counter and come to room temperature for at least 30-60 minutes.
- You can freeze the casserole before baking (minus the corn chips on top). Wrapped tightly, the assembled casserole will keep in the freezer for up to 2 months.
- Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- How to Reheat: If reheating an entire casserole, cover the dish loosely with foil and bake in a 350°F oven until warmed through (about 20-30 minutes). Individual portions can be reheated in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
Frito Pie Recipe Variations
- Swap out the ground beef and use ground turkey or ground chicken instead.
- Instead of chili powder, flavor the ground beef mixture with taco seasoning.
- Add extra seasonings for even more flavor. Good options include cumin, oregano, and smoked paprika. Make it spicy with hot sauce or cayenne pepper, too.
- For a heartier dish, layer cooked white rice or Mexican rice in a serving bowl before topping with the chili, cheese, and corn chips.
- Any good melting cheese will work in this recipe. In lieu of the cheddar, try mozzarella, white cheddar, Colby, cheddar Jack, or Pepper Jack.
This was such a tasty recipe! I loved it. We put a ton of different spices in it but followed the rest to a T. Such good leftovers too! Thanks so much for sharing this!
– Brook
More Easy Ground Beef Casserole Recipes
Cornbread and Ground Beef Casserole
58 minutes mins
Hamburger Casserole with Noodles
40 minutes mins
Beef Stroganoff Casserole
50 minutes mins
Originally published in August, 2019, this post was updated in July, 2025.
This sounds asssoooo delicious. I am going to have to try this recipe next week, for sure. My daughter was just asking me about this dish a few days ago, so I guess it’s that time again.
Awesome! I hope you and your daughter love it! 🙂
How can you rate it before you make it?
Made it – yummy! Perfect Super Bowl food! Quick & easy to make. My husband loved it & so did I
Thanks, Sheryl! I’m so happy to hear that!
When you’re looking for the best canned meat for chili dogs, it’s important to check on the ingredients used and the meat that you buy. If you can afford it, try to go for the higher quality meat and avoid some of the cheaper canned meats. When it comes to making a tasty meal, you don’t want to skimp on anything, especially when it comes to the taste of your chili dogs.
Can you freeze leftover frito chili pie and then add fresh ingredients, ie chips, tomatoes sauce to freshen and serve to get the original goodness
Hi, Bonnie! Yes, that should work really well!
This was such a tasty recipe! I loved it. We put a ton of different spices in it but followed the rest to a T. Such good leftovers too! Thanks so much for sharing this!
Thank you, Brook!