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Easy One-Pan Frito Pie: Hearty Ground Beef Casserole

A close-up of a hearty slice of frito pie, topped with melted cheddar cheese and corn chips.
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Make this easy Frito Pie for a quick dinner idea. This hearty, cheesy ground beef casserole uses simple ingredients for a satisfying Tex-Mex comfort food meal perfect for weeknights or game days.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes and green chilies (Rotel style)
  • 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1 packet (1 ounce) taco seasoning mix
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
  • 1 (9.25 ounce) bag Fritos corn chips
  • Optional toppings: sour cream, salsa, sliced jalapeños, chopped green onion

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and chopped onion. Cook, breaking up the beef, until the beef is browned and the onion is soft, about 6 to 8 minutes. Drain off any excess grease.
  3. Stir the rinsed black beans, kidney beans, diced tomatoes and green chilies, tomato sauce, taco seasoning, chili powder, cumin, water, salt, and pepper into the skillet with the beef mixture. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
  4. Cook the chili mixture for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, allowing the flavors to combine.
  5. Spread half of the Fritos corn chips in an even layer across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
  6. Spoon the entire chili mixture evenly over the layer of Fritos.
  7. Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of the shredded cheddar cheese over the chili layer.
  8. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
  9. Remove the dish from the oven. Top the casserole with the remaining Fritos chips and the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheese.
  10. Return the dish to the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes, or until the top layer of cheese is fully melted.
  11. Let the Frito Pie cool for 5 minutes before serving. Offer sour cream, salsa, jalapeños, and green onion for topping.

Notes

  • For a crispier texture, reserve half the Fritos to sprinkle on top just before serving, rather than layering them under the chili.
  • You can substitute canned chili for the ground beef and seasonings to make this a faster meal, reducing the cook time for the base.
  • This recipe works well as a Walking Taco Casserole alternative for feeding a crowd.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookerycommand.com/easy-frito-pie-recipe-quick-dinner/