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The Ultimate Quick & Cheesy Frito Pie Casserole (Weeknight Ready)

A thick, cheesy slice of baked Frito Pie casserole layered with seasoned ground meat and melted cheddar cheese.
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Make this easy Frito Pie Casserole for a satisfying, budget-friendly comfort food dinner. This recipe combines seasoned ground beef chili, crunchy Fritos, and melted cheese for a simple Tex-Mex meal perfect for busy weeknights or game day.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 packet (1 ounce) taco seasoning mix
  • 1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
  • 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 bag (9.25 ounces) Fritos corn chips, divided
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
  • 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and chopped onion. Cook, breaking up the beef, until the meat is browned and the onion is soft, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain off any excess grease.
  3. Stir the taco seasoning mix into the beef mixture. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Add the rinsed kidney beans, diced tomatoes with green chilies, tomato sauce, and water to the skillet. Bring the mixture to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. This is your hearty beef and chip bake chili base.
  5. Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in half of the Fritos chips and half of the cheddar cheese into the chili mixture until combined.
  6. Spread the chili mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.
  7. Top the chili layer with the remaining Fritos chips. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese and all of the Monterey Jack cheese over the top layer of chips.
  8. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
  9. Let the Frito Pie Casserole cool for 5 minutes before serving. Serve with your favorite best Frito pie topping ideas.

Notes

  • For a quicker meal, substitute 2 cans of your favorite ready-made chili (omit the taco seasoning, tomato sauce, and water from the recipe).
  • If you prefer a less soupy texture, drain the diced tomatoes before adding them to the chili base.
  • This recipe works well as a budget friendly casserole; stretch it further by adding an extra can of beans.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookingbycarla.com/frito-pie-ultimate-quick-cheesy-casserole/