This recipe falls squarely in the category of simple one-pot dinners that are definitely kid friendly. This Frito taco casserole combines all the flavors you normally find in walking tacos (also known as Frito pie) in an easy casserole version that is perfect for feeding a hungry family.
With tons of taco meat, chili seasonings, melted cheeses, and crunchy chips, this easy weeknight meal is going to be a family favorite. Top it off with all the taco toppings you love for a unique twist on taco night!
Are you looking for more gluten free dinner ideas? This Mexican beef and rice skillet and this delicious Tater Tot chicken pot pie casserole are two of my family's favorite recipes. Both are made in one dish for easy cleanup.
Ingredient Notes
This quick weeknight dinner recipe uses simple ingredients that can be found at any grocery store.
- Ground Beef - I have opted for 85/15 ground beef. Using beef with a little bit higher fat content adds a lot of flavor. Of course, if you want a leaner meal you can use lean ground beef, ground chicken or ground turkey instead. You can even use vegan meat crumbles if you want to make this a vegan dinner.
- Onion & Garlic - These two aromatics create the base flavor of the dish. If you don't have fresh onion or garlic on hand, you can replace the onion with 1 teaspoon onion powder and the garlic with ½ teaspoon garlic powder.
- Taco Seasoning - I always use my homemade taco seasoning mix. It's so easy to make yourself and know exactly what is going into it. If you prefer a store bought taco seasoning, that's fine too. If you're following a gluten free diet, make sure to buy seasoning that is marked gluten free since this is an ingredient that can have hidden gluten ingredients.
- Pinto Beans - I've used Bush's canned beans here which are marked gluten free. I think black beans or kidney beans would also work great in this recipe.
- Rotel Diced Tomatoes with Chilis - I love the extra heat that comes with using the tomatoes with chilis. If you want a little less spice, you can substitute plain diced tomatoes instead.
- Salsa - Use your favorite brand. This is where you can really bring the heat if you like spicy food.
- Shredded Cheese - I used Violife Mexican style vegan shredded cheese, which worked great here. If you're not dairy free, use your favorite shredded cheddar cheese or Mexican cheese blend.
- Fritos - You will need about half of a 9 ounce bag of Fritos for this recipe. As of the published date (Feb 2025), original Fritos, lightly salted, reduced fat, and Scoops are gluten free. The other flavor varieties, like chili cheese Fritos, are not gluten free. Always check your package as products can change at any time. If you don't have Fritos on hand, any type of corn chips will work as a substitute.
Add you favorite taco toppings. We like lettuce, tomatoes and sour cream on ours.
See recipe card at the bottom of this post for full ingredient list and quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- Lean Protein - Substitute ground chicken or ground turkey for the beef in this recipe. You may need to add a little oil for sauteing the meat since it is low fat.
- Make it Vegan - Replace the ground beef with vegan meat crumbles.
- No Fresh Onion or Garlic - Replace the fresh onion with 1 teaspoon onion powder and replace the fresh garlic with ½ teaspoon garlic powder.
- Less Spicy - Use plain diced tomatoes instead of Rotel tomatoes.
- No Fritos - Any type of tortilla chips will work in place of Fritos. If they are large chips, just break them into smaller pieces.
How to make Frito Taco Casserole
I make this easy Frito taco bake in my 10-inch cast iron skillet, because it can go from the stove to the oven with no issues. If you don't have an oven safe skillet, just transfer your meat mixture to a casserole dish before topping with Fritos.
STEP 1: Add the ground beef to a large oven safe skillet over medium heat. Break into pieces and cook for about 5 minutes, until partly browned.
STEP 2: Add the onion and garlic to the ground beef and continue to cook until the beef is completely browned and the onion is softened.
STEP 3: Add the taco seasoning, Rotel tomatoes, beans, and salsa to the skillet with the beef. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 5 minutes.
STEP 4: Remove the pan from heat and stir in half of the shredded cheese.
STEP 5: Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the taco chili. Do not stir in.
STEP 6: Cover the top of the casserole with Frito corn chips and bake.
Storage
Remove the corn chips and toppings from the leftover casserole before storing. If you store them together the chips will become soggy. Store the meat and bean filling in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat and top with chips and your favorite toppings.
More dinner recipes for busy weeknights:
If you try this recipe, please leave a 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 star rating and let me know how you liked it in the comments below.
Recipe
Frito Taco Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds Ground Beef
- ½ Cup Yellow Onion diced
- 3 cloves Garlic minced
- 2 Tablespoons Taco Seasoning
- 16 ounce Pinto Beans drained and rinsed
- 10 ounce Rotel Diced Tomatoes with Chilis
- ½ Cup Salsa
- 1 ½ Cups Vegan Shredded Cheese divided
- 3 Cups Fritos Corn Chips *not all flavors are gluten free
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 °F (177 °C).
- Add the ground beef to an oven safe skillet over medium heat. Break apart and cook until partly browned, about 5 minutes.1 ½ pounds Ground Beef
- Add the onion and garlic to the skillet and continue to cook until the onion is softened, about 5 minutes. Drain about half of the fat from the beef.½ Cup Yellow Onion, 3 cloves Garlic
- Add in the taco seasoning, beans, rotel, and salsa. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.2 Tablespoons Taco Seasoning, 16 ounce Pinto Beans, 10 ounce Rotel Diced Tomatoes with Chilis, ½ Cup Salsa
- Remove the pan from heat and stir in half of the shredded cheese until melted.1 ½ Cups Vegan Shredded Cheese
- Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top of the beef mixture and top with fritos.3 Cups Fritos Corn Chips
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted and the chips are toasted.
- Serve immediately with your favorite taco toppings.
Notes
- Lean Protein - Substitute ground chicken or ground turkey for the beef in this recipe. You may need to add a little oil for sauteeing the meat since it is low fat.
- Make it Vegan - Replace the ground beef with vegan meat crumbles.
- No Fresh Onion or Garlic - Replace the fresh onion with 1 teaspoon onion powder and replace the fresh garlic with ½ teaspoon garlic powder.
- Less Spicy - Use plain diced tomatoes instead of Rotel tomatoes.
- No Fritos - Any type of corn chips will work in place of Fritos. If they are large chips, just break them into smaller pieces.
Tiffany is the recipe developer, stylist and food photographer behind Well Fed Baker. As a lifelong baker who had to go gluten free and dairy free in 2016, Tiffany strives to share allergen friendly recipes that never feel like they are free from anything.
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