Frito Taco Bake: Quick & Flavorful Tex Mex Casserole

This Frito Taco Bake is a quick and easy meal that is packed with flavor! Taco seasoned ground beef combined with a cheesy sauce and Fritos; this walking taco casserole is comfort food at its finest. Perfect for busy weeknights and lazy weekend meals!

Photo byThe Cookin' Chicks

If you love tacos, enchiladas, and good ol’ Tex Mex, you have come to the right place! This recipe is very similar to walking tacos, only in casserole form. With so many topping options, this Frito Taco Casserole is fully customizable!

Why You’ll Love this Fritos Taco Bake

• Incredibly easy to make– using simple ingredients, this taco bake casserole is quick to prepare, fool proof, and family approved.
• Fully Customizable– with so many tasty topping options to choose from, this can be made to fit each and everyone’s tastes.
• Great for potlucks and large gatherings– if you are feeding large crowds, simply double this recipe! Great for game day, football season, and more!
• Only 7 ingredients needed– a lot of the ingredients needed to make this cheesy casserole; you may already have on hand!
• Packed with flavor– if you love salty and savory meals with a Tex Mex flair throughout, this dish is for you!

Photo byThe Cookin' Chicks

What is the difference between a Walking Taco and a Frito Pie Bake

Although both recipes are quite similar, there are several differences that set this Frito Bake apart!

• Walking Tacos usually consists of seasoned taco meat, traditional taco toppings, and Fritos combined in individual bags of corn chips or Doritos. This recipe is more of a casserole style where things are layered and spooned onto plates.
• Frito Taco Bake has a cheese sauce layered over the corn chips and seasoned meat. Walking Tacos typically use shredded cheese rather than a cheese sauce.
• This recipe cooks together in the recipe whereas Walking Taco is made on the stovetop in a skillet.
• You may hear this Frito Taco Bake also called Walking Taco Bake with Fritos, Taco Pie with Fritos, or Frito Casserole! Different names, but same great flavor!

Photo byThe Cookin' Chicks

Ingredients for easy Frito Taco Bake

• Beef– I use ground beef, however, ground turkey works great too. This provides the protein to your meal.
• Taco Seasoning– I love using homemade taco seasoning in my recipes to control the amounts.
• Water– this combines with the taco seasoning to fully coat the meat.
• Fritos– you can use Original, however, using chili cheese Fritos corn chips adds a great addition of flavor.
• Cheddar Cheese Soup– typically you can find this by the other canned goods, I use Campbell’s brand.
• Milk– any type works, you will combine this with the cheese soup to make the cheesy layer.
• Mozzarella Cheese– freshly shredded is best. You can also use Pepperjack, Colby Jack, or Mexican blend cheese.

Photo byThe Cookin' Chicks

How to make this Taco Bake Recipe with Fritos

1. Brown beef or turkey in a large skillet over medium-high heat until no longer pink. Drain excess grease and stir in the taco seasoning and water.
2. Simmer on low heat for about 5 minutes, or until liquid is absorbed and meat is thoroughly coated in seasoning.
3. Layer chili cheese Fritos on the bottom of and 8 x 8 baking dish. Place seasoned ground beef mixture over Fritos.
4. In a saucepan, heat cheddar cheese soup and milk over low heat. Once warm, pour cheese mixture on top of meat.
5. Sprinkle mozzarella evenly over cheese and place pan in preheated oven, 350, for about 12-14 minutes.
6. Remove casserole dish from oven and scoop desired amount onto plate. Top with favorite toppings!

Photo byThe Cookin' Chicks

Topping Options for this Frito Taco Bake with Ground Beef

With so many fun options to choose from, you can’t go wrong. Make this your own! Here are just a few of our favorite taco toppings:

• Sour Cream
• Salsa
• Sliced Black Olives
• Tomatoes
• Avocado
• Guacamole
• Diced Red Onions
• Jalapenos or Green Chiles
• Pico de Gallo
• Cilantro
• Chopped Green Onions
• Shredded Lettuce

Photo byThe Cookin' Chicks

Pro Tips and Substitutions

• If you aren’t a fan of Fritos corn chips, you can also use tortilla chips or any flavor of Doritos.
• Ground chicken can be used in place of the beef or turkey.
• To add more flavor to your meat mixture, you can use additional chili powder or garlic powder.
• Freshly grated cheese is best as compared to packaged pre-shredded cheeses. An anti-clumping additive is placed on pre-shredded bagged cheese to prevent clumping, and this causes the cheese not to melt evenly.
• For an added protein boost, black beans or Pinto beans are a great addition to the meat mixture.

Photo byThe Cookin' Chicks

Storage and Freezing Instructions

• Refrigerator: once leftovers are fully cooled, place in an airtight container in your fridge up to 3 days. The corn chips may get a little soggy, but the flavors will still be great. Reheat in the microwave.
• Freezer: unfortunately, I do not recommend freezing this meal as the chips will get soggy and mushy. You can freeze the meat mixture and thaw once ready to use in this taco casserole recipe.

FAQ’s

How do I avoid the Frito chips from getting soggy?

The Fritos do get soft in this bake because of all the ingredients added on top. However, you can always add additional chips to the top just before serving for an added crunchy texture.

How do I make this spicy?

You can add hot sauce and jalapenos to the bake or as a topping. You can also add Chipotle pepper or red pepper flakes when seasoning the ground beef.

Is this Taco Bake gluten free?

Yes, since I use homemade taco seasoning, I am able to control each, and every ingredient added to ensure its gluten free for those needed. If using packaged seasoning, just be sure to read the ingredients as some aren’t naturally gluten free.

Exact Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef of turkey
• 1 package taco seasoning or 3 tablespoon homemade taco seasoning
• 2/3 cup water
• chili cheese fritos
• 1/2 can cheddar cheese soup
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
• Toppings desired: salsa, sour cream, onion, tomato, avocado, etc