This savory Frito Taco Pie recipe is a classic casserole-style dish that combines taco meat, cheese, and sour cream nestled between layers of fluffy crescent rolls and topped with crunchy corn Fritos. This easy-to-make dish is comfort food at its finest and perfect for an easy weeknight dinner!
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My busy family is a BIG fan of all thing’s taco flavored. As a home chef, I’m always finding ways to create the flavors we love with quick and easy dinners, and this Frito taco pie checks all the boxes!
Jump to:
- What is Frito taco pie?
- Frito Pie vs. Walking Tacos
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients You’ll Need
- How To Make Frito Taco Casserole
- Helpful Recipe Tips for Crescent Rolls Taco Pie
- Frito Taco Pie with Crescent Dough Crust Serving Suggestions
- Our Favorite Frito Taco Pie Toppings
- Storing & Freezing Frito Taco Bake
- FAQ’s
- More Taco Inspired Dinner Recipes
- Frito Taco Pie Recipe with Crescent Rolls
What is Frito taco pie?
Taco pie with Fritos is a popular, casserole-style dish that blends the crunchy texture of Fritos corn chips with the rich flavors of taco-seasoned ground beef, melted cheese, and sour cream, all layered on top of a base of fluffy crescent rolls. This dish offers a unique twist on traditional tacos, packing all the beloved taco components into a pie form that’s baked in the oven in under 30 minutes!
Frito Pie vs. Walking Tacos
Frito Pie and Walking Tacos are both casual, Tex-Mex-inspired dishes that use Frito corn chips as a key ingredient but are enjoyed in different ways.
- Frito Pie: This recipe is essentially a casserole dish where Fritos are layered with taco-seasoned ground beef, cheese, and other toppings, then baked until everything comes together into a warm, crunchy, and savory dinner that can be served right out of the oven.
- Walking tacos: These take a more individualized and portable approach. They’re assembled directly inside small, opened bags of Fritos, topped with similar taco ingredients like ground beef, lettuce, cheese, and salsa, making them customizable and easy to carry and eat on the go.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- 30-minute meal: This recipe goes from prep to plate in just 30 minutes, making it a perfect dinner option for a busy weeknight.
- 7 ingredients: It requires seven simple ingredients, most of which are pantry staples or can easily be found at the grocery store.
- Versatile: The recipe is incredibly versatile, allowing you to swap in ground turkey for beef or add any of your favorite taco toppings to customize.
- Best texture and flavor: With its combination of crispy Fritos, savory seasoned meat, and melted cheese, it has a satisfying crunch and flavor in every bite.
- Meal prep: Leftovers, if you have any, reheat well, making it great for meal prep or workweek lunches.
Ingredients You’ll Need
See printable recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts and step by step directions.
- Ground Beef – Acts as the hearty protein base of the dish, adding a rich and savory flavor with taco seasoning.
- Taco Seasoning – Infuses the ground beef with bold, Mexican-inspired spices.
- Water – Helps to evenly distribute the taco seasoning throughout the ground beef, ensuring each bite is flavorful and moist.
- Crescent Rolls – Create a soft, fluffy foundation for the pie, offering a buttery contrast to the savory toppings.
- Sour Cream – Adds a cool, creamy layer that balances the spice of the taco seasoning and adds a tangy flavor to the pie.
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese – Melts into a gooey, cheesy layer that binds the ingredients together.
- Crushed Fritos – Adds a crunchy topping that contrasts the soft layers, adding an extra dimension of texture and a salty finish.
How To Make Frito Taco Casserole
- Prepare for baking: Preheat the oven to 400 F and lightly grease a pie pan. Set aside.
- Cook the ground beef: Add the 1-pound ground beef to a large skillet over medium heat. Simmer while breaking up with a spatula until the meat is no longer pink. Drain excess fat.
- Season the beef: Pour the water into the skillet along with the packet taco seasoning (or homemade). Cook for 5 minutes until all the liquid and flavor is absorbed into the meat.
- Layer the casserole: Press the crescent rolls into the grease pie dish, unrolling the crescents and arranging the points towards the center of the pie dish. Sprinkle one cup of crushed Fritos on top, followed by the seasoned ground beef mixture, a layer of sour cream, shredded cheddar, and remaining corn chips.
- Bake and serve: Place in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let sit for 10 minutes to set before slicing and serving. Enjoy!
Helpful Recipe Tips for Crescent Rolls Taco Pie
- Drain the fat from the beef after browning to keep the dish from becoming too greasy.
- Press the crescent rolls firmly into the pie dish to create a solid base that will hold up to the weight of the toppings.
- Use freshly shredded cheddar cheese for better melting and flavor than pre-shredded varieties.
- Bake the pie until the cheese is bubbly and the edges of the crescent roll crust are golden brown to ensure everything is heated through.
- Let the Frito Taco Pie cool for a few minutes before slicing to allow it to set, making it easier to serve.
Frito Taco Pie with Crescent Dough Crust Serving Suggestions
- Pair the pie with a crisp green salad tossed for a refreshing contrast to the hearty pie.
- Serve with a portion of cilantro lime rice.
- Offer a variety of hot sauces on the table, allowing for customization of spice levels.
- Add a side of garlic roasted green beans for added nutrients.
- Serve with or refried beans for a hearty, filling meal.
- Serve smaller portions of Frito Taco Pie along with Mexican burrito roll-ups as appetizers during a game day or a party.
Our Favorite Frito Taco Pie Toppings
- Sliced jalapeños
- Diced avocados
- Sour cream
- Shredded lettuce
- Diced tomatoes
- Sliced black olives
- Chopped cilantro
- Sliced green onions
- Pickled red onions
- Crumbled queso fresco
- Salsa Verde
- Pico de Gallo
- Guacamole
- Roasted corn kernels
- Lime wedges for squeezing
- Hot Sauce
Storing & Freezing Frito Taco Bake
- Storing: Place any leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate it for up to 4 days.
- Freezing: To freeze crescent roll Frito pie, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil or place it in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 2 months. For best results, freeze the pie without the Frito topping, adding fresh Fritos after reheating.
- Reheating: Reheat Frito taco pie with ground beef in a 350°F oven for about 20 minutes if refrigerated or up to 30 minutes if frozen, until thoroughly warmed. For best results, thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating. Add fresh Fritos on top after reheating.
FAQ’s
Can I use a different type of meat instead of ground beef?
Yes, you can substitute ground beef with ground turkey, ground chicken, or even a vegetarian meat alternative. Just make sure the meat or meat substitute is cooked thoroughly before adding the taco seasoning.
What if I don’t have crescent rolls?
If you don’t have crescent rolls, you can use puff pastry as a substitute or make a simple homemade crust. The key is to create a neutral base that complements the savory filling.
Can I make Frito Taco Pie ahead of time?
Yes, you can assemble the Frito Taco Pie ahead of time and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before baking. Just add a few extra minutes to the baking time if you’re starting from cold.
More Taco Inspired Dinner Recipes
- Taco Bake
- Tater Tot Taco Casserole
- Crockpot Easy Chicken Tacos
- Chicken Taco Casserole
- Taco Cornbread Bake
This Original Frito Pie Recipe is a classic dish that has stood the test of time for good reason. It’s simple yet satisfying combination of crunchy Fritos, flavorful chili, and gooey melted cheese makes it a favorite among the whole family. Whether enjoyed at a football game or family gathering, this iconic dish is sure to please any crowd. So next time you’re in need of a delicious and easy dinner recipe, consider whipping up a batch of this timeless comfort food.
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Frito Taco Pie Recipe with Crescent Rolls
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 3 tablespoon taco seasoning * or 1 packet
- ½ cup water
- 1 can crescent rolls * 8 count
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup cheddar cheese *shredded
- 2 cups Fritos *crushed, divided
Instructions
- In a skillet, cook meat over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain fat.
- Add in taco seasoning and water. Cook mixture for about 5 minutes, or until all liquid is absorbed.
- Meanwhile, in a lightly greased 9-inch pie dish, pressed crescent rolls into bottom to form crust. *Unroll crescents and lay points towards center of pie dish.
- Sprinkle one cup of crushed chips on the crust.
- Place meat on top of corn chips.
- Spread the sour cream evenly over the meat.
- Sprinkle the cheese on top of the sour cream.
- Sprinkle remaining corn chips on top of cheese.
- Place in a preheated oven, 400, and bake 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve!
Nutrition
Deberah says
Wanted to make your recipe for the Taco stuffed shells however does not specify what to do with the salsa or taco sauce. Do you bake the salsa in with the shells or just use it as a topping?? What about the taco sauce? Will wait for your response before making this. It sure sounds yummy!
Kristin says
Oops, so sorry about that! So glad you caught that! I have corrected the recipe, so hopefully it isn’t missing steps anymore!! Thanks and enjoy!