Description
Chicken Frito Pie is a comforting and flavorful casserole featuring golden-browned chicken breasts simmered in a spicy tomato and bean sauce, layered with crunchy Fritos corn chips and melted cheese. Baked until bubbly, this dish combines Tex-Mex flavors with a satisfying crispy texture, topped with classic garnishes like sour cream, pickled jalapeños, and guacamole for a crowd-pleasing meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Sauce
- 1 tbsp. neutral oil
- 4 (8-oz.) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced, plus more, finely chopped, for serving
- 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 (14.5-oz.) fire-roasted tomatoes with green chiles
- 1 (4.5-oz.) can chopped green chiles
- 1 (1.25-oz.) McCormick hot chili seasoning packet or taco seasoning
- 1 (15-oz.) can black or kidney beans, drained, rinsed
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken stock or broth
Layer and Toppings
- Cooking spray
- 9 oz. Fritos Corn Chips, divided (from an 18-oz. bag), plus more for serving
- 6 oz. shredded fiesta blend cheese
- 4 oz. sharp cheddar, shredded
- Sour cream, for serving
- Thinly sliced scallions, for serving
- Pickled jalapeños, for serving
- Pico de gallo, for serving
- Guacamole, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Brown Chicken: Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 375ºF. Heat 1 tablespoon of neutral oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Season the boneless, skinless chicken breasts with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, then place in a single layer in the skillet. Cook, turning once halfway through, until both sides are golden brown, about 5 minutes per side.
- Sauté Onion and Garlic: Move the chicken to one side of the skillet and add the thinly sliced large yellow onion. Season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 7 minutes. Add the finely chopped garlic and cook while stirring until fragrant, about 1 more minute.
- Make the Sauce: Stir in the fire-roasted tomatoes with green chiles, canned chopped green chiles, and the hot chili seasoning packet. Add the drained and rinsed black or kidney beans, then pour in 1 cup of low-sodium chicken stock. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is slightly thickened and reduced, about 10 to 15 minutes. Taste and season with salt as needed.
- Prepare Fritos Base: Lightly spray a 13″ x 9″ baking dish with cooking spray. Spread 3 cups (about 4.5 oz.) of Fritos corn chips evenly on the bottom of the dish.
- Chop Chicken and Combine: Transfer the browned chicken to a cutting board and chop into bite-sized pieces. Return these pieces to the sauce in the skillet and stir to combine thoroughly.
- Assemble First Layer: Spoon half of the chicken and sauce mixture over the Fritos layer. Sprinkle 3 oz. of shredded fiesta blend cheese and 2 oz. of shredded sharp cheddar evenly over the sauce.
- Add Second Fritos Layer and Remaining Toppings: Scatter 3 more cups (about 4.5 oz.) of Fritos over the cheese layer. Top with the remaining chicken sauce and then sprinkle with the rest of the fiesta blend and sharp cheddar cheeses.
- Bake the Frito Pie: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake until the cheese has melted and the pie is hot throughout, about 5 to 8 minutes.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven and top with additional Fritos, finely chopped onion, sour cream, sliced scallions, pickled jalapeños, pico de gallo, and guacamole as desired. Serve hot.
Notes
- The recipe can be adjusted in spice level by selecting mild or hot chili seasoning packets.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute the chicken with cooked vegetables or plant-based protein and use vegetable stock.
- To make it quicker, you can use pre-cooked rotisserie chicken.
- If you prefer, swap Fritos with other corn chip varieties, but Fritos provide the signature crunch.
- Sour cream and guacamole add rich creaminess, but can be omitted or replaced with Greek yogurt and avocado slices for a lighter option.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Keywords: Chicken Frito Pie, Tex-Mex casserole, Fritos casserole, cheesy chicken casserole, spicy chicken dish
