Easy Frito Taco Pie (Crescent Dough Crust)
Easy Frito Taco Pie is a delicious dish combining classic taco flavors with the crunchy goodness of corn chips. This simple recipe is perfect for those busy weeknights when you crave a hearty meal without spending hours in the kitchen. With layers of crescent roll dough, corn chips, seasoned ground beef, sour cream, and cheese, this savory pie offers a delightful twist on traditional taco night.
What Is Taco Pie?
Taco pie is a dish that brings together taco flavors in the form of a pie. This dish consists of a crust made with crescent roll dough, a layer of corn chips, and a layer of ground beef. The crushed corn chips add a nice textural contrast. To enhance the flavors, ingredients such as taco seasoning, sour cream, and cheese are added to the top and baked for a few minutes. Then, once baked, top the pie with your favorite taco toppings. Whether served at a family dinner or an appetizer for a party, this taco frito pie will surely be a hit.
Why This Recipe Is Great
This easy Frito taco pie is great for several reasons and a go-to option for busy families needing a quick and satisfying meal. Making this dish is straightforward and takes Taco Tuesday to a new level. This dish is ideal for those hectic evenings when time is short and the family is hungry.
Time-Saving Solution: This pie only takes a few minutes to prep and doesn’t compromise on taste. The combination of ground beef, taco seasoning, and melted cheese creates the flavors of classic tacos, and the addition of corn chips adds a satisfying crunch.
Versatile: This taco pie recipe is very versatile, and you can customize it with your favorite toppings. This is the perfect recipe for taco lovers and a lot easier to eat than traditional tacos.
Perfect for Various Occasions: Whether serving this as a family dinner, a get-together, or a game day celebration, this recipe adapts seamlessly.
Ingredients Needed
The ingredients for this recipe are straightforward and found at most grocery stores. Ensure you have these items on hand, and you will be on your way to creating a dish for the entire family. Please see the printable recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and the amounts. To Prepare Easy Fritos Taco Pie, you will need the following ingredients:
Crescent Rolls – A can of refrigerated crescent roll dough serves as the base of this pie. This crescent roll crust adds a flakiness that compliments the taco filling. This is the pie crust for taco pie.
Frito Corn Chips – These crunchy corn chips are added to the base of this dish between the meat mixture and the crescent rolls. These corn chips also keep the meat mixture from making the base of the pie soggy.
Ground Beef – Ground beef makes up the taco meat for this easy dinner recipe and is added to the top of the Fritos. You will need a pound of ground beef. Lean ground beef is recommended, but use what you like best.
Taco Seasoning – You will need one packet of taco seasoning mix to mix with the ground beef for flavor.
Water – Water is used to mix the taco seasoning with the ground beef.
Sour Cream – Sour cream balances the taco meat mixture and adds a creamy and tangy element to each bite.
Shredded Cheddar Cheese – Cheese is added to the top of the sour cream and gives this pie a gooey topping. Choose your favorite cheese blend. Some good choices might be cheddar, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, or a Mexican cheese Blend.
Toppings – Toppings are optional ingredients left to your taste preferences. The best thing about toppings is your whole family can pick and choose what they like the best.
How To Make This Recipe
For the full recipe and steps for making this dish, please see the printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
- In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until it is no longer pink. Drain any fat.
- Add taco seasoning and water and cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Unroll and separate crescent dough. Place triangles into a pie dish and pinch together the perforated seams of dough.
- Add crushed corn chips on top of the dough.
- Add meat mixture.
- Add sour cream and top with cheese.
- Bake until golden brown.
Toppings For Taco Pie
The toppings for Frito Taco Pie can be varied to suit your taste preferences and add a burst of flavor, color, and freshness to the dish. Feel free to mix and match these toppings. The beauty of this dish is its versatility, which allows you to create a personalized meal. Here are a few suggestions and toppings to consider:
Salsa
Lettuce
Sour Cream
Black Olives
Green Chilies
Jalapenos
Avocados
Cilantro
For another taco recipe, be sure to check out this Quick and Easy Taco Soup. It seems to hit the spot every time.
Recipe Tips
These tips and variations are only to inspire creativity in the kitchen. Get creative and make this dish your own and pleasing to your family. If you don’t like an ingredient, substitute it or leave it out.
- Make sure to drain excess grease from the meat before adding the taco seasoning.
- Set out the toppings for all to easily customize their slice of taco pie.
- Crush corn chips before adding them to the base of the dish.
- Leave the corn chips out of the baked recipe and only add them as a topping if desired.
Recipe Variations
- If you are not a fan of the corn chips for the base, try using refried beans. Spread a thick layer on top of the crescent rolls and continue with the recipe.
- Turn this dish into a frito taco casserole. Layer all of the ingredients into a casserole dish instead of a pie plate and bake.
- Substitute ground beef for venison.
When To Serve This Dish
This dish can be served on various occasions and is suitable for many different occasions. Weeknight dinners, family gatherings, game nights, kids’ parties, or potlucks are just a few places where this dish could be served. Whether a casual weekend or a relaxed gathering, this taco bake dish provides a hassle-free and enjoyable meal.
What To Serve With This Dish
Spanish Rice, Refried Beans, Guacamole, Coleslaw, Chips and Cheese Dip, or Corn Salad would be great side dishes for this Taco Pie.
For another delicious ground beef recipe, try Beef and Sausage Chili. It’s another family-pleasing meal that comes together fast.
How To Store Leftovers
Storing leftovers is a great way to enjoy this meal again. Allow leftovers to cool and place in an airtight container or warp the baking dish with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Place into the refrigerator for 2-3 days. To Reheat Leftovers: Place leftovers in a 350-degree oven and heat for 15-20 minutes or until hot. For a faster option, you can reheat individual portions in the microwave. Place on a microwave-safe plate and heat for a few seconds until warm throughout.
Recipe FAQs
Yes. Ground turkey can be a great alternative to ground beef.
Yes. If you are not a fan of baked corn chips, omit them from the base of the recipe and add them to the top once the dish has finished cooking. This will also keep the corn chips from getting soggy.
More Easy Dinners with Ground Beef
Easy Frito Taco Pie
Ingredients
- 1 can crescent rolls 8 count
- 1½ cups fritos corn chips roughly crushed
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 package taco seasoning mix
- ½ cup water
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese or cheese of your choice
- taco toppings your choice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until it is no longer pink. Drain any fat.
- Add taco seasoning and water and cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Unroll and separate crescent dough. Place triangles into a pie dish (with the pointy ends facing the center and the wide ends hanging slightly over the top of the dish) and pinch together the perforated seams of dough.
- Add crushed corn chips to cover the crescent dough. If you need less, use less.
- Spoon the meat mixture over the top of the corn chips.
- Spread the sour cream on top of the meat and add a layer of cheese.
- Bake until golden brown about 20-25 minutes.
- Add toppings as desired.
