Description
BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Frito Pie is the ultimate comfort food! Crispy Fritos, savory beef and bacon, tangy BBQ sauce, and melted cheese baked together. Easy recipe perfect for game day or family dinners!
Ingredients
For the Cheeseburger Filling
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 6–8 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup ketchup
- ½ cup BBQ sauce (your favorite brand)
- 2 tablespoons mustard (yellow or brown)
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar (optional, for extra sweetness)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
For the Pie Layer
- 1 large bag (about 9–10 oz) Fritos corn chips (or similar corn chips)
- 2–3 cups shredded cheddar cheese (or Mexican blend)
Optional Toppings
- Sliced green onions
- Pickled jalapeños
- Diced tomatoes
- Sour cream
Instructions
In a large skillet over medium heat, add the chopped bacon. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the bacon is crispy and the fat has rendered—this usually takes about 5–7 minutes. Now add the ground beef right into the skillet with that beautiful bacon. Break the meat up with a spatula and cook until browned and no longer pink, about 8–10 minutes. Drain excess grease if there’s more than a couple tablespoons (a little fat is flavor!).
Stir in the diced onion and cook about 3–4 minutes until softened and translucent. You’ll start to smell that amazing aroma! Add the minced garlic and cook another 1 minute until fragrant. Don’t let the garlic burn—it can turn bitter quickly.
Stir in the ketchup, BBQ sauce, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar (if using). Season with salt and black pepper. Give everything a good stir and let it simmer for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is thick and well combined. This is where the magic happens! Taste and adjust seasonings as desired—more BBQ for sweetness, more mustard or Worcestershire for tang. This is YOUR masterpiece!
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Spread about half of the bag of Fritos evenly in the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish—don’t be shy, make a good crunchy foundation! Spoon the BBQ cheeseburger mixture over the chips in an even layer, spreading it gently so you don’t break all the chips. Top with the remaining Fritos, then sprinkle shredded cheese evenly over the top, making sure to get cheese in every corner.
Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake 10–15 minutes, until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly. Keep an eye on it—you want golden, melted cheese, not burnt edges!
Remove from the oven and let cool 5 minutes. Sprinkle with optional toppings like sliced green onions, pickled jalapeños, diced tomatoes, or a dollop of sour cream. Serve warm and scoop with a spoon or fork.
Notes
- Taste as you go: The beauty of this recipe is you can adjust the sauce to YOUR preferences before baking
- Double the batch: This freezes beautifully, so make two and freeze one for later!
- Cheese hack: Pre-shredded cheese is convenient, but freshly shredded melts better (it doesn’t have anti-caking agents)
- Common mistake to avoid: Don’t overbake! Once the cheese is melted, you’re done. Overbaking makes the chips too soft
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop and Baking
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex