Easy Frito Bowls with Meat Sauce is an easy dinner that’s great for family dinners or when you have a crowd to feed. With only a few ingredients, plus your favorite toppings to choose from, it’s a crowd pleaser.
Frito Bowls with Meat Sauce is a meal I have made a lot over the years. It can be made in no time, it’s cheap to make, and it’s always a crowd pleaser.
This recipe is extremely versatile. We have the recipe that we usually use at the bottom of this post, but some of the changes you can make are:
- Less or more ground beef
- Add a can of black beans or pinto beans
- Go meatless and use only beans and/or vegetables, like onions, peppers, squash, corn, etc.
- Add drained diced tomatoes with the tomato puree if you like things a bit more chunky.
We do recommend using a good quality tomato puree that says “not from concentrate”. Recently we’ve been really enjoying Cento Tomato Puree, which you can buy in grocery stores in the canned tomato aisle or online.
For the salsa, use a salsa that you enjoy, with plenty of flavor. We recommend using a chunky salsa.
Frito Bowls with Meat Sauce also double or triple easily if you have a crowd to feed, which makes it even better for game day and tailgating.
Here’s how easy it is: in a pot, cook up 1 pound of ground beef or turkey with chopped onion. A can of tomato puree, a jar of salsa, and some chili powder are mixed in. All of this is heated up and simmered a bit. Each person puts a big handful of corn chips into their own bowl and spoons the meat mixture over them.
The best part of all is the toppings. I like to have lots of options like shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, jalapenos, avocados, and sour cream. Each person adds the toppings they like, so in our house, everyone’s bowl of Frito Bowl looks different.
Here’s the recipe for you to print — if you like this recipe, be sure to pin it on Pinterest or share on Facebook!
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Easy Frito Bowls with Meat Sauce Recipe
- Yield: About 5 servings 1x
Description
Easy Frito Bowls with Meat Sauce is an easy dinner that’s great for family dinners or when you have a crowd to feed. With only a few ingredients, plus your favorite toppings to choose from, it’s a crowd pleaser.
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef or turkey
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 29 oz can tomato puree
- 24 oz chunky salsa
- 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
- Corn Chips (like Fritos)
- Optional Toppings: shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, sour cream, salsa, avocado, guacamole, sliced jalapenos, etc.
Instructions
- In pot, cook ground beef or turkey until done; drain if necessary.
- Add salsa and tomato puree to the meat. Allow to simmer on low-medium heat until thoroughly heated, approximately 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- In individual bowls, each person places a large handful of corn chips. Top the corn chips with a spoonful or two of the meat mixture, and then with desired toppings.
Notes
–This recipe makes approximately 6 cups of meat sauce. An average serving is about 1 cup of meat sauce to a handful (or so) of corn chips. This varies though as some people may prefer more sauce.
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: American
My fellow #SundaySupper food blogger friends all have some awesome tailgating and game day recipes for you — check them out:
Warm Ups (Appetizers):
- Bacon and Onion Dip by The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
- Chicken Fajita Dip and Quesadillas by Chocolate Moosey
- Crab Rangoons by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Double Cheese Dill Scones by Vintage Kitchen Notes
- Fried Yucca With Spicy Mayo Sauce by Planted by Arkansas
- Grilled Corn Dip by Kudos Kitchen By Renee
- Loaded Grilled Nachos by Off The Eaten Path
- Homemade Potato Chips w/ Blue Cheese Sauce by girlichef
- Liptauer Cheese Spread by Magnolia Days
- Mahogany Baked Chicken Wings by The Dinner-Mom
- Mexican Corn Dip by Growing Up Gabel
- Pizza Dip by Small Wallet, Big Appetite
- Posh Pigs In a Blanket by Erica’s Recipes
- Pretzel Nuggets by I Run For Wine
- Roasted Tomatillo Salsa Verde
- Savory Baked Pinwheel’s by The Not So Cheesy Kitchen
- Sesame Glazed Cauliflower “Wings” by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
- Stuffed Banana Pepper Bites by Daily Dish Recipes
- Sweet Potato Hummus by Alida’s Kitchen
- Sweet Potato Skins by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- VJ Catch-erole by My Other City By The Bay
Game Time (Main Dishes and Sides):
- 1,2,3,4,5 Chinese Spareribs by The Urban Mrs
- Bacon Burger Sliders by Peanut Butter and Peppers
- Beef on Weck by Healthy. Delicious.
- Carrot Slaw by The Foodie Army Wife
- Cheerwine BBQ Pulled Pork by Nik Snacks
- Chicken, Bacon, Ranch Quesadillas by Cookin’ Mimi
- Chicken, Brie and Apple Turnovers by Shockingly Delicious
- Easy Grilled Chicken Caesar Sandwiches by Momma’s Meals
- French Onion Chicken Sandwiches by Foxes Love Lemons
- Frito Olé by Home Cooking Memories
- Gomoku Treasure Rice by NinjaBaking.com
- Grilled Fajita Kebabs by CuriousCuisiniere
- Green Chile Pimento Cheese Burgers by Cooking with the Cowboy
- Italian Tuna and Shells Salad by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Pressed Brick Sandwich by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Pulled Lamb Barbecue Sandwiches by The Texan New Yorker
- Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Soup by Neighborfood
- Smoky Turkey Burgers by Webicurean
- Snorker and Spicy Slaw Sandwiches by Food Lust People Love
- Grilled Tandoori Chicken by Jamil Ghar
- Tortilla Hot Dogs by La Cocina de Leslie
Overtime (Drinks and Desserts):
- Coconut Funfetti Ice Cream Cake by What Smells So Good?
- Funfetti Sugar Cookies by Pies and Plots
- Individual Elvis Pies by Treats & Trinkets
- Portuguese Sangria by Family Foodie
Michelle says
I love how easy this is! I’m going to share it!
Theresa says
Looks yummy. Pinned & sharing Thanks for joining the Inspiration Spotlight party.
Charlotte Burkholder says
Thanks for sharing with us at Family Joy Blog linkup. Sometimes the easy dishes are also favorites for your family aren’t they?
Susan OBryan says
Awesome! who does not love a bowl of Frito goodness? Thanks for bringing to the party this week!
Sara @ finditfixitorbuildit.com says
This recipe looks SO good! My whole family would eat this (which is rare, haha). Thanks for linking up at the Home Matters Link Party! We hope to see you again next week:) #HomeMattersParty
sammy @ sammyapproves.com says
I love the simplicity of Frito Boats. It is definitely an easy go to meal for moms. Thanks for sharing your unique recipe for us at the Family Joy link party. 🙂
Christine says
I love this, it’s like eating as a kid. We make this and everyone comes running. lol Thanks for sharing this at the Dishing It & Digging It Link Party.
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says
Frito pie!! Oh yum! Thanks for sharing on the What’s for Dinner Link up! (Visited an ad or two while I was here too!)
Nancy @ Whispered Inspirations says
This looks amazing. I love the crunchiness of the Frito. 😀 MMMMMM.
Anne @ Webicurean says
What fun with all those toppings! I try to avoid those corn chips because I could eat a big bag in one sitting–I have a feeling this is one of those dishes where I’d lose control lol
Constance @FoodieArmyWife says
I remember as a kid, going on a tour of the local Frito-Lay plant and seeing how they make them. I think I have seen these called “Frito Pies” 🙂
Cindys Recipes and Writings says
This screams TAILGATE!!
Lori @ Foxes Love Lemons says
I love how you changed the name over the years 🙂 Frito Ole is really cute. This looks like just the perfect tailgate food!
Bea says
What a super fun idea for any dinner!
Courtney @ Neighborfood says
This kind of reminds me of an inside out walking taco! All the flavors from the classic treat but in a more customizable form. Love it!
Sarah Reid, CNP (@jo_jo_ba) says
This totally reminds me of the pre-class dinners my friends and I would have in university! Simple, decadent comfort
Dorothy at ShockinglyDelicious says
That’s a big bowl o’ yum!
Kim@Treats & Trinkets says
What a fun dish! And I think the name is perfect. 😀
Jen @JuanitasCocina says
Oh man…my family would LOVE this! YUM!
Renee says
An open bag of Fritos is a dangerous thing to have around me. Then you go piling tasty toppings on them and wow! Love it!
Megan @ I Run For Wine says
YAY! I love this recipe. I think I need to pick up a bag of fritos at the store today!
Nicole @ Daily Dish Recipes says
Oh yum. Fritos are a total guilty pleasure for me. Add them to a recipe and I’m usually sold. This looks FANTASTIC and will definitely be on my to make list!
Wendy (The Weekend Gourmet) says
As a Texans, ANYTHING with Fritos is near and dear to my heart…this one’s going to be on my menu this football season FOR SURE!
Jennifer @ Peanut Butter and Peppers says
Yum! What a great dinner!! LOVE it!!
Lane @ Supper for a Steal says
What a great and filling dinner for a tailgate. I like recipes with a bunch of toppings and everyone gets to pick their own. It definitely makes it more fun.