Sometimes it’s nice to be able to make a quick dinner with ingredients that are already on hand. Most of us keep oft used items in the pantry, and fridge. The following Have It Your Way Frito Bake gives you options to make this quick-to-put-together casserole without having to go to the grocery store.

With this recipe, you can use any leftover meat: pork, chicken, roast beef, or browned ground beef. You can also use your choice of cheese, condensed soup, and chilies.

12 Servings

1 tablespoon butter
1 small onion, chopped


1 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
Substitute: pinto beans, great northern beans, kidney beans, red beans

2 cups frozen corn
Substitute: 1 15 ounce can corn or yellow hominy

1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes and green chilies
Substitute: diced tomatoes and chipotle chilies, or plain diced tomatoes

1 4 oz. can diced green chilies
Substitute: diced jalapenos for heat or roasted diced Anaheim or pasilla peppers

1 10 3/4 ounce can cream of chicke n soup,
Substitute: cream of mushroom, cream of celery, cream of onion, cheddar cheese

1 8 oz. package cream cheese
Substitute: Neufchatel, Boursin or similar herb cheeses

4 cups cooked chicken breast, cubed or shredded
Substitute: Shredded pork or cut up pork chops, leftover pot roast or other beef, 1-2 pounds browned and seasoned ground beef, cooked Mexican chorizo sausage (well drained)

1 10 oz. package chili cheese Fritos

3 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese
Substitute: cheddar Jack, cheddar, pepper jack, queso fresco (add some cojita),

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Spray a 9" x 13" shallow baking pan with non-stick spray.
2. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat; add the onions and sauté until they soften.
3. Add the black beans, frozen corn, diced tomatoes, green chilies, and cream of chicken soup; stir. Turn the heat to low, and add the cream cheese and stir until melted. Stir in the chicken.
4. Spread half of the Fritos over the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Spread half of the chicken mixture over and top with 1 1/2 cups of cheese. Repeat the layer, ending up with the remaining 1 1/2 cups cheese.
5. Bake 30-40 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and starting to brown. Remove from the oven and let sit 20 minutes before serving.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 468 Calories from Fat 252
Percent Total Calories From: Fat 54% Protein 20% Carb. 27%

Nutrient Amount per Serving
Total Fat 28 g
Saturated Fat 13 g
Cholesterol 73 mg
Sodium 780 mg
Total Carbohydrate 31 g
Dietary Fiber 2 g
Sugars 1 g
Protein 23 g

Vitamin A 20% Vitamin C 15% Calcium 0% Iron 17%