This is the perfect side dish for all your summer cookouts, potlucks, and bbqs! It's one of our favorite Fritos recipes - and a great way to use up leftover chips.
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Table of Contents
❤️ Why you'll love it
- Crunchy corn chips goodness in every bite!
- Quick and easy.
- This is definitely a crowd pleaser!
- How can you not love a recipe that's main ingredient is Fritos?
If you're looking for a summer side dish you're going to love this easy Fritos corn salad recipe. It gets its great flavor from all the fresh ingredients - and there are plenty of possible variations.
It's absolutely the easiest thing ever!
You might also like this old fashioned potato salad.
🧾 Ingredients
📖 Variations
- Make this into a main course by adding cooked ground beef or chicken.
- This delicious corn salad with Fritos is really, really, REALLY good with diced jalapenos.
- Add a can of black beans which have been drained and rinsed.
- Monterey Jack or Pepper Jack cheese work really well in this easy salad.
- If you have a taste for spicy things try the Flamin' Hot Fritos or Chili Cheese chips!
- I like mayonnaise but if you'd like to use Miracle Whip you can.
- I use frozen but you can use fresh corn or a couple of cans of sweet corn that have been well drained.
- I like to use a mixture of green, yellow, and red bell pepper.
- I like this with Pepper Jack instead of Cheddar
- You can use broken tortilla chips - try Doritos Cool Ranch
- Add a can of drained and rinsed black beans
- If you like a tangier dressing use more sour cream and less mayonnaise.
- If you like a sweeter dressing use less sour cream and more mayonnaise.
- If you like it balanced then use equal amounts. I learned this through trial and error!
- Sometimes when I make this I add a little sugar to the dressing - just a teaspoon or so. Also learned by trial and error.
🔪 Instructions
Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the green recipe card below.
- Combine corn and the other salad ingredients except the Fritos corn chips.
- Whisk the sauce ingredients together.
- Pour the sauce ingredients over the salad ingredients and give the whole thing a good stir. Chill for three hours or more if possible.
- Important! Mix in the corn chips just before serving or they will be soggy.
🎥 Video
Click on the image to watch me make this recipe from start to finish with extra tips! (Video opens in a new tab).
🥫 What to do with leftovers
Store leftover Frito corn salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Or, cover it tightly with plastic wrap.
Keep in mind that the leftovers aren't as good as the fresh salad - unless you happen to like soggy Fritos.
This recipe doesn't freeze well.
If you have leftover Frito chips you can use them up in these other delicious recipes. Waste not, want not - right?
Frito Chicken Casserole is a fun, retro recipe from the 1950s! It's a little like King Ranch Casserole.
Frito Pie: How to Make the Original Chili Pie is a football season classic! So easy!
💭 Things to know
Expert Tip: Please eat this within about 3 hours after adding the chips. After that it gets super soggy. And honestly, it's best in the first hour.
- Some people like the chips slightly crushed. The easiest way to do this is to lightly squeeze the bag.
- IF you think there might be leftovers put a bowl of Fritos on the table and add them to each serving individually. It's not the best way but there won't be any waste.
👩🍳 FAQs
Here are the questions I am most frequently asked about this recipe.
According to Frito-Lay Fritos are gluten free and neither dairy nor vegetables contain gluten. As always read labels but as far as I know this recipe is gluten free.
Yes you can. I don't think that the result is as delicious as the regular Frito corn salad with mayo but you can certainly use them.
Yes, as long as you don't add the Fritos until just before serving.
Related recipes
More easy salad recipes -
🍽️ Serve with...
Frito corn salad is perfect with any of your basic summertime foods.
Or hot dogs!
📞 The last word
This time of year I love good pasta salads but after a while I am ready for something a little different, a little out of the ordinary - like this fun salad with crunchy Fritos chips.
It's a real showstopper at potlucks, backyard BBQs, picnics, or even as a tasty side dish for your summer feast. It'll have your guests coming back for seconds. Trust me, this easy side dish is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser!
My mom was potluck famous because of this recipe.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Frito Corn Salad
Print Pin Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
Salad
- 1 pound whole kernel corn, frozen, canned, or fresh
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, grated
- 1 cup bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup red onion, diced
- ¼ cup cilantro, chopped
- ½ cup green onions, chopped
- 4 ounces chiles
- 4 slices bacon, cooked crisp, reserve grease
- 9 ¼ ounce fritos
Dressing
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ¾ cup mayo
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
- 1 teaspoon reserved bacon grease
- ½ lime
Instructions
- Mix all the salad ingredients except Fritos I a large mixing bowl.
- Set aside.
- Squeeze the lime half into a small mixing bowl, about 1 tablespoon of lime juice.
- Add the remaining salad dressing ingredients.
- Whisk the dressing ingredients together.
- Pour the dressing over the salad. Stir to coat.
- Taste and adjust seasoning. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate a few hours or overnight.
- Remove the salad from the refrigerator.
- Mix lightly.
- Add the Fritos corn chips and mix them in.
- Garnish with some sliced green onion and cilantro if desired.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Make this into a main course by adding cooked ground beef or chicken.
- Instead of just green bell pepper use a mixture with red peppers and yellow peppers. It's so much prettier!
- This delicious corn salad with Fritos is really, really, REALLY good with diced jalapenos.
- Add a can of black beans which have been drained and rinsed.
- Monterey Jack or Pepper Jack cheese work really well in this easy salad.
- If you have a taste for spicy things try the Flamin' Hot Fritos! If you have a taste for spicy things try the Flamin' Hot Fritos! You can change the flavor of this great summer salad with a different kind of Fritos every time you make it!
- Some people like the chips slightly crushed. The easiest way to do this is to lightly squeeze the bag.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
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First published April 19, 2021. Last updated May 30, 2023 for editorial improvements.
Amanda says
If using frozen corn, I’m assuming you thaw it first?
Marye says
Yes you do.
Monica says
If using fresh corn should you cook it?
Marye says
Yes, you'll want to cook it and remove it from the cob.