This is the perfect side dish for all your summer cookouts, potlucks, and bbqs!

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❤️ Why you'll love it
- Crunchy, tangy, salty goodness in every bite!
- Quick and easy.
- Everyone goes crazy over this easy recipe.
- 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

- You can use plain Fritos or give your corn salad an extra kick with bbq or chili Fritos.
- 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 corn.
- I like to use a mixture of green, yellow, and red bell pepper.
🔪 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.
- Mix in the corn chips just before serving.
🎥 Video
Click on the image to watch me make this recipe from start to finish with extra tips! (Video opens in a new tab).

🥫 Storage
Store leftover Frito corn salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
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.

📖 Variations
- Use Fritos Chili Cheese chips
- 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
- Leave the Fritos out and use the corn mixture as a dip for the Fritos!
💭 Things to know
Expert Tip: 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.
👩🍳 FAQs
Here are the questions I am most frequently asked about this recipe.
Sure! You can substitute Ranch dressing for the mayonnaise and sour cream.
Yes you can. I don't think that the result is as deliciousas the regular Frito corn salad with mayo but you can certainly use them.
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, as long as you don't add the Fritos until just before serving.

Related recipes
🍽️ Serve with...
Frito corn salad is perfect with any of your basic summertime foods.
Or hot dogs!
📞 The last word
Here's my experience with this recipe...
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
This time of year I love good pasta salads but after awhile I am ready for something a little different, a little out of the ordinary - like this fun salad with crunchy Fritos chips.
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! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Frito Corn Salad
Print Pin Recipe SaveEquipment Needed
Ingredients
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
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Instructions
Step one
- Mix all the salad ingredients except Fritos I a large mixing bowl.
- Set aside.
Step two
- 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.
Step three
- Pour the dressing over the salad.
- Stir to coat.
- Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate a few hours or overnight.
Step four
- 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
- 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
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You'll need the following items to make this recipe successfully.
- Large mixing bowl ( I love this 3 piece set of Pyrex nesting bowls because I use them for all kinds of things - they're even microwave safe!)
- Small bowl for mixing dressing
- Cutting board (This organic bamboo cutting board has 3 compartments to keep the stuff separate as you cut and chop it - and it's BPA free.)
- Knife
- Spoon for mixing
- Whisk
- Measuring cups and spoons
First published April 19, 2021. Last updated August 28, 2022 for more tips and variations.
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