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Home » Recipes » Side Dish Recipes

Frito Corn Salad Recipe

Published: Aug 28, 2022 Last Updated: Oct 9, 2022 by Marye 1432 words. | About 8 minutes to read this article.

Frito Corn Salad is a delicious combination of corn kernels, bell peppers, onions, cheese, and Fritos corn chips covered in a creamy taco flavored dressing. It's salty, crunchy, creamy, and your new family favorite!
Total time 3 hours 10 minutes
Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
Bowl of Frito salad with a text overlay for Pinterest.
Overhead image of Frito corn salad with a text overlay for Pinterest. Second image.

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

Frito corn salad in a white serving bowl with text overlay.
Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why you'll love it
  • 🧾 Ingredients
  • 🔪 Instructions
  • 🎥 Video
  • 🥫 Storage
  • 📖 Variations
  • 💭 Things to know
  • 👩‍🍳 FAQs
  • Related recipes
  • 🍽️ Serve with...
  • 📞 The last word
  • Frito Corn Salad
  • 🥄 Equipment

❤️ 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

Labeled Frito salad ingredients.
Simple ingredients go into this great side dish!
  • 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.

Step by step images showing how to make Frito salad.
Just four easy steps to make the Frito corn salad recipe.
  1. Combine corn and the other salad ingredients except the Fritos corn chips.
  2. Whisk the sauce ingredients together.
  3. Pour the sauce ingredients over the salad ingredients and give the whole thing a good stir. Chill for three hours or more if possible.
  4. 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).

Clickable cover image for Frito Corn Salad video on YouTube.
Watch the video on YouTube!

🥫 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.

Overhead view of a white serving bowl of Frito corn salad.
Easy frito corn salad is a family favorite!

📖 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.

Can I use something besides mayonnaise?

Sure! You can substitute Ranch dressing for the mayonnaise and sour cream.

Can I use no-fat or low-fat variety of sour cream or mayonnaise in this corn salad?

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.

Is Frito salad gluten free?

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.

Can you make Frito salad ahead of time?

Yes, as long as you don't add the Fritos until just before serving.

A plate of Frito corn salad.
Best part of this salad? The salty crunch!

Related recipes

  • 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!
  • Mom's Homemade Potato Salad 🥗 is one of those summer side dishes everyone loves!
  • Macaroni Salad has all that old fashioned flavor you remember.
  • Pea and Cheese Salad is full of sweet peas, salty bacon, and yummy Cheddar cheese.
  • What to Serve with Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
  • Pasta con Broccoli
  • 41 Sides To Serve With Hash Brown Casserole
  • Crispy Fried Potatoes

🍽️ Serve with...

Frito corn salad is perfect with any of your basic summertime foods.

  • Pulled chicken
  • Hamburgers
  • Grilled chicken
  • Ribs
  • Taco spaghetti

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! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Overhead view of Fritos salad in a white bowl
4.83 from 17 votes

Frito Corn Salad

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Frito Corn Salad is a delicious combination of corn kernels, bell peppers, onions, cheese, and Fritos corn chips covered in a creamy taco flavored dressing. It's salty, crunchy, creamy, and your new family favorite!
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American - Southern
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Chilling time (optional): 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
Servings:12
Calories:380
Author:Marye Audet-White
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Equipment Needed

  • 4 quart mixing bowl

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

I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.

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

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.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 380kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 399mg | Potassium: 275mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 796IU | Vitamin C: 35mg | Calcium: 189mg | Iron: 1mg

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    🥄 Equipment

    The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

    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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    About Marye

    With a 40 year focus on the importance of family and a passion for southern comfort food, Marye Audet-White is an expert in melding the two together effortlessly. Marye's a NY Times Bestselling author with 10 cookbooks under her belt and her recipes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Today, House Beautiful, Texas Living, Food & Wine, and many more.

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