This Frito Corn Salad is fun, flavorful, and the perfect combination of crunchy and creamy. It’s made with canned corn, diced peppers and onion, cilantro, and cheese tossed in a tangy creamy dressing. Crushed Fritos add the final touch that turns this into a highly requested side dish!
This Frito corn salad is such a fun, easy, and unexpected side dish. It starts with a base of canned corn, red bell peppers, jalapenos, and red onion coated in a creamy mayo and sour cream dressing. But the real fun comes with the crushed Fritos stirred in right before serving. I opted to use Chile Cheese Fritos for extra flavor but the regular ones work too.
Every time I add Frito corn chips to a dish, like Frito taco salad or Frito pie, it’s an instant hit. This salad was no exception. I definitely foresee this being a favorite over the summer, making many appearances at BBQs and picnics!
Why This Frito Corn Salad Is A Family Favorite
- Chips in a salad! Let’s be real, this is why the boys love it! Adding chips to a salad just adds an extra novelty factor, whether it’s this Frito corn salad or Dorito taco salad.
- Side dish or appetizer. This salad can be served as a side dish or as a dip for an appetizer. To make it an appetizer, we just serve the Frito Scoops on the side. I love a dish that can be so versatile!
- Lots of flavor. There is absolutely no shortage of flavor in this recipe, between the Chile Cheese Fritos, the crunchy corn, bell peppers and jalapeno for a bit of heat, and the tangy, creamy dressing. Not to mention the cheese and cilantro!
Ingredient Notes
Here’s an overview of everything needed to make this easy salad. The exact measurements can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.
- Whole kernel corn – I use canned corn for this recipe, though thawed frozen corn would work too. Be sure to drain the corn well and then pat it dry with some paper towels to remove as much moisture as possible.
- Peppers – I use one red bell pepper and two jalapeno peppers for color, texture, and a little bit of heat. For a milder version, just use one jalapeno or replace it with a green bell pepper.
- Red onion – For added flavor. Be sure to dice it finely so it mixes in evenly with the other ingredients.
- Shredded cheese – I like to use a Mexican or taco cheese blend. Cheddar or Monterey Jack would also work.
- Sour cream & mayo – Some people just use all mayo for this salad but I like to use some sour cream too. The tanginess breaks up the richness of the mayo. Greek yogurt would also work.
- Cilantro – Adds a pop of color and fresh flavor to the salad.
- Lime juice – Freshly squeezed, of course. It adds a final pop of flavor that really brightens the dish.
- Fritos – I like to use the Chile Cheese flavored Fritos for the extra flavor.
How To Make Frito Corn Salad
This fun salad takes just 10 minutes to prep, making it great for busy summer days. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card at the end of the post for the full instructions.
- Combine the veggies. Add the corn to a large bowl, using a few paper towels to soak up any extra moisture. Add the diced peppers, onion, and cheese. Stir to combine.
- Add the dressing. Add the sour cream, mayo, cilantro, and lime juice to the bowl. Stir until everything is evenly combined.
- Refrigerate. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Add the Fritos. Just before serving, add the crushed Fritos. Stir to combine. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips & Tricks
This Frito corn salad recipe is crazy simple to make, but there are still a few things to keep in mind.
- Dry the corn. Remove as much moisture as possible from the corn by draining it well and then using paper towels to pat it dry. This prevents the dressing from being too runny.
- Make ahead. This Frito corn salad can be enjoyed immediately but for the best flavor, make it a couple of hours in advance to give the flavors time to blend. It could also be made the night before.
- Wait to add the Fritos. Do not mix in the Fritos until just before serving as they will become soggy quickly. You can also just add them on top instead of mixing them in.
- Try other flavors. I like to use the Chile Cheese Fritos because the flavors work nicely with the other ingredients in this dish, giving it a bit of a Mexican street corn feel. But plain Fritos work great, too.
- Dice the veggies finely. All of the veggies should be in pretty small pieces so that you can get a little bit of everything in every bite with some Fritos.
Ways To Serve It
Frito corn salad is a great addition to any summer BBQ, potluck, or picnic. It pairs nicely with BBQ flavors and we often enjoy it on nights that we grill. It’s great with burgers and hot dogs, grilled chicken, pulled pork and pulled chicken sandwiches, and pretty much everything else.
It can also be served as an appetizer instead of a side dish. In that case, I like to serve it as a dip. Just skip adding Fritos to the salad and serve them on the side as dippers. Frito Scoops are perfect for this.
Make Ahead & Storage
- Make ahead: Frito corn salad is best served and consumed in one sitting as the Fritos will become soggy. The rest of the salad can be made ahead but do not add the Fritos until just before serving.
- Leftovers: If you do have leftovers, they can be stored in the fridge for 2-3 days. Keep in mind that the Fritos will become soggy once they’re mixed in so you won’t have that same crunchy texture. It will still taste great, though!
Frito Corn Salad
Ingredients
- 45 ounces whole kernel corn 3 (15-ounce) cans, well-drained and patted dry
- 1 red bell pepper seeded and diced
- 2 jalapenos peppers seeded and diced
- ¼ cup red onion finely chopped
- 8 ounces shredded Mexican cheese or Taco flavored cheese
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro chopped
- 1 lime juiced
- 9.25 ounces Chile Cheese Fritos coarsely broken/crushed.
Instructions
- Add the drained corn to a large bowl. Use a few paper towels to soak up extra moisture.
- Add in the diced red pepper, diced jalapenos, red onion and Mexican cheese. Stir to combine.
- Add the sour cream, mayo, chopped cilantro and juice from one lime.
- Stir well to combine.
- Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Before serving, add the Fritos and stir to combine.
Last Step:
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