Description
Spicy Fritos chili cheese salad brings zesty Tex-Mex comfort to classic potluck fare. Layers of crunchy corn chips, hearty chili, melted cheese, and fresh toppings create an irresistible crowd-pleasing dish you can’t wait to devour.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 large head romaine lettuce (or iceberg), chopped
- 1 (10 oz / 283 g) bag chili cheese Fritos, slightly crushed
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Vegetable Ingredients:
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup red onion, finely diced
- ½ cup bell pepper (red or green), chopped
- ½ cup black beans (optional, drained & rinsed)
- ½ cup corn kernels (optional, fresh or canned)
Dressing and Seasoning Ingredients:
- ½ cup ranch dressing
- ¼ cup sour cream (or Greek yogurt)
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
- 1 teaspoon lime juice (optional)
Instructions
- Whisk the dressing ingredients in a small mixing vessel, blending ranch dressing, sour cream, taco seasoning, and fresh lime juice until a smooth, creamy consistency develops.
- Select a spacious mixing bowl and layer crisp chopped lettuce as the foundational element, then methodically scatter diced tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, vibrant bell peppers, protein-rich black beans, sweet corn kernels, and shredded cheese across the verdant base.
- Cascade the prepared dressing over the assembled ingredients, gently folding and rotating to ensure each component receives an even, glistening coating.
- Moments before presenting the salad, introduce roughly crushed chili cheese Fritos, carefully distributing them throughout to maintain their signature crunch and prevent soggy texture.
- Elevate the dish’s visual appeal by sprinkling additional cheese fragments across the surface or adding a zesty lime wedge for optional fresh citrus enhancement, creating a dynamic and inviting culinary presentation.
Notes
- Customize the dressing by adjusting the taco seasoning intensity to match your spice preference, making the salad uniquely yours.
- Swap ranch dressing with Greek yogurt for a lighter, protein-packed alternative that maintains creamy texture.
- Keep Fritos on the side when prepping ahead to prevent soggy chips, allowing each serving to stay crisp and crunchy.
- Transform this salad into a vegetarian or vegan version by replacing cheese with nutritional yeast and using plant-based dressing alternatives.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg