Description
Zesty corn kernels dance with crispy Fritos in this crowd-pleasing Frito Corn Salad, creating a southwestern-style party favorite. Crunchy, creamy, and packed with bold flavors, you’ll want seconds at every backyard barbecue and potluck.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cans (15 ounces/425 grams each) whole kernel corn, drained
- 1 bag (9.25 ounces/262 grams) chili cheese or original Fritos, crushed slightly
- 1 cup (240 milliliters/8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
Vegetable Ingredients:
- ½ cup (80 grams) diced red bell pepper
- ½ cup (50 grams) chopped green onions
Seasoning and Binding Ingredients:
- 1 cup (240 milliliters/8 ounces) mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) chili powder (optional, for a little kick)
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Combine sweet corn kernels with sharp cheddar cheese, diced bell peppers, and thinly sliced green onions in a spacious mixing vessel.
- Integrate creamy mayonnaise into the vegetable mixture, creating a smooth and cohesive blend.
- Optionally sprinkle chili powder for a subtle kick of warmth and complexity.
- Season the salad with salt and freshly ground black pepper, adjusting to personal taste preferences.
- Transfer the prepared salad to the refrigerator and allow it to rest and meld flavors for a minimum of half an hour.
- Immediately prior to serving, gently incorporate crushed Fritos corn chips to maintain their signature crisp texture.
- Present the salad promptly to preserve the crunchiness of the chips and ensure maximum flavor enjoyment.
Notes
- Swap mayonnaise with Greek yogurt for a lighter, protein-packed version that reduces calories while maintaining creamy texture.
- Toast Fritos lightly before crushing to enhance their nutty flavor and add extra crunchiness to the salad.
- For a gluten-free option, use corn chips made from pure corn or certified gluten-free brands to maintain the classic crunch.
- Experiment with different cheese varieties like pepper jack or cotija to introduce unique flavor profiles and regional twists to this classic side dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 198
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 73 mg