We’ve given you some interesting recipe theme lists lately, from macaroni & cheese to grilled cheese to Oreo cookies. And as we saw with the popularity of that last one, folks sure like to get clever in the kitchen with iconic packaged food brands. So we thought we’d backpedal from the dessert menu to the main menu and feature another staple American snack, Fritos Original Corn Chips. A snack-sized bag of these crunchy, salty nibblers works surprisingly well with common dishes across an array of cuisines, from Mexican to American to Italian. In fact, Fritos are so versatile that a couple of these recipes do push them into dessert territory.

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1. Louisiana Frito Pie
The Frito Pie is by far the most popular Fritos recipe on the web. This variation adds a Southwestern flavor with green chilies, black olives and kernel corn. To top it off, add some sour cream and guacamole.

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2. Frito Fruckies
Dessert probably is not the first thing that comes to mind with a bag of Fritos, but “fruckies” are popular sweet treats made with corn chips. Simply smooth chocolate over a mixture of sugar, melted peanut butter and Fritos. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how well the sweet-and-salty combo works as an after-dinner treat.

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3. Fritos Tuna Club Salad
Tuna salad is commonly a sandwich fixture, but the addition of Fritos to the mix makes it a tasty meal on its own. Prepare and chill the tuna salad, then garnish with corn chips and fresh tomatoes.

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4. Fritos Ranch Chicken Delight
Fritos are a solid addition to casseroles of any kind. This recipe bakes them in with cream of chicken soup, tomatoes and green chilies for a creamy, tangy dish.

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5. Frito Squash Casserole
If you’re looking for a meatless summertime Fritos casserole, try this steamed squash recipe. The Fritos are added to the casserole mix and also sprinkled on top. A delicious white sauce rounds things out.

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6. Fritos Fiesta Tortilla
With their crunchy corn texture, Fritos go well with most Mexican-inspired dishes. This recipe is on the spicier side, featuring Jack cheese and Ortega chilies. For a little extra kick, top it off with some hot salsa.

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7. Vegetarian Frito Pie
Many Frito Pie recipes feature chili as a main ingredient, but this vegetarian-friendly dish piles on the veggies instead. It also adds two different types of beans and a variety of spices, which more than make up for the lack of meat. Pour it all over a bed of Fritos and you’re good to go.

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8. Frito Trail Mix
A sweet and crunchy dessert, trail mix lends itself nicely to a Fritos treatment. In addition to pretzels and chopped peanuts, the Fritos in this recipe are a crunchy complement to the chocolate chips and peanut-butter cups.

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9. Frito Chili Cheese Wrap
You may have seen these wraps at Sonic drive-ins, and you can make your own at home with this easy recipe. With simple ingredients and a quick preparation, these beauties make for a great on-the-go snack.

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10. Frito Meatloaf
Looking to spice up your meat loaf? Throw in some Chili Cheese Fritos. Then use salsa (instead of ketchup) for a bolder moisturizing agent.

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11. Fritos Salad
Tempting as they may be, many of these recipes would likely fall under your “guilty pleasures” umbrella. For a more health-conscious alternative, try the Fritos Salad. It’s refreshing and light, and the Fritos add an extra kick of salty flavor.

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12. Fritos Fish
Don’t be scared. Lean, white fishes like Tilapia taste great breaded. But instead of traditional breadcrumbs, try using crushed Fritos. You may end up using the mixture for all your breaded concoctions.

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13. Fritos Chicken Nuggets
Homemade chicken nuggets? Fun. But instead of traditional breading, use Fritos for a delicious coating. The best part? No deep fryer required. Just pan-fry the Frito-breaded chicken on your stovetop.

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14. Fritos Onion Rings
Fritos can make just about any food taste better, and this recipe uses them to ramp up your onion rings. They’re deliciously decadent and surprisingly easy to make.

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15. Cranberry Salsa Salad with Fritos
Whoa. Cranberry and Fritos? Believe it. Turkey and cranberry is usually a winning combo, and this tasty salad combines turkey meat with Fritos chips, then tops it all off with a delicious cranberry salsa.

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16. Fritos Pizza
This list would not be complete without a Fritos pizza of some sort. The foundation of this one calls for standard crust, but the traditional pizza element ends there. The rest includes a chili base (instead of pizza sauce) with shredded Mexican cheese and, of course, Fritos.

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17. Mexican Lasagna
Who says lasagna has to taste Italian? The traditional dish can take on a Latin-inspired flavor, as well. Swapping out lasagna noodles for Fritos chips, marinara sauce for taco sauce and adding a few other spicy ingredients, this Mexican lasagna recipe has some zing to it.

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18. Mexican Burgers
We’ve all seen strange things wind up on the American hamburger, so it wouldn’t be such a shocker to see Fritos poking out from between the buns? But this recipe rolls the crushed Fritos into the patty itself, along with Worcestershire sauce and minced onions. Add some guacamole on top, and for an added south-of-the-border twist, use salsa instead of ketchup.

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19. Fritos Corn Salad
With Summer just around the corner, salad season is upon us. Cold corn salads are refreshing and full of flavor, and the Fritos in this recipe are a logical addition. Why not? After all, they are called Fritos Original Corn Chips.

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20. Fritos Bean Salad
Bean salads are another alternative to your standard mixed greens. They’re healthy, filling, flavorful and full of fiber. In this dish, the kidney beans go well with Fritos, and fresh veggies and Catalina dressing round out the flavor.

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