Frito Corn Salad

Frito corn salad is a fun, flavorful dish to whip up for your next barbecue, picnic or potluck. This simple salad features sweet corn, crunchy corn chips and a creamy mayo dressing—it’s addictively delicious. Here’s how to make it.

Ingredients for Frito Corn Salad

• Canned whole-kernel corn: You could use fresh or frozen corn. If using frozen corn, either boil it or put it in the microwave to quickly thaw it, then drain it completely until no excess water comes off.
• Mexican cheese blend: Shredded sharp Cheddar would also be tasty in this salad.
• Sweet red pepper: We love the sweetness and crunch that sweet red pepper adds to Frito corn salad.
• Mayonnaise: You can substitute vegan mayo or even sour cream if you prefer a more tangy taste.
• Chili cheese-flavored corn chips: If you use regular corn chips, add a dash of taco seasoning for flavor.
• Fresh cilantro (optional): While optional, fresh cilantro adds a fresh, clean, citrusy flavor to this dish and it’s a pretty garnish.

Directions

Step 1: Combine the ingredients

In a large bowl, combine the corn, cheese, red pepper, mayonnaise, salt and pepper. Chill until serving. Just before serving, stir in the corn chips. If desired, sprinkle with cilantro.

Frito Corn Salad Variations

• Add fresh lime juice: A dash of lime juice brightens the flavors in this dish.
• Turn up the heat: Garnish with thinly sliced jalapenos if you like spice.

How to Store Frito Corn Salad

Frito corn salad is really best enjoyed fresh, but if you do have leftovers, store them in an airtight containers in the fridge. If you think you’ll have leftovers, we recommend not mixing the chips into the salad when you’re making it; rather, add them per serving.

Can you make Frito corn salad ahead of time?

You can make this salad a few hours before serving it, without adding the chips (they’ll get soggy otherwise).

Frito Corn Salad Tips

Can I double this recipe for Frito corn salad?

Yes, but we wouldn’t recommend doubling the recipe by combining all the ingredients in one big bowl. Instead, think of it as making two separate batches of the original recipe.

Can I make this recipe vegan?

Yes, you could make this recipe vegan by using vegan mayonnaise and dairy-free cheese.

How should I serve Frito corn salad?

You could opt to either use the crushed chips as a topping, mix them into the salad or let your guests add the chips themselves. Mixing the chips in the salad does give every bite a nice crunch, but it’s up to you to decide how you’d like to serve this salad.