Description
Frito Cowboy Cabbage is a quick and flavorful Tex-Mex inspired salad featuring seasoned ground beef, fresh cabbage, black beans, corn, and crunchy Fritos corn chips, all topped with shredded cheddar cheese and a creamy ranch dressing. Perfect for a casual lunch or easy dinner, this dish combines savory, crunchy, and creamy textures in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Seasoning
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning
Vegetables and Legumes
- 4 cups chopped green cabbage
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup canned sweet corn, drained
Other
- 2 cups Fritos corn chips
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup ranch dressing or Southwest-style dressing
Instructions
- Cook ground beef: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until fully browned, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain any excess fat to keep the dish from being greasy.
- Add taco seasoning: Stir in the taco seasoning packet along with a splash of water. Let the mixture simmer for 2–3 minutes to allow the flavors to blend.
- Prepare vegetables: While the beef cooks, chop the green cabbage and dice the tomatoes. Drain and rinse the canned black beans and sweet corn to remove excess liquid.
- Assemble layers: In a large serving bowl or casserole dish, layer the chopped cabbage, cooked seasoned beef, black beans, corn, and diced tomatoes. Toss gently to combine ingredients evenly.
- Add toppings: Sprinkle the top of the combined mixture with the Fritos corn chips for crunch, then evenly sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the chips.
- Finish with dressing: Just before serving, drizzle ranch or Southwest-style dressing over the top. Toss lightly if desired to distribute the dressing without losing the crunch.
Notes
- Drain the ground beef well to avoid soggy texture in the final dish.
- For extra flavor, consider adding chopped green onions or cilantro when assembling the layers.
- You can substitute the ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based meat for a different variation.
- If preferred, serve the dish immediately to maintain the crunch of the Fritos chips.
- Leftovers can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, but Fritos may lose their crispness.
