Bring A Savory Crunch To These Cold Deli Staples With A Fritos Crumble

Classic mayo-based salads like tuna, egg, and crisp and creamy chicken salad have stood the test of time for good reason. They're creamy, rich, and satisfying — but let's be honest, they can also be a little one-note in texture. Sure, celery offers a bit more of a bite, but if you want crunch as you chew, that's where Fritos come in. The salty, crispy corn chips add an unexpected crunch that instantly livens up these soft and creamy dishes. It's not just about texture either; Fritos bring a lightly toasted, almost sweet-savory depth that makes each bite more dynamic. To get the best results, crush the Fritos lightly and sprinkle them on just before serving. You'll avoid sogginess while maximizing crunch. 

Don't stop at tuna, chicken, or egg salad. The beauty of the Fritos crumble is that it works with almost any chilled, creamy salad. Classic ham salad? Even better with a little crunch. Potato salad with extra mustard or pickles? Fritos soak up the bold flavors and give you a satisfying snap. Pasta salads with mayo, ranch, or sour cream-based dressings also benefit from the texture shift, especially when you're serving them as a side dish and want them to stand out.

You can also add crumbled Fritos to salad sandwiches. Simply add a layer of chips directly onto the salad filling so you get that crispy contrast with every bite. And yes — this move is fully endorsed for both casual lunches and nostalgic late-night snacks. You don't need to reinvent your recipe to make this work. Whether your tuna salad is spruced up with celery and capers or you stick to the basics with mayo and mustard, Fritos still deliver. They complement, not compete. Think of them as the grown-up version of putting chips in your sandwich as a kid — a little irreverent, a lot delicious, and just the right amount of salty crunch to shake things up.

If you want to tap into extra flavor, try using the chili cheese Fritos, which are particularly tasty in southwest-style mayonnaise-based salads, or the spicy jalapeño, which offer an added kick. You can even add Fritos to dishes like corn salsa and cowboy caviar, where the salty corn flavor of the chips elevates the chilled corn kernels. When it comes to parties, you can set the Fritos out next to your salad dishes so guests can play around with the topping (and inevitably end up loving it).