  We consider lattice gauge theories at strong coupling with gauge group
$U(N_C)$, or $SU(N_C)$ restricted to the meson sector, and coupled to $N_F$
flavors of fundamental representation staggered fermions. We study the
formation of a chiral condensate by means of resummation of a hopping
expansion. Different classes of graphs become dominant as the parameter
$(N_F/N_C)$ is varied. By performing graph resummation we obtain an equation
for determining the condensate as a function of $(N_F/N_C)$ and mass $m$. For
values of $(N_F/N_C)$ below a critical value one reproduces the well-known
result of the existence of a non-vanishing condensate solution in the $m=0$
limit. Above the critical $(N_F/N_C)$ value, however, no such solution exists,
its abrupt disappearance indicating a first order transition to a chirally
symmetric phase with composite (colorless) excitation spectrum.
