Frito Pie is a classic, crowd-pleasing dish that has been around for a long time! It is a delicious and simple one-pot meal that is packed with flavor! There are hundreds of variations and it is very easy to modify and make it suit your tastes! I love making a batch of this on Sundays when we are watching a game, but it’s also great for a family dinner any night of the week! Loaded with seasoned ground beef, chili beans and cheese, and of course Fritos! It is sure to be a hit with anyone you make it for!
What is Frito Pie
Frito Pie is not a pie at all. It is more like a casserole, but this is the name I have always known it by. It is believed to have been created by a woman named Teresa Hernandez in Santa Fe in the early 1960’s. She made her mother’s homemade chili and instead of pouring it into a bowl, she poured it right into a bag of Fritos and topped it with cheese. Hence, the Frito Pie was born!
Over the years, as with all recipes, people have been recreating this dish in their own kitchens, and this is how I like to make mine! But do not be afraid to substitute or make your own modifications! That is the beauty of cooking and I love hearing how people switch up recipes! A lot of recipes call for a layer of chips on the bottom but I cannot do soggy chips so I wait until it is ready to serve and place the chips on top.
If you like this recipe, check these out while you are here!
French Onion Beef and Potato Bake
Can this be made ahead?
Yes! You can prepare it and store in the fridge for up to 2 days. Just leave the Fritos off until you bake it. It can be made and stored in the freezer for about 2 months. You will need to let it thaw in the fridge before baking it.
Ingredients:
The ingredients are rather simple and should be accessible at most grocery stores. The filling consists of ground beef, onion, bell peppers, minced garlic, a blend of spices, diced tomatoes, chili beans and if desired some diced chilies or jalapenos.
Instead of using the spices I have listed, you can always use a packet of premade taco or chili seasoning to make it that much easier!
Cheese! We are a cheese loving family so it gets a lot of cheese on top! I use a blend of sharp cheddar and pepper jack, but feel free to use whatever you like and less of it if you prefer.
How to make Frito Pie:
You will start by browning the ground beef with the onions, peppers and garlic. If desired, drain the grease. I always say this is a personal preference and not necessary, but I do like to drain mine.
Next you will stir in the seasonings and then mix in the tomatoes, beans and chilies. Top with the cheese and bake in a 400 degree oven for 10-15 minutes until the cheese is golden brown and bubbly. Top with the Fritos and any other additional toppings you like and that is it!
I like mine with a dollop of sour cream and I would usually add sliced jalapenos but was out. Some hot sauce is also really good on it!
When I make this, I prepare it as a stand alone dish because it is very hearty. If you wanted, you could add a nice green salad or even some cornbread to go with it!
If you do make this dish, please leave a comment and a rating as it helps so much! Thank you!!!
Chili Cheese Frito Pie
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground Beef
- 1/2 each Red and Bell Pepper, diced
- 1 Yellow Onion, Diced
- 3-4 Garlic Cloves, minced
- 15 oz Can of Chili Beans
- 14.5 oz Can of Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes
- 4 oz Can of Diced JalapeƱos or Chilies
- 8 oz Sharp Cheddar, grated
- 8 oz Pepper Jack, grated
- 1 bag Any Flavor of Fritos Corn Chips
Seasonings
- 1 tbs Garlic Powder
- 1 tbs Onion Powder
- 1 tbs Chili Powder
- 1 tbs Salt
- 1 tbs Black pepper
- 1 tbs Cumin
- 1 packet Sazon Seasoning Mix
- 1 tbs Slap Ya Mama or any Cajun seasoning optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees
- In an oven-safe skillet, over medium heat, brown the ground beef with the onion, peppers and garlic. Drain the grease.
- Add the seasonings, then the tomatoes, chili beans and diced jalapenos. Mix well.
- Top with the cheese and bake for 15-20 minutes until cheese is golden brown and bubbly. Top with as many Fritos as you like, and any additional toppings.
