Frito Pies are easy, comfort food perfection. If you’re unfamiliar with this classic snack, let us set the record straight: these are more like a portable loaded chili (or taco) than a pie. We load ours up with homemade chili with ground beef, cheese, sour cream, and plenty of toppings. If you’re looking for an easy way to add some fun to your weeknight dinner or need a game day snack, then these staple portable meals are for you. Keep reading on for everything you need to know:
What is Frito Pie?
Originally created in Mexico but popularized in the American Southwest, Frito Pies are also known as walking tacos. They take aspects of your favorite Tex-Mex taco supreme—ground beef, onions, cheese, jalapeños, and a corn-based vessel—and transform it into a portable snack. This recipe is the classic version, but these tacos are endlessly versatile. Use our classic chili here, or add vegetarian or vegan chili if you’re looking for a meatless meal.
How to serve Frito Pie:
We love to serve this the classic way: simply opening up the bag and ladling in our chili and toppings. That being said, if you’re really not about that life, you can dump everything out into bowls if you prefer.
How to top Frito Pie:
We love the simple toppings we suggest in the recipe (thinly sliced jalapeño, white onions, shredded cheddar, and sour cream) but you can go as crazy as you like. Pico de gallo, queso, pickled jalapeños, salsa verde, and hot sauce would all go great here.
Made it? Let us know how it went in the comment section below!
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- Yields:
- 6 serving(s)
- Prep Time:
- 20 mins
- Total Time:
- 1 hr 5 mins
- Cal/Serv:
- 521
Ingredients
For chili:
- 1 tbsp.
extra-virgin olive oil
- 1
medium white onion, chopped and divided
- 3
cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp.
tomato paste
- 1 lb.
ground beef
- 1 1/2 tbsp.
chili powder
- 1 tsp.
ground cumin
- 1 tsp.
dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp.
cayenne pepper
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
- 1
(28-oz.) can crushed tomatoes
- 1
(15-oz.) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 1
(4-oz.) can green chili
For serving:
- 6
(1-oz) bags Fritos
- 1
jalapeño, thinly sliced
- 2 c.
shredded Cheddar
Sour cream, for serving (optional)
Directions
- Step 1In a large pot over medium heat, heat oil. Add half onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute more, then add tomato paste, stirring to combine. Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink. Drain fat and return to heat.
- Step 2Add chili powder, cumin, oregano, cayenne, and season generously with salt and pepper. Pour in crushed tomatoes, pinto beans, and green chili and bring chili to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes. Season with more salt and pepper, if necessary.
- Step 3Build Frito pie: open bag(s) and ladle in chili. Top with cheddar, remaining chopped white onions, jalapeños, and sour cream if using.
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