Frito pie is pure comfort food that’s perfect for cold winter days, or while watching the Big Game, or pretty much anytime! It’s a casserole that consists of beef and bean chili, crunchy corn chips and cheese that’s baked until the cheese is all melted and good! I like to make a double batch of chili one night and use the leftovers the next night for frito pie; when the chili is already made the frito pie is super simple! Other than the chili, corn chips and cheese you can add extras like salsa, sour cream, pickles jalapenos, etc.
Frito Pie
A beef and bean chili casserole topped with crunchy corn chips and plenty of melted cheese!
ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 tablespoon ancho chili powder
- 1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 2 (14.5 ounce) cans red kidney beans (or black beans or pinto beans)
- 2 teaspoons oregano
- 2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups corn chips
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
For the chili:
For the frito pie:
directions
- Cook the beef and onion in a large saucepan, breaking the beef apart with a spoon, until the beef is cooked through before draining any excess grease.
- Add the garlic, chili powders, cumin, and paprika and cook until fragrant, about a minute.
- Add the tomatoes, beans, oregano, worcestershire sauce, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes (to 2+ hours), covered, before seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
- Spread the chili over the bottom of a 13×9 inch pan, sprinkle on the corn chips followed by the cheese and broil in a preheated oven until the cheese has melted, about 1-2 minutes.
For the chili:
For the frito pie:
Option: Start with a bottom layer of corn chips in addition to the top layer of corn chips.
Option: Use sloppy joes instead of chili!
Option: Add salsa!
Option: Add refried beans!
Option: Garnish with sour cream, jalapeno slices, green onions, etc.
Wow dude I didn’t know you smoke pot
Recipe looks great but as someone from the Midwest who now lives in Texas…this isn’t a Frito pie. Corn chips on the bottom and not a casserole. Again looks great though!
what a fun recipe, saving this for the weekend, and it’s almost a chili, love all of these flavors, thank you!