Description
Frito Chili Pie is a comforting and hearty Tex-Mex dish that combines seasoned ground beef chili with crunchy Fritos corn chips and melted cheddar cheese. It’s perfect for a quick weeknight meal or casual gathering, delivering bold flavors with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Chili Mixture
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 (14 ounce) can kidney beans, undrained
- 1 (5.5 ounce) can tomato paste
- 1 (10 ounce) can Rotel (diced tomatoes and green chilies)
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
Assembly
- 1 (9.25 ounce) bag Fritos corn chips
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Brown the Meat: In a large skillet or pot over medium heat, cook the ground beef along with the diced onion and minced garlic until the beef is fully browned and the onion is tender. Drain off any excess fat to keep the chili from being greasy.
- Simmer the Chili: Add the undrained kidney beans, tomato paste, Rotel, chili powder, salt, sugar, and cumin into the skillet with the beef. Stir everything together thoroughly. Reduce the heat to medium-low and let the chili simmer uncovered for 20 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken slightly.
- Assemble the Pie: Spread the Fritos chips evenly on a large serving dish or distribute portions onto individual plates or bowls. Spoon the hot chili mixture over the chips generously. Top with shredded cheddar cheese so it starts to melt from the warmth of the chili. Add any additional desired toppings such as sour cream, jalapeños, or green onions if you like.
Notes
- For a spicier kick, add extra chili powder or diced jalapeños to the chili mixture.
- Use reduced-fat cheese or lean ground beef to make the dish lighter.
- You can substitute Fritos with other corn chips if preferred.
- Leftover chili can be stored refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- This recipe is naturally gluten free if your chips and canned ingredients are confirmed so.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
