Frito Chili Pie in Texas
I didn’t become familiar with this particular way of eating chili until we moved to Texas. There were a lot of things I did not know until I moved to Texas, really. Texas is almost like a whole other country unto itself. The culture varies throughout the state and so does the food. And boy, did I fall in love with the food! And the Dublin Dr. Pepper. I miss me some Dublin Dr. Pepper. So anyhow, I was introduced to Frito Chili Pie while we lived there. Now, I’m still not sure exactly why it’s called a Pie. Maybe because of the layers it comes in on your plate? Maybe someone with some knowledge on the history of this meal can explain it to me. It is such a fun and different way to eat chili and I was immediately hooked.
Walking tacos
Now, what a lot of folks out there like to do (and I noticed this quite a bit at football games) was to take smaller single-serving packs of Fritos and then slice them open on the side, then serve the chili right inside the packets of Fritos. Then add in additional toppings of cheese, diced onions and minced jalapeños. You just hand everyone a fork and they each have their own individual servings of Frito Chili. It makes for an easy cleanup too! Some folks caledl them ‘walking tacos’ and but it seemed to me those should’ve been called “Walking chili”. Ha! So, although we no longer live in Texas, I still have meals like this one and the memories that go along with it to remind me of our time there.
Ingredients:
2 pounds ground beef
3 small cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, diced
1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste
1-2 tbsp. chili powder (to taste)
1 tsp. ground cumin
2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup water (or beef broth)
1 bag Fritos corn chips
2 pounds ground beef
3 small cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, diced
1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste
1-2 tbsp. chili powder (to taste)
1 tsp. ground cumin
2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup water (or beef broth)
1 bag Fritos corn chips
optional toppings:
sour cream
grated cheddar cheese
diced red onion
minced jalapeño peppers
Note: This is a basic, thick chili recipe. If you like chili with beans, add in a can of drained and rinsed kidney beans. Also, if you have it on hand, try beef broth instead of water to give this chili and even “beefier” flavor.
Directions:
In a large skillet over medium heat, brown and crumble ground beef along with onions and garlic. Drain excess grease.
Add in tomato sauce, paste, seasonings and water (or beef broth.) Stir well until combined. Give it a taste, see if it needs a bit more salt and pepper. Turn heat down to medium-low and allow mixture to simmer for at least 20 minutes.
Put a handful of Frito chips on a plate or in a bowl. Top with chili mixture. Then add on any toppings your family enjoys like sour cream, shredded cheese, diced red onions, and for some spicy heat, add minced jalapeños.
Enjoy!
Frito Chili Pie
Print Pin RatePrep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 784kcal
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 3 cloves small garlic minced
- 1 small onion diced
- 1 15 oz can tomato sauce
- 1 6 oz can tomato paste
- 1-2 tbsp chili powder to taste
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup water or beef broth
- 1 9.25 oz bag Fritos corn chips can use original or chili cheese flavor
- for topping:
- sour cream
- grated cheddar cheese
- diced red onion
- minced jalapeño peppers
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, brown and crumble ground beef along with onions and garlic. Drain excess grease.
- Add in tomato sauce, paste, seasonings and water (or beef broth).
- Stir well until combined.
- Turn heat down to medium-low and allow mixture to simmer for at least 20 minutes.
- Put a handful of Frito chips on a plate or in a bowl.
- Top with chili mixture.
- Then add desired toppings (cheese, onion, jalapeños)
Notes
This is a basic, thick chili recipe. If you like chili with beans, add in a can of drained and rinsed kidney beans. Also, if you have it on hand, try beef broth instead of water to give this chili and even "beefier" flavor.
Nutrition
Calories: 784kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 48g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 80mg | Sodium: 1602mg | Potassium: 865mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 850IU | Vitamin C: 9.7mg | Calcium: 190mg | Iron: 4.9mg
Did you make this recipe?Share it on Instagram @thecountrycook and mention us #thecountrycook!
SaveSave
Frito Chili Pie has been on my list of things to try since seeing it online a few years ago, but I still haven't gotten around to it. This looks super yummy, I must try soon!
I learned this back in Girl Scouts and we also topped it with sour cream. I introduced it to my husband and usually when I make homemade chili we have left overs and this is the way we have our leftovers -I layer it in a bowl and eat with a spoon.
We also used Doritos with chili in Girl Scouts. For meat mixtures, chili or taco meat work.
When I lived in San Antonio for a few years in the mid-80's, we called it a Walking Taco because we usually dumped in the chili, cheese, salsa, and lettuce if we had it. I worked 6 PM to 6 AM at the hospital at Lackland AFB, and those sure were tasty at 2 in the morning 🙂
Chelle, my granddaughter’s school has this in the cafeteria sometimes for lunch and they also call it WALKING TACOS…..and it is a big hit with all the school kids…..and at some of the ball games they sell them also…..this is a great idea…..
Hoping to make this soon……
Also thank you Brandie, for posting this recipe……
Will def. try ur homemade chili recipe!! As a born and raised Texan we ate "Frito Pie" at every Halloween Carnival or festival. Right out of the bag is the best!!! We don't call it Frito Chili Pie tho, just plain ole Frito Pie. Not sure why it's called that but Frito pie in a bag or in a bowl is comfort food all the time!!! 😉
I have a vegetable/meat chili recipe that I make for my kids. I was visiting a friend and made it at her house. Her husband ate the chili with crackers. I ate mine with cheese and rice, and my friend at hers with corn chips. Chili is so versatile.
But, what, pray tell, PLEASE :), is Dublin Dr. Pepper?????
Oh goodness, it is the best version of Dr Pepper in my humble opinion. It is made with pure cane sugar. It's made in Dublin, Texas. 🙂
Best drink ever!!!
Heaven. That’s what it is. Lol
It’s Dr. Pepper made with pure cane sugar. The best equivalent is like regular coke compared to Mexican coca cola. The type if sugar makes the difference!
As a native Texan who has family around Dublin TX I can say it is very missed.
Agreed. The tour of the Dr. Pepper Bottling Co. Is awesome as well
Unfortunately Dublin Dr Pepper doesn’t exist anymore. They still have the bottling company there to tour and the soda shop but no longer do they have the pure cane sugar Dr Pepper. I worked here in college and was raised about 12 miles away from it. It’s one amazing place!
Walking taco is what we call them and always get them at the festivals that we go to in the fall…so good!!
This was a Girl Scout camp supper up here in Mn. Thanks for reminding me of fun times! Now – just what is a Dublin Dr Pepper? Barbara
Barbara, it is Dr Pepper that is made with pure can sugar (out of Dublin, Texas). Not sure if they still make it but I thought it was the best version of Dr Pepper!
This looks delicious and something I need to try.
This looks simply delicious! Who wouldn't love chili and Fritos? I am going to look in you recipe file for the Dublin Dr. Pepper! It is getting closer to chili weather!!
Oh yeah! I grew up on FCP and used to dump it all in the little Frito bag and eat it straight out of there – they still do it at baseball games. Gonna' make yours now!
I worked out of high school in 1963 at our A&W Drive Inn in Pauls Valley, Ok. We served the Frito Chili Pie in the sack. Every one enjoyed it, selling very high on the list. It was easy and fast to make for drive up serving. I still make them during the winter at my house for my grandkids and other family members.
Anonymous August 20, 2013 at 11:10 pm
I just love hearing special memories like yours! Thank you for sharing!
Mrs. Reed served it out of the bag at our little "Dairy King" in the tiny Texas town I grew up in. We did call it Frito Chili Pie, and I still do. I really don't know any history on it; but I've been eating it for 50 plus years…lol!LOVE seeing these old recipes come up on the blogs!
Such a special memory! I had never had the privilege of eating this until we lived in Texas. I am forever hooked now!
mmm.. Yummy meal.
Fantastic meal. I want to eat more.
Thank you for the recipes!
I have traced the origins of the drive-in style Frito Chili Pie to 1957 and a gentleman by the name of Claude Spradlin. He charged 15 cents — a nickle for the Fritos and a dime for the chili — and served it in a paper boat. Spradlin's Dairy Delight is still open in England, AR today, run by his son.
That's a different version of Frito Pie then the one I grew up with from my grandmother. In her version, you make up a large pot of your favorite style of chili, which you use for meals over the next couple of days. You then use the remaining chili to make your Frito Pie. Simply pour a bag of Fritos into a medium to large baking pan, and pour the remaining "cold" chili over the Fritos. Stir the chili and Fritos together, then cover the mixture with shredded cheese. Bake in the oven at 400 for about 10 – 15 minutes. Serve with your favorite toppings like salsa and sour cream.
Hi, Brandie! I just made this tonight and it was great! My 6 yr old really likes Frito chili cheese flavor, so I used those. I used can diced tomatoes instead of sauce because I only had large cans of sauce. Also thought I’d try the new chipotle chili powder I had. Otherwise followed directions, adding kidney beans. I mixed in some sour cream to tone down the spice for my son (due to the chipotle powder-oops!). He ate it and really liked it! After making his plate I added a small can of diced green chilies for the adults. Great recipe! It’s really good just a chili on its own! Thanks for sharing!
Love your additions! And it always makes my day to hear when the kiddos like a recipe! Thank you so much!
You need to try it with the Chili Cheese Fritos! It makes it even better!
Thanks for the recipe! I grew up in Texas and ate Frito Pies growing up. We had them in our school cafeteria and also Dorito Pies (same thing just made with Nacho Cheese Doritos)… just as delicious!
I’m not for sure but I know back in the 50’s when Mom made them…she would bring out the pie pans…layer with Fritos,chili,onions and cheddar cheese and put it in the oven until cheese was melted…..then would serve us our own frito pie..
You nailed it!! My grade school served “straw hat” and I have struggled to find a recipe for it which tasted like what I remember from childhood. I was sad that I probably wouldn’t ever find a true copycat. With your simple recipe I found, I hoped this would be the one. It is! Finally!! Thank you so much for sharing. It tastes just as I remember and I’m so glad!!
Alison – this made my day to hear. I love when food brings back special memories. So happy this was the one you remembered!!