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    Home » Recipes » Dinner

    Frito Chili Pie

    By: Jessica · Posted: Aug 25, 2023 · Updated: Mar 26, 2025 · This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

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    Jump to Recipe 8 comments
    4.80 from 10 votes
    Frito Chili Pie

    This Frito Chili Pie is the perfect dish to serve for game day, at a party, or for busy weeknights! Top Fritos with this chili recipe, cheese, shredded cheese, green onions, and your favorite toppings!

    Frito Chili Pie Recipe

     

    If you’re looking for more chili-related recipes, then you’ll love these next! Simple chili recipe, chili mac, vegetarian chili, and white chicken chili! Or use chili to top these chili cheese corn dogs with.

    If we’re having a low-key party, a taco bar or nacho bar is usually the plan. The best thing is that it’s almost like everyone can have their own little Frito pie casserole and top it with whatever toppings they prefer!

    But if I’m being honest, I’ll probably make these AND the burgers in the oven since they’re both easy party foods that can be made in bulk!

    Jump to:
    • What is a Frito Chili Pie?
    • Ingredients for Frito Pie
    • Chili Recipe
    • Frito Pie Ingredients
    • How to Make a Frito Chili Pie
    • Topping Ideas for Frito Chili Pies
    • Storage
    • Variations for a Chili Pie
    • Top Tips
    • FAQs and Expert Tips
    • More Easy Dinner Recipes
    • Recipe
    • Comments

    What is a Frito Chili Pie?

    It’s a layered dish consisting of Fritos Corn Chips, a thick chili recipe, and toppings such as shredded cheese, diced onions and more! Such an easy recipe too!

    Are chili Frito pies like walking tacos?

    Yes! But the difference is that a chili Frito pie would be served right in the small bag of Fritos instead of on a plate, in a bowl or in a food boat.

    Ingredients for Frito Pie

    What you’ll see below, are the ingredients for a basic Frito pie. However, it is so much fun to top the chili pie with your favorite ingredients and I’ll give you a great list of topping ideas below as well, so you’re prepared and ready for the ultimate Frito pie recipe!

    Ingredients for Frito Chili Pie recipe

    Chili Recipe

    You’ll want to start by making the chili. You can either follow the chili recipe I’ve provided below, use this family-favorite chili recipe or use your own favorite chili which can even be canned chili!

    If using the chili recipe included in this post, here are some notes about the key ingredients.

    Make sure to check the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients for the recipe.

    • ground beef (or ground deer meat for venison chili – see more easy ground beef recipes)
    • Rotel – or any brand of diced tomatoes and green chilies.
    • sugar – sugar actually helps offset the acidity in chili!

    Frito Pie Ingredients

    To assemble the Frito pie (as pictured), you’ll need the following, remaining ingredients:

    • Fritos – or your favorite brand of corn chips
    • Shredded cheese – shredding your own always tastes better but pre-shredded is absolutely ok to use!
    • Diced onion – red, white, or yellow onions work

    How to Make a Frito Chili Pie

    Steps 1-4 of how to make Frito chili pie.
    1. In a large skillet or pot, brown the ground beef, onion, and garlic at medium heat. 
    2. Drain excess fat and place back in pot.
    3. Add kidney beans, tomato paste, Rotel, chili powder, salt, sugar, and cumin.  Stir together well. Turn the heat down to medium-low.  Allow the mixture to simmer uncovered for 20 minutes.  
    Frito Boat - corn chips ready for chili
    1. Pour a bag of Fritos corn chips onto a serving dish, or pour a single serving of Fritos onto each person’s plate.
    Pour Chili over fritos
    1. Serve a serving of chili over Frito chips.
    Shredded cheddar cheese on chili pie
    1. Sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese, and any additional toppings! (See list of ideas below!)

    Hint: If your chili is still hot, it should melt the shredded cheese on top. However, if it’s not hot enough, you may want to nuke your Frito pie for a few seconds to get the cheese to melt, if desired!

    Melted cheese on frito chili pie in food boat

    Topping Ideas for Frito Chili Pies

    I don’t know about you but the more the merrier when it comes to toppings for Frito pies! Here are some ideas that you can put out for your family or guests when hosting so they can make it just how they like it!

    • shredded lettuce
    • this delicious guacamole recipe
    • black olives
    • taco sauce
    • sour cream
    • diced onions
    • sliced jalapeno peppers
    • diced tomatoes
    • chopped bell peppers
    • hot sauce
    • ranch dressing or jalapeno ranch dressing
    • fresh cilantro
    • rice
    Frito Chili Pie Toppings

    Storage

    If you have leftovers, it’s best to store the chili, Fritos and toppings, separate so the crunchy corn chips do not get soggy.

    How to Store Chili

    The chili will keep for 3 days in the fridge, if kept in an airtight container. Or, you can freeze it for up to 3 months.  

    How to Store Fritos

    If you don’t have the original bag the Fritos corn chips came in, you can pour them in to a ziptop plastic bag or a bag that’s sealed, in the pantry.

    How to Store Toppings

    If you have chopped toppings left over, it will depend on the topping; however, it’s best to store the toppings separately.

    Frito Chili Pie Recipe

    Variations for a Chili Pie

    Love mixing things up? I do too sometimes! Here are answers to some popular questions:

    Can I use Chili Cheese Fritos instead?
    Absolutely! That’s a great substitution! You can also use Nacho Cheese Doritos, Cool Ranch Doritos or your favorite chips!

    Can I use my own chili recipe?
    Of course! Your chili recipe should work just fine!

    Do you love tater tots?

    Then you’ll LOVE these loaded tater tots!

    Top Tips

    Make a big batch of chili and freeze it, and keep items like Fritos and shredded cheese on hand so you can make this on a weeknight when you need a fast dinner idea!

    Want an even faster recipe?

    Use canned chili or store-bought chili to make this in a flash!

    Slow Cooker Chili

    If you’re hosting a party, make the chili and place it in a slow cooker (or Instant Pot if you have one!) to keep on “warm” so guests can make their own chili pies as they please!

    FAQs and Expert Tips

    What goes well with Frito pie?

    A Frito chili pie can be a main dish in itself and pairs really well with light side dishes like Spanish rice, a vegetable tray, and Instant Pot corn on the cob.

    Could you use other meats for the chili pie instead of beef?

    Absolutely. Feel free to substitue the ground beef for ground turkey, chicken, venison or even pork sausage!

    Are Frito chili pies spicy?

    Not this recipe. However if you use a recipe for a spicy chili, it can be. If you prefer a spicy Frito pie, you can add hot sauce and or spices like chili powder or cayenne pepper.

    More Easy Dinner Recipes

    If you’re a fan of quick and easy dinners, you’ll also love these popular dinner recipes: Doritos Chicken Casserole and BBQ Nachos (using leftover meats)!

    Then if you really loved this chili pie, you’re really going to love this layered taco dip and pizza monkey bread because they’re family favorites!

    Recipe

    Fritos, chili, cheese, onions, all piled together in cardboard dish.

    Easy Frito Chili Pie

    Jessica Burgess
    This Frito Chili Pie is the perfect dish to serve for game day, at a party or for busy weeknights! Top Fritos with this chili recipe, cheese, shredded cheese, green onions, and your favorite toppings!
    4.80 from 10 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 40 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer, Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 597 kcal

    Ingredients

    Family Favorite Chili Recipe

    • Alternate Easy Chili Recipe Get Easy Chili Recipe Here!

    Another Optional Chili Recipe

    • 1 pound ground beef
    • 1 medium onion diced
    • 1 clove garlic minced
    • 14 ounces can of kidney beans undrained
    • 5.5 ounces can tomato paste
    • 10 ounces can rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies
    • 2 tablespoons chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon sugar
    • 1.5 teaspoon ground cumin

    Making the Frito Pie

    • 9.25 ounces bag of Fritos
    • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese if desired

    Instructions
     

    • In a large skillet or pot, brown the ground beef, onion, and garlic at medium heat.
    • Drain excess fat.
    • Add kidney beans, tomato paste, rotel, chili powder, salt, sugar, and cumin and stir until evenly blended.
    • Turn the heat down to medium-low and allow the mixture to simmer uncovered for 20 minutes.
    • Pour a bag of fritos onto a serving dish, or pour a single serving of fritos onto each person’s plate.  
    • Serve the chili over Fritos and sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese, and use desired toppings. (See additional topping ideas in notes!)

    Notes

    Additional Topping Ideas:
    • shredded lettuce
    • easy guacamole recipe
    • black olives
    • taco sauce
    • sour cream
    • diced onions
    • sliced jalapeno peppers
    • diced tomatoes
    • chopped bell peppers
    • hot sauce
    • ranch dressing or jalapeno ranch dressing
    • fresh cilantro
    • rice

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 597kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 1218mg | Potassium: 896mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1438IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 283mg | Iron: 5mg

    Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

    Keywords chili recipe, Frito Pie, game day food
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Comments

      4.80 from 10 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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    1. TBirm says

      October 28, 2023 at 8:31 pm

      3 stars
      It’s probably just a matter of preference but I knew I should have omitted the tomato paste. Had I not used chipotle chili powder, this mixture may have tasted like spaghetti sauce with beans. If I decide to use this recipe again, I definitely will omit the tomato paste!

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        October 28, 2023 at 9:15 pm

        Hi there! So sorry you feel that way about the flavor! Yes, there are different taste preferences out there for sure. 🙂 If it helps, we have a different chili recipe that is a family favorite. It’s a basic chili that has a delicious flavor of cumin, and is the perfect recipe to add your other favorite spices too. Here it is if you’d like to try it: https://fantabulosity.com/quick-easy-chili-mommas-recipe/

        Reply
    2. katerina @ diethood.com says

      August 10, 2021 at 11:58 am

      5 stars
      My family loved this! It was incredibly delicious!!

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        August 10, 2021 at 3:11 pm

        That’s so awesome to hear! Thank you so much for letting me know!

        Reply
    3. Jess says

      August 10, 2021 at 11:15 am

      5 stars
      All my friends ask me to make this when it is my turn to make dinner for the group! This is one of recipes they ask for the most!

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        August 10, 2021 at 3:11 pm

        Right? It’s so easy too so it’s nice that everyone loves it!

        Reply
    4. Beth says

      August 10, 2021 at 10:06 am

      5 stars
      Yummy! This frito chili pie is perfect for movie and game nights!

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        August 10, 2021 at 3:12 pm

        It is!! We may have to start making it for our game nights too!

        Reply

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    Jessica Burgess of Fantabulosity, slicing an avocado.

    Hi, I'm Jessica! - Owner and Creator of the blog and brand, Fantabulosity.

    I’m here to teach you how to make quick and easy recipes, using simple ingredients, that your family will love.

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