The first time someone offered me a “Frito pie” after moving to Texas, I had absolutely no idea what to expect. A pie made with corn chips? It sounded bizarre. But one bite of those crispy, salty Fritos smothered in hearty chili and melted cheese changed everything. This isn’t fancy cuisine, it’s pure comfort food that hits all the right notes. Now, years later, whenever I’m craving something indulgent and satisfying, Frito pie is my guilty pleasure go-to.
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Table of Contents
Why This Recipe Works
The genius of Frito pie lies in its perfect contrast of textures and flavors. The corn chips provide satisfying crunch and saltiness that balances the rich, hearty chili. The melted cheese adds creaminess while the fresh toppings contribute a cooling contrast and bright flavors. It’s comfort food engineering at its finest, creating maximum satisfaction with minimal effort. This frito chili pie was initially created in the 1960s.
Frito Pie Recipe Ingredients
For the Base
- Fritos corn chips – Provide the essential salty, crunchy foundation that holds up beautifully under hot chili without becoming soggy
- Canned or homemade chili – Delivers the hearty, savory protein component that makes this a satisfying meal rather than just a snack
- Shredded cheese – Melts over the hot chili to create creamy richness that binds all flavors together.
- Yellow onions (chopped) – Add a sharp bite and textural contrast that cuts through the richness of cheese and chili, you could use chopped green onions if you prefer
Optional Toppings
- Sour cream – Provides cooling creaminess that balances the heat and richness of the chili
- Jalapeño peppers (sliced) – Contribute fresh heat and crisp texture for those who like extra spice
- Yellow mustard – Adds tangy acidity that brightens all the rich flavors in the dish
How to Make Frito Pie
- Heat the chili in a small pan or in the microwave.
- Place Fritos in the bottom of a bowl.
- Pour the heated chili on top of the Fritos.
- Sprinkle cheese on top.
- Sprinkle chopped onions on top.
- Place sour cream, jalapeno slices, and mustard on top if desired.
Scaling Tips
- Party Size: Set up a topping bar and let guests build their own for easy entertaining
- Individual Portions: Use snack-size Frito bags for perfect single servings
- Large Batch: Keep chili warm in a slow cooker and provide multiple topping stations
Storage & Reheating Instructions
- Best Fresh: Frito pie is best consumed immediately after assembly to maintain the chip crunch
- Leftover Chili: Store unused chili in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and reheat as needed
- Not Recommended: Do not store assembled Frito pie, as chips become soggy quickly
Love pie for dinner? Try these savory pie recipes!
Favorite Comfort Food Recipes
- Chicken Fried Steak
- Chicken Noodle Casserole
- Chili Cheese Tater Tots
- Crockpot Cheesy Potatoes
- Ground Beef Casserole
- Hamburger Beef Stroganoff
- Hamburger Tater Tot Casserole
- Salmon Patties
Check out more of my savory pie recipes and the best comfort food recipes here on CopyKat!
Thanks to my friend Denise we have the Frito Bandito!
Frito Pie Recipe – Easy Southern Comfort Food
Ingredients
- 1 cup Fritos corn chips
- 10 ounces chili
- ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon chopped onions
Optional Toppings
- Sour Cream
- Yellow mustard
- Jalapeno pepper slices canned or fresh
Instructions
- Heat chili in a pan or in the microwave.
- Place the Fritos corn chips in a bowl.
- Ladle hot chili on top of the Fritos.
- Sprinkle cheddar cheese on top.
- Sprinkle onions over the cheese.
- Top with sour cream, jalapeno slices, and mustard if desired.
The first one I ever had was in Texas at a school carnival. They took an individual bag of Fritos , cut it down the side, poured the chili and cheese and topped it with onions and we just ate them right out of the bag. They served them the same way at the high school football games. YUMMY!!!
Peggy Hill makes a damn fine Frito pie
I live in Albuquerque, NM and this is similar to an authentic Frito pie. Anyone who uses canned items to make this dish is really lost. It is so easy to make without canned ingredients: First start with cooking pinto beans in water (stovetop on simmer for 4 hours, Crockpot 8 hours, pressure cooker 1.25 hours) Salt beans after they are cooked. Second item, cook real Hatch dried red chile (blend red chiles in water, garlic and salt to taste until smoothe; or buy frozen Bueno red chile and season as above). 3rd, Brown hamburger meat drain and add red chile to meat, salt to taste. once all items are cooked, serve into a bowl of Fritos, and top with cheese, tomatoes, onion, sour cream. That’s an authentic Frito Pie from Abq. NM.
So when I called this my guilty pleasure part of that is the fact that when you get these out the majority of the time it canned chili. I personally love homemade chili.
St. Louis twist… add sliced hot links. Savory, sweet, and spicy! Yum!
That is an interesting suggestion. I never had hot links on a frito pie.
I have made Frito Pie for years. Putting a can of chili on Fritos is NOT it. Too bad the chili recipe was not included.
Tom, here was the recipe that I often use for chili. Here in Texas while it may not be the greatest, don’t ask me why, but 9 out of 10 times I see it served with canned chili. https://dicksstaffsoffer.us/wendys-chili/%3C/p%3E
Sour cream and Banana peppers on top!!
Sounds tasty!
I actually use chili cheese fritos.!
This forgo pie is so good.
Love it so much, was one of my favorite things to get at lunch in elementary and middle school
If you like Frito Pie you might like tamale pie too…. its basically the same concept as Frito Pie except you add a can of tamales. I layer the fritos, then chili and onions and then i put the cut up tamales on top and cover it with cheese and bake it in the oven for 45 minutes at 375 its awesome and my husband loves it!
we make this with sloppy joe sauce w/ ground beef instead of chili. the mustard was a nice touch I thought.
I am so glad someone liked my mustard 😉
I was born and raised in the south and was surprised at how many people have never heard of Frito pies! YUM!!! I’ve never put mustard on one but will definitely give your version a try. I love to eat Wendy’s chili on a baked potato so I’ll be trying that too. 😀 Also, top some home made fries with chili and cheese. YUM!!! As for the onions, grilled or sauteed!!!! I’m not much for the raw version. I love your website and have followed it for years!
frito pie with 1 lb of ground beef,cut sliced tomato’s,lettuce,chili(wolf brand)american shredded cheese and corn chips..
I have never done the sliced tomatoes.
frito pie with 1 lb of ground beef,cut sliced tomato’s,lettuce,chili(wolf brand)american shredded cheese and corn chips..
These are awesome. We started at the Knoxville World’s Fair. Check out their site for a location near you!
At our house, it’s fritos, fresh pinto beans, home made chili, cheese, onions, maybe some chopped tomato. No mustard. That’s a new one on me.
I got the squeeze of yellow mustard when I lived in Timpson, Texas. It was pretty popular there.
i grew up in marshall…about 40 miles from TIMPSON…..i had totally forgotten about the
frito pkg deal….??omg….i am a child of the 70s…..thanks for reminding me about the slit pkg…i think they did those at like the little stands where you bought over priced sodas and hot dogs…….lol
Thank you for explaining. I was wondering about the mustard!
In reading through this string – up in the NW – a bag of Fritos, chili, grated cheddar cheese and onions is call a “Belly Buster” – great for camping . . .
I think this is known all around with different names.
I’m from West Texas and have never heard of mustard on Frito Pie. However, it sounds good.
Try putting your frito pie in a flour tortilla and roll it up. I know it sounds really weird, but Sonic sells them like that (called Frito Wraps). They are very good!
This is almost like a Petro and is Soooo Good. BUT – you have to have a BIG spoonfull of sour cream on top!!!
Have had something similar to this in Jedburgh, Scotland but having no onion or mustard.
There was a dollop of sour cream on top.
It is called Pub Food and is DELICIOUS!!!
Up until last year the hotel was the longest running pub in Scotland!!!
Mustard doesn’t go with it. That’s an Okie thing – that I just learned about yesterday actually, and I’m a Texan (Houston, Austin). I’m assuming the author moved to a part of Texas that was very close to the Oklahoma border then.
See comment below
Actually I am the author 😉 I have never lived in Oklahoma, nor am I an Okie. I did drive through there once. I live in Houston, Texas. The mustard on the Frito Pie was introduced to me by a native Texan, and you know I just love Frito Pies with mustard, but if you come to my house for a Frito Pie, I won’t make you eat it with mustard!