Easy Cheesy Frito Pie Recipe

This easy Frito pie recipe is a comforting, crowd-pleasing dish loaded with bold flavors! Featuring a hearty beef and bean chili topped with melted cheddar cheese and crunchy Fritos, it’s the perfect weeknight dinner ready in just 40 minutes.

 

Easy Frito Pie Recipe

• Bold Flavors. You won’t believe how delicious this Frito pie recipe is. The ingredient list is short and sweet but the flavors really pack a punch! A quick chili simmers together with classic pantry staples for a savory meal the whole family will love.
• Quick and Easy. The best part about this recipe is how quickly it comes together. Make the simple chili, top it with cheese, and bake. Then add a hearty layer of crispy Fritos along with your garnishes of choice and dinner is done!

Ingredients for Frito Pie

• Yellow Onion: Adds a sweet and savory base flavor. White onion works as a substitute.
• Garlic: Enhances the depth of flavor. Use 1 teaspoon garlic powder if fresh isn’t available.
• Ground Beef (80/20): Provides a juicy, flavorful base. Leaner beef or ground turkey can be used instead but it will have a bit less flavor.
• Tomato Paste: Adds concentrated tomato flavor and depth. You can use tomato sauce or skip it if you don’t have any on hand.
• Brown Sugar: Balances acidity and enhances the chili’s richness. Granulated would work as well but I like the deeper flavor that brown sugar has.
• Spices: Chili powder and cumin come together to add warm, smoky, earthy flavor. Use your favorite chili seasoning or homemade chili seasoning!
• Chiles in Adobo: Provides a smoky, spicy kick. Skip if you prefer a milder dish.
• Rotel Tomatoes: Bring a flavorful tomato base with mild heat. Use fire-roasted diced tomatoes if you can’t find Rotel.
• Dark Red Kidney Beans: Adds texture and protein. Black beans or pinto beans can be substituted instead.
• Tomato Sauce: Creates a rich base for the chili.
• Medium Cheddar Cheese: Melts beautifully and adds a creamy, tangy richness. Sharp cheddar is great too!
• Fritos: The signature crunchy topping for this classic dish. Tortilla chips or fried tortilla strips would be delicious as well!

How to Make Frito Pie

Create the Base: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Saute onion and garlic. Add ground beef and brown, crumbling with a spatula. Stir in tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, brown sugar, and chiles in adobo. Cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently.

Add Tomatoes and Beans: Stir in Rotel tomatoes, kidney beans, tomato sauce, and a couple pinches of salt and pepper.

Simmer the Chili: Bring to a gentle simmer and cook uncovered for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Adjust seasoning as needed.

Assemble: Transfer chili to an 11.5 inch deep dish pie pan and top with shredded cheddar cheese.

Bake the Pie: Bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Add Fritos & Serve: Top with Fritos, garnish with sour cream and green onions, and enjoy!

Tips for Making Frito Pie

• Use a large cast iron skillet or a large saute pan to go right from the stovetop to the oven for added ease.
• Adjust spice level by increasing or reducing the chiles in adobo. A pinch of cayenne is another great way to add some heat.
• For a Tex-Mex twist, add black beans and a sprinkle of taco seasoning.

Make-Ahead Instructions

• Prepare the chili base ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to 2 days.
• When ready to serve, reheat, transfer to a baking dish, top with cheese, and bake.
• Then add Fritos and garnishes and serve!

Storing Leftovers

• Let the Frito Pie cool completely before storing it in an airtight container.
• Keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Freezing Frito Pie

• Freeze the chili mixture in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
• When ready to serve, thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
• Then reheat, add cheese, bake, and add Fritos.

Reheating Frito Pie

• Reheat in a 350°F oven for 15 minutes or until warmed through.
• If using a microwave, reheat in short intervals, stirring between each, and add fresh Fritos before serving for extra crunch.

Serving Suggestions

• easy cornbread casserole
• street corn pasta salad
• copycat Chipotle corn salsa
• 5-minute blender salsa
• easy homemade queso dip

Try these easy family dinner recipes next!

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