Easy Frito Pie is a classic comfort dish ready in just 30 minutes! This one pot skillet meal is loaded with hearty chili, melty cheese, and topped with crunchy corn chips. Perfect to throw together and dig in!
Easy Frito Pie
Frito pie is an absolute staple when it comes to the midwest and southern states. You’ll find this particular delicacy presented in a ton of different ways from fast food to sit down restaurants to food trucks with walking versions made right in a frito bag. For my version we’re keeping it simple with a one pot skillet rendition that goes from stove to supper table in 30 minutes. Frito chili pie consists of a super basic but hearty chili that’s nice and thick, gooey cheese, and Frito’s corn chips. You can dress yours up with some sliced jalapenos, a dollop or sour cream, diced green onions, tomatoes, avocado, or even some black olives. This is a meal in itself but if you need a little something extra you can always serve this alongside some spanish rice or a simple side salad.
Check out some more one pot comfort dishes like my quick and easy Spaghetti Pie or this flavorful Mexican Rice Casserole.
What if I don’t have an oven safe skillet?
If you don’t have a castiron or other oven safe skillet on hand then definitely put one on your next birthday/Christmas/holiday wish list because they sure come in handy! Plus that’s what keeps this a one pot meal. You could use a Dutch oven in place of the skillet. However, if you don’t have either one, you can start on the stove in a regular skillet or pot. Then transfer the chili to a 9×9 baking dish before topping and broiling in the oven.
How To Make Easy Frito Pie
- Heat. Heat a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat.
- Combine. Add the diced onion, ground beef, taco seasoning, chili powder, garlic powder, and salt and pepper. Stir to combine.
- Cook. Cook, breaking up the meat as you go, for 5-6 minutes until no longer pink. Drain any grease if necessary, and return the meat to the pan.
- Add. Add the chili beans and tomato sauce to the pan and stir to combine.
- Simmer. Turn the heat to low and allow the mixture to simmer for 10 minutes.
- Preheat. As that simmers, preheat your oven’s broiler to high.
- Top. Top the chili with cheese, then a layer of corn chips, and finish with a layer of the remaining cheese.
- Broil. Place the pan in the oven under the broiler for just 2-3 minutes until the cheese is melted.
- Serve. Serve immediately as is or with your favorite toppings and enjoy!
Storing Easy Frito Pie
Once cooled, store leftover frito pie in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can even make the chili ahead and heat, top,and broil when ready to serve!
You can also freeze this dish by storing the chili in an airtight zip-top baggie for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, just thaw the chili in the refrigerator. Heat in a large ovenproof skillet on the stove, then top, and broil as above.
Ingredients Notes for Easy Frito Pie
- Yellow Onion – A white onion would work if you’ve got it on hand already.
- Ground Beef – As lean as you can get it to cut down on the extra fat and grease. Ground turkey also works!
- Taco Seasoning – 1 packet of your favorite kind, or about 2 tablespoons if you make your own blend.
- Chili Powder – This won’t make the chili spicy but it does give us that distinct flavor.
- Garlic Powder – Add more or less to taste.
- Salt and Pepper – I like to use kosher (coarse) salt when I can.
- Chili Beans – Because this is a quick cooking chili, you will want to use chili beans not pinto or kidney beans. The chili beans, undrained, add a lot of good flavor to this dish. We like to use mild chili beans, but you can use spicy if you prefer.
- Tomato Sauce – Be sure to use sauce and not paste or the chili will be too thick.
- Hot Sauce – Note that the hot sauce is optional but my favorite is always Cholula! You could use whatever your favorite is such as Tabasco, Tapatio, or Frank’s.
- Shredded Cheese – Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, use whatever you have on hand. Bonus points if it’s freshly shredded!
- Corn Chips – I used traditional Frito’s but feel free to use any brand/flavor you prefer.
- Optional Toppings – Sour Cream, diced green or red onions, guacamole, lettuce, diced tomatoes, olives.
Enjoy!
~Nichole
Easy Frito Pie
Ingredients
- 1 Small Yellow Onion Diced
- 1 Pound Lean Ground Beef
- 1 Packet (2 TablespoonTaco Seasoning
- 2 teaspoons Chili Powder
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- Salt & Pepper To Taste
- 2 (15 Ounce) Cans Chili Beans
- 1 (8 Ounce) Can Tomato Sauce
- 1-2 teaspoons Hot Sauce optional
- Optional Toppings: Sour Cream, Diced Green or Red Onions, Guacamole, Lettuce, Diced Tomatoes, Olives.
- 2 Cups Shredded Cheese
- 2 Cups Fritos Corn Chips
Instructions
- Heat a large ovenproof skillet or dutch oven over medium-high heat.
- Add the diced onion, ground beef, taco seasoning, chili powder, garlic powder, and salt and pepper to taste.
- Cook, breaking up the meat as you go for 5-6 minutes until no longer pink. Drain any grease if necessary, and return the meat to the pan.
- Add the beans and tomato sauce to the pan and stir to combine. Turn the heat to low and allow the mixture to simmer for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, preheat your ovens broiler to high.
- Top the chili with half of the cheese, then the corn chips, then the remaining cheese.
- Place the pan in the oven under the broiler for just 2-3 minutes until cheese is melted.
- Serve immediately with your favorite toppings.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
My husband said this is some of the best Frito pie he’s ever had! I have to agree it was fantastic! Thank you for the recipe! I did not pour the Fritos on top of the mixture, just the cheese and broiled. Then put the Fritos in the bowl in the bowl so that I could have leftovers without soggy Fritos. Thank you!!
Absolutely fantastic my family loved it .
My family loves this pie! I’ve used cheddar cheese and the Mexican Style blend. What cheese do you use?
I love Frito Pie but in Texas we turn it upside down. Where we used to go specifically for this dish was served with Frito’s on the bottom topped with chili, no beans, then the cheese, onions, jalapeno’s, lettuce, tomato’s sour cream and guac. It is the one dish I miss the most since we moved. Might have to try this way next week.
I am eating Frito pie at this time. My husband and myself are enjoying it. For us the chili powder was just spicy enough, instead of chili beans I used Ranch Style beans and only one can. Thanks
Thank u for your posts!