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Frito Pie: How to Make the Original Chili Pie

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This is the original Frito Pie Recipe, created by the wife of one of the Frito executives in the 1950s. It's a classic, perfect football game food or anytime you want something that's quick and easy that the whole family will love. There are a lot of variations but this is the original!
Total time for the recipe to be finished.15 minutes
Jump to Recipe
Chili over corn chip in a bowl.

This classic Texas recipe is served at every high school and college football game in the state.

Original Frito pie is a classic Texas recipe that's found at nearly every high football concession stand - addictively good. From RestlessChipotle.com

Frito pie is a classic Texas recipe that's found at nearly every high football concession stand as well as in many high end restaurants.

It's quick and easy, has many variations, and is addictively good. This is the original Frito Pie recipe, created by the wife of one of the Fritos executives in the 1950s. Plain, simple, and delicious! This post has been updated from the original February 2011 version.

I know. After I write this post about Frito pie I will need to create a new identity, dye my hair, and move to Far North Dakota, the frozen tundra... Frito pie? Really Marye?

Umm... yeah. Really.

I would love to tell you that I made homemade chili and hand fried the corn dough for the Fritos but I don't lie. Real Fritos, Wolf Brand Chili (no beans), a hunk of cheddar, and some sour cream. Welcome to my happy place. No one ever leaves. It is like the sailors in the Lotus Eaters:

Frito pie is a classic Texas recipe that's quick and easy! This is the original Frito Pie recipe, created by the wife of one of the Fritos executives in the 1950s. From RestlessChipotle.com

Frito Pie is a 3 minute dinner. You can make it in a casserole OR it would be fun for Super Bowl Sunday or any game day party to get the snack size bags and create Frito Pie high school football stadium style. Just open the bag sideways and dump in the chili then add your toppings.

It also is good made with this creamy white chicken chili!

Easy, right? And it is good. But please, don't tell anyone where you got the recipe. I have an image to uphold. 'K?

One more thing.

Frito Pie, delicious as it is, is not very photogenic.

Original Frito Pie recipe is a Texas Classic! SO quick and easy! From RestlessChipotle.com

📖 Recipe

Chili over corn chip in a bowl.

Authentic Texas Frito Pie

4.55 from 11 votes
Print Rate Recipe
This is the original Frito Pie Recipe, created by the wife of one of the Frito executives in the 1950s. It's a classic, perfect football game food or anytime you want something that's quick and easy that the whole family will love. There are a lot of variations but this is the original!
Course Dinner (quick and easy)
Cuisine Tex-Mex
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings:8 servings
Calories:566
Author:Marye Audet-White

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces Fritos Corn Chips, , a little more wouldn't hurt
  • 48 ounces Wolf Brand Chili, , no beans
  • 1 large onion, , chopped
  • 2 cups Cheddar cheese, , shredded

Instructions

  • Heat the chili until it is steaming hot.
  • Place Fritos in a lightly oiled casserole dish.
  • Cover with the chili.
  • Cover top with cheese.
  • Heat until cheese melts.
  • Serve sprinkled with onions and sour cream if desired.

Notes

 
You can also serve this right in the individual sized bags of Fritos. Just turn the bags on their sides, snip the top edge to open, and pour in the hot chili. That's the classic way it's served at football games around here.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 566kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 67mg | Sodium: 1073mg | Potassium: 574mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1585IU | Vitamin C: 5.1mg | Calcium: 313mg | Iron: 3.1mg

Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.

More Easy Family Dinner Recipes

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About Marye

Meet Marye Audet, a wizard in the kitchen and a storyteller at heart. Marye is like your eccentric but fun aunt who knows all the secret recipes and isn't afraid to spill them.

Comments

    4.55 from 11 votes (9 ratings without comment)

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  1. Big John CHA says

    This looks delicious, thank you for posting. Did the original recipe actually specify Wolf Brand?

    Reply

    • Marye says

      I'm not sure about that, honestly. I know that all the way through the 1970s, at every football game, it was Wolf Brand and Fritos.

    • Big John CHA says

      Ten-4, thank you.

  2. Kathy Robinson says

    5 stars
    We like Frito Pies and enjoy them whenever we have a cook-out. No matter what we are cooking, there will always be the makings for Frito Pies. But I have NEVER thought of putting them on our dinner menu. What a great idea!

    Reply