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Frito Pie: How to Make the Original Chili Pie

Published: Last Updated: by 449 words. | About 3 minutes to read this article.

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!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Jump to Recipe

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
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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!
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.
You'll find more helpful tips and variations in the body of the post.

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.

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. She's been around the culinary block more than once, turning simple ingredients into mouthwatering masterpieces. With a sprinkle of humor and a dash of wit, she makes cooking feel like a piece of cake (which she can also teach you to bake perfectly). When she's not conjuring up delicious dishes, you might find her sharing laughs with her family, reading by the fire, or scribbling down her next big recipe idea. Marye believes that a good meal and a hearty laugh are the best parts of life. Marye's a NY Times Bestselling author with 10 cookbooks under her belt and her recipes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Today, House Beautiful, Texas Living, Food & Wine, and many more.

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.

      Reply

      • 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

  3. Linda G Hensley says

    Being from Texas myself, this is exactly the way we always made it. I live in Utah now and it is sometimes hard to find Wolf Brand chili. Thankfully I have a wonderful recipe to make my own chili.

    Reply

  4. Bob says

    5 stars
    I came here for a frito pie recipe but got a softcore porn story about the author. Overall win.

    Reply

    • Marye says

      Bob... honey... if you consider this soft porn you are definitely not from around here. Put the controller away and ask if you can come out of the basement.

      Reply

  5. ELIZABETH says

    Fritos & Wolf Brand chili, both born in Texas. They make perfect partners, and grace our menu at least once a month, when neither myself or my husband are in the mood to cook. And to make clean up easy, we prepare it concession stand style. No shame in my book to share recipes like this. Keep 'em comin'!

    Reply

  6. Chris Casey says

    I see that this an old post, but I just had to leave you a note!
    Your comments before the recipe is painful reading. I my song too. Now, at the age of 72, I can feel the emotion as if it happened yesterday. Isn't it terrific that you have created a wonderful life for your self in spite of a rocky start! Your web site is the best. !!

    Reply

    • Marye says

      Thank you Chris! My life is SO much better now... But yeah.. it's a hard thing to go through. Thanks for reading!

      Reply

  7. Ceinwyn says

    This is exactly the sort of thing my husband ADORES while I sigh for Thai food. On the plus side he really, really loves me for making things like this, so now I have to make it. The downside is...the gas:)

    Reply

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