A quick and easy dinner that the family will LOVE!
It’s been pretty hot outside, and besides grilling- I have been sticking to quick and easy meals. You know, the kind of meal that take less than 45 minutes. Anyways, I couldn’t decided on what to make the other day so I asked my husband, and he suggested that I make Chili Cheese Frito Pie.
What is chili cheese Frito Pie you ask? Chili Cheese Frito Pie is a consist of delicious crunchy Frito Lay chips smothered in with homemade chili ( well my recipe has homemade chili..some people used canned chili), then topped with shredded cheddar cheese.
Must admit, when my husband first told me to it I thought that it sounded strange. Well, maybe not strange, but it just wasn’t something that I was used too. After having it for the first time, I was hooked! It was love at first bite! The crunchiness from the Frito Lay Chips, the perfectly seasoned meaty chili, and the loads of melted cheese… It was amazing.
Truth be told – the secret to this dish is ALL in the chili! So let me break down the chili game.
The chili that I make for my chili cheese Frito Pie is really simple to make, but don’t get it twisted- IT IS OFF THE CHAIN!!!
I use use regular 70/30 ground beef, and I seasoned it with seasoning salt( salt free seasoning), garlic, black pepper, cumin, and chili powder. SIMPLE STUFF RIGHT?! I then add in crushed tomatoes, onions, cilantro, tomato sauce, and water, and let everything simmer for about 20 minutes.
I personally don’t care for beans in this chili, BUT you can certainly add beans to your chili if you choose.
Let’s build the pie!
Building the pie is the super easy! You just layer the ingredients. Start of by placing the Frito Lay chips at the bottom of a casserole dish. Next, poor the homemade meaty chili over the chips, then top the chili off with cheese! I like to use a combination of cheddar and mozzarella cheese ( but mainly cheddar).
To add more color, and of course flavor, I like to add diced tomatoes and green onions on top of the cheese. That step is completely optional.
Simple Tips
- There are a few ingredients that I use that my son HATES, such as onions. If you have a child( or someone else) that isn’t a fan of onions, here’s a tip: Mince the onions up until they are very fine! ( I use my food processor)My son claims to hate onions, but he never complains when I minced them.. Why? Because he can’t see them!! LOL. Mince up those onions parents!!( unless someone is allergic to onions….in that case- leave them out!)
- You can use any type of Frito Lay chips that you want. I used the scoops for this recipe, but I have used the regular chips, and even the chili cheese flavored ones. ALL of them are good in my opinion!
- You may have more chili on hand than chips. If so, save the chili ( you CAN freeze it for a later day!)
- The chili is not only works for this recipe. Try using it for Chili Hot Dogs. Chili Cheese Fries, nachos, and etc!
- I used beef in the chili, but you can substitute the beef with ground turkey, or ground chicken.
Alright, so by now you’re probably wanting to make this chili cheese Frito pie. So I will stop chatting, and get right to it!
Best Chili Cheese Frito Pie
Ingredients
- 1 large bag of Frito Lay Chips I used the scoops
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 medium sized onion minced finely
- 3 green onions chopped
- 2 tbsp cilantro chopped
- 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
- 15 oz tomato sauce
- 1 cup water
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- 2 tsp seasoning salt or salt free seasoning I used salt free seasoning in the video.
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- green onions & diced tomatoes for garnishing optional
Instructions
Chili
- Season 70/30 ground beef with seasoning salt, garlic, black pepper, cumin and chili powder. Brown.
- Add in crushed tomatoes, onions, cilantro, tomato sauce and water.
- Let everything simmer for about 20 minutes.
Building the Pie
- Place the Frito Lay Chips at the bottom of a casserole dish.
- Pour the homemade chili over the chips.
- Top the chili with cheese. (I like to use a combination of cheddar and mozzarella cheese but mainly cheddar.)
- To add more color and flavor, add diced tomatoes and green onions on top of the cheese (optional).
Video
Watch the video tutorial
THANKYOU,THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!
You are welcome! XOXO
Nice job Ms Rosie,, common sense easy cookin always goes over sooooo well with family or folks, ! Sure appreciate u being there,,, and hi from hot dry Arizona!!! Spike
Thanks Spike
We are making chili Frito pie today! Happened to have all ingredients and can stay in today. It’s Really hot here on Fort Walton Beach, Florida!
Enjoy!
Looks great, will try tonight.
Enjoy!
Rosie, now this dish right here is something that I have to try. I love cooking, but sometimes you just don’t want to be in the kitchen all day, especially when it’s hot. I am trying this dish soon. Looks so good.
Awesome. Enjoy! XOXO
This was a hit with the family last night!!! So easy and soooo good!! 🙂
I’m glad that you liked it!
The chili pie was delicious. keep the recipes coming
This is the best chili pie i ever ate, thanks for sending it to me
have a great weekend.
Thanks for trying my recipe Mary! XOXO
Rosie, this is delicious and very old skool! We love it!
Thanks Rosie!
Thanks for coming by!
back in the eighties when i was very young we would pile up cheap no big name corn chips on top of chili. microwaves had just came out in the south and we would pile hoop cheese or cheddar cheese on top of it and nuke ’em for about 45 seconds. the picture of your frito lay pie caught my eye because it reminds me of how ours looked. we didn’t have a name for this dish it back then. yours looks scrumptious!!!
Trying this recipe tonight! I can’t wait.
Enjoy! 🙂
I made this for the first time last night and it turned out great my kids enjoyed it Thanks for having such easy and fantasic recipes you are the bomb.com keep giving us good food for the soul cant wait to try another recipe this weekend btw i will be following you instagram 🙂
Thank you Sonya!
I am bout to make this cant wait to try it
This looks so delicious! I plan on making this tomorrow. How many servings does this make ( I have a big family) and can I store the chili for another use at a later date? Thanks in advance!
Hi Climmie! This recipe should easily feed about 6 people. You can certainly save the chili for another date. It’s freezable 🙂
Hi there! I am looking to make this for a big group and I saw that in the video garlic and sugar where added but the amount was not listed in the recipe. Do you have that information? Thanks so much!
Hi Elizabeth. It would 1 tbsp granulated sugar, and 2 tsp minced garlic.
Im from the Pacific Northwest and frito pie is nowhere to be found here. Can’t wait to try out this recipe.