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BEST Chili Cheese Frito Pie

7/12/15

This Best Chili Cheese Frito Pie is the perfect weeknight meal. It's quick and filling!
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.

This Best Chili Cheese Frito Pie has layers upon layers of flavor!
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.

You can use canned chili for this Best Chili Cheese Frito Pie, but homemade chili is SO easy and SO worth it!

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.

Your family will love this Best Chili Cheese Frito Pie!

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.

There is a kaleidoscope of colors and flavors in this Best Chili Cheese Frito Pie!

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.

The Best Chili Cheese Frito Pie will quickly become a family favorite.

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!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Best Chili Cheese Frito Pie

This Best Chili Cheese Frito Pie is layered with flavor! It's quick and filling, a great weeknight meal your family will love.
Course Main
Cuisine Mexican
Keyword Best Chili Cheese Frito Pie
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Assembly 5 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 6 people
Author I Heart Recipes

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

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Filed Under: All Posts Tagged With: casseroles, family favorites, family night, quick and easy

Comments

  1. BARBARA says

    July 12, 2015 at 8:47 pm

    THANKYOU,THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      July 14, 2015 at 11:09 am

      You are welcome! XOXO

      Reply
  2. Spike says

    July 12, 2015 at 9:07 pm

    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

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      July 14, 2015 at 11:09 am

      Thanks Spike

      Reply
  3. Kathy Hutcheson says

    July 13, 2015 at 4:43 am

    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!

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      July 14, 2015 at 11:08 am

      Enjoy!

      Reply
  4. Raymond Pegram says

    July 14, 2015 at 6:46 am

    Looks great, will try tonight.

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      July 14, 2015 at 11:08 am

      Enjoy!

      Reply
  5. Neeli @ Neeli's Unique Creations says

    July 14, 2015 at 2:05 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      July 14, 2015 at 2:12 pm

      Awesome. Enjoy! XOXO

      Reply
  6. Jania says

    July 17, 2015 at 8:29 am

    This was a hit with the family last night!!! So easy and soooo good!! 🙂

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      July 17, 2015 at 8:06 pm

      I’m glad that you liked it!

      Reply
  7. mary strawder says

    July 17, 2015 at 6:20 pm

    The chili pie was delicious. keep the recipes coming

    Reply
    • mary strawder says

      July 17, 2015 at 6:22 pm

      This is the best chili pie i ever ate, thanks for sending it to me
      have a great weekend.

      Reply
      • Rosie says

        July 17, 2015 at 8:05 pm

        Thanks for trying my recipe Mary! XOXO

        Reply
  8. STEPHANIE says

    July 24, 2015 at 8:16 pm

    Rosie, this is delicious and very old skool! We love it!
    Thanks Rosie!

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      July 29, 2015 at 3:05 pm

      Thanks for coming by!

      Reply
    • wanda sapp says

      January 12, 2017 at 6:11 am

      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!!!

      Reply
  9. Tiffany says

    August 18, 2015 at 5:40 am

    Trying this recipe tonight! I can’t wait.

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      August 18, 2015 at 5:00 pm

      Enjoy! 🙂

      Reply
  10. sonya says

    October 16, 2015 at 2:32 pm

    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 🙂

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      October 21, 2015 at 4:09 pm

      Thank you Sonya!

      Reply
  11. Destiny says

    January 28, 2016 at 5:38 pm

    I am bout to make this cant wait to try it

    Reply
  12. Climmie says

    February 17, 2016 at 10:39 am

    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!

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      February 17, 2016 at 10:05 pm

      Hi Climmie! This recipe should easily feed about 6 people. You can certainly save the chili for another date. It’s freezable 🙂

      Reply
  13. Elizabeth Perry says

    November 1, 2016 at 5:43 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      November 2, 2016 at 4:15 pm

      Hi Elizabeth. It would 1 tbsp granulated sugar, and 2 tsp minced garlic.

      Reply
  14. Kyle Gabbard says

    December 11, 2018 at 10:47 am

    Im from the Pacific Northwest and frito pie is nowhere to be found here. Can’t wait to try out this recipe.

    Reply

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Hi, I’m Rosie!

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