Frito Pie
This Frito Pie recipe is the ultimate comfort food. Serve this with a side of sour cream and corn casserole and your family will be satisfied. I love making this when I am in a pinch for dinner. The ingredients are so pantry-friendly and it’s easy to make simple substitutions based on what you have. As for the toppings, you can use a variety of different cheeses, sour cream, avocado, guacamole, salsa, shredded lettuce, black olives, and even Velveeta Queso Dip! You could even add a layer of refried beans or rice to the bottom of the casserole dish!
How to Make It
Sauté diced onions, peppers, and garlic in olive oil until softened. Add ground beef and cook and crumble until cooked through. Drain any grease as needed.
Stir in seasonings. Add tomato sauce and diced tomatoes. Combine chicken broth with Masa Harina, add to the chili. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer. Simmer until the liquid has thickened and reduced, 10-15 minutes.
Transfer to a pie plate or 9 x 13 casserole dish. Top with Cheese.
Top with Fritos, bake uncovered at 350° for 13 minutes. Garnish with green onions. Serve with sour cream if desired. A side of Corn Casserole is great with this recipe.
Eating it from a Frito Bag
Frito Pie is often eaten directly from the bag! Instead of transferring to a casserole dish, you can top the skillet with cheese and place the lid on until melted. Then scoop the chili directly into a snack-sized bag of Fritos and eat with a fork! This is especially helpful if you’re camping. 😉
Crock Pot Method
Prepare the onions, peppers, garlic, and beef in a skillet on the stove top per instructions. Transfer to a Crock Pot and add seasonings, tomato sauce, and diced tomatoes. Combine the Masa Harina and chicken broth. Add to chili and stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4-5. Top with Cheese and cover until cheese is melted. Add Fritos just before serving.
PRO TIP: Reserve the juice from the diced tomatoes and set aside. Use only if you prefer to thin out the chili at any point.
Make Ahead Method
Refrigerator
Assemble the casserole and top with cheese, but don’t add the Fritos until ready to bake. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Keep covered and bake at 350° for 10 minutes without Fritos. Remove cover, add Fritos, and bake for 13 more minutes uncovered.
Freezer
Assemble the casserole and top with cheese, but don’t add the Fritos until ready to bake. Cover and freeze for up to 3 months. Let it defrost in the fridge overnight. Keep covered and bake at 350° for 10 minutes without Fritos. Remove cover, add Fritos, and bake for 13 more minutes uncovered. Alternatively, you can cover and bake from a frozen state at 350° for 1 hour. Remove cover, add Fritos and bake for 13 more minutes.
Storage
Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months. It’s better if the Fritos prior to freezing or refrigerating. Baked Chili Cheese Dogs are a great way to use up leftovers!
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