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Main Dish

Quick And Easy Frito Chili Pie

Enjoy a quick and cheesy Frito chili pie! This fun twist on chili is perfect for busy nights or game day and is sure to become a new family favorite.

Quick And Easy Frito Chili Pie
Quick And Easy Frito Chili Pie

This easy Frito Chili Pie recipe is an absolutely irresistible combination of crunchy Fritos, beefy chili, and ooey-gooey melted cheese. This fun and flavorful twist on chili is bound to become a new dinner favorite, perfect for busy nights or game day gatherings.

If you’re a fan of this Frito pie recipe, be sure to also check out my Creamy Taco Chili, Buffalo Chicken Chili, and Cheesy Chili Mac.

cheesy Frito pie

Why We Love This Frito Pie Recipe

  • Quick and easy. Prep time is minimal and it takes only 15 minutes to bake. Plus, it’s made with just a few simple ingredients that are easy to find at the grocery store.
  • Crowd-pleaser. Everyone loves this cheesy and beefy meal — it’s the ultimate comfort food! 
  • Versatile. You can serve Frito pie as a full meal or as an appetizer. 
  • Customizable. There are tons of different ways to modify this simple dish. Just switch up the cheese, chips, or chili to create your own signature version.
easy cheesy Frito chili pie on a baking sheet

What Is Frito Chili Pie?

Frito chili pie is a simple yet delicious dish made by layering crunchy Fritos corn chips with hearty chili and toppings like shredded cheese, diced onions, and sour cream. It’s a popular comfort food that’s easy to assemble and perfect for casual meals or game day gatherings. Whether served in a bowl or right in the bag of chips, it’s a fun and satisfying way to enjoy chili with a twist.

Frito pie ingredients

What’s In This Frito Pie Recipe?

This fun and flavorful twist on chili is bound to become a new dinner favorite.

For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

  • Fritos Chips – the salty corn chips are the perfect partner to a bowl of chili
  • Chili With Beans (Canned or homemade chili)
  • Shredded Cheddar Cheese – if you can shred your own cheese it melts much better than the pre-shredded cheese.
  • Optional Garnish: Chopped Yellow Onion And Chopped Cilantro, Sour Cream, or any toppings you’d prefer.
Frito pie step 1
Frito chili pie step 2
Frito chili pie step 3
frito pie on a baking sheet

Simple Directions For Making Frito Chili Pie

This Fritos pie recipe couldn’t be easier to make! Cheesy, beefy, and crunchy, you’ll want to put this simple dish in your regular menu rotation.

  1. Place the Fritos on the prepared baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  2. Spoon the chili onto the Fritos. 
  3. Add the cheese to the top of the chili.
  4. Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake.
  5. Once the cheese melts and the chili is warm, remove the pan from the oven.
  6. Top with garnishes and serve immediately.

When you are making this recipe, you’ll want to use the full recipe at the bottom of the page.

Fritos with chili and cheese on plates

Storage Tips

Refrigerate/Leftovers

Store any leftover Frito pie in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The chips will lose their crispness, but you can toss in some fresh chips to add a little crunch to your reheated meal!

Freeze

I don’t recommend freezing leftover chili Frito pie because the chips will become soggy.

Variations or Additions

  • Chips – Swap out the Fritos for other varieties of crunchy corn chips. 
  • Meat – Instead of a beefy chili use white bean chicken chili or turkey chili. Or omit the meat altogether and make a vegetarian chili to spoon over the Fritos.
  • Cheese – Trade out some or all of the cheddar for another shredded cheese like Monterey Jack or mozzarella. 
  • Beans – If you prefer not to include beans, use a beanless chili. 
  • Garnishes – Sprinkle on some black olives, shredded lettuce, jalapeno peppers, bell peppers, tomatoes or green onions. You can also add salsa, enchilada sauce, pico de Gallo, or a dollop of sour cream. Sprinkle some extra Fritos on top.
  • Seasoning – Stir chili powder or taco seasoning into the chili.
  • Heat – Add cayenne pepper powder, hot sauce, or Sriracha to spice it up.
  • Beans – You can add more beans — try black beans, kidney beans, or pinto beans. Or switch it up with garbanzo beans or cannellini beans.
easy Frito chili pie with a fork on a plate

Kitchen Tips For Success

  • If you’re short on time, an easy way to get this dish together even more quickly is to heat the chili on the stovetop or in the microwave before topping the Fritos with it. Then, simply add the cheese and let it melt on top of the hot chili.
  • For parties, switch up the recipe to make walking tacos by offering a single-serving bag of Fritos or corn chips and allowing guests to top it with hot chili and cheese. Easily keep the chili warm by keeping it in a slow cooker or in a large pot on the stove.
  • This easy Frito pie is a great base for all of your favorite toppings. You can add them yourself, or for gatherings, you can offer a topping bar and let guests choose their own.
  • To make a larger portion, use a casserole dish and double the recipe. 
  • If you’re making your own chili recipe, use lean ground beef (85-90% lean) to minimize excess fat.

Frito chili pie is the perfect mix of crunchy, savory, and satisfying, making it an easy go-to for busy weeknights or casual get-togethers. Give it a try, and it might just become your new family favorite!

Frito chili pie photo collage

Like This Recipe?

I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a review below and let me know how you liked the recipe!

Pin on Pinterest Leave a 5-Star Review cheesy Frito pie

Frito Chili Pie

Yield: 6 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

Whip up this easy cheesy Frito chili pie for a quick and delicious meal! This fun and flavorful twist on chili is bound to become a new dinner favorite, perfect for busy nights or game day.

Ingredients

  • 9.25 ounce bag Fritos chips
  • 2 (15 ounce) cans chili with beans (or use homemade chili
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • Optional garnish: ¼ cup chopped yellow onion and ¼ cup chopped cilantro, sour cream

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400° F. Line a 9x13 baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Pour the Fritos to the prepared baking sheet. Or add a single size serving of corn chips onto individual plates or bowl.
  3. Top the Fritos with chili. 
  4. Sprinkle the cheese on top. 
  5. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes or until the chili is heated through and the cheese has melted. Serve with desired toppings.

Notes

This recipe is great with your favorite homemade chili, or grab some canned chili at the grocery store to make it a quick easy meal!

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6
Serving Size: 1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 462
Total Fat: 27g
Saturated Fat: 7g
Trans Fat: 0g
Unsaturated Fat: 17g
Cholesterol: 47mg
Sodium: 678mg
Carbohydrates: 41g
Fiber: 6g
Sugar: 3g
Protein: 17g

Nutrition information is estimated based on the ingredients and cooking instructions as described in each recipe and is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Please note that nutrition details may vary based on methods of preparation, origin, and freshness of ingredients used and are just estimates. We encourage, especially if these numbers are important to you, to calculate these on your own for most accurate results.

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