This simple Frito Chili Pie recipe is so easy that you can put it together in ten minutes and bake it up in fifteen minutes. And we know everyone loves Fritos!
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Why we love this recipe
This is one of those recipes that does require you to eat a super healthy salad the next day, but it’s also a naughty, cheesy, crunchy favorite that needs to be enjoyed every once in a while, and here’s why!
It includes three things that pretty much everyone loves, as in chili, cheese and corn chips. Swoon.
It only calls for four ingredients…those three and an onion (which counts as a vegetable, right?).
It takes about ten minutes to put together, and fifteen to bake it up, which means dinner is ready in less than a half hour.
So grab that bag of Fritos and let’s make it!
Ingredients you need
Ingredient notes and substitutions
- Chili: We are using the canned version in this recipe and you can too (with or without beans), but you can also use a homemade variety. This Cinnamon Chili is one of our favorite homemade chili recipes.
- Fritos: You can use any brand of corn chips. Look for the ones that are the regular smaller size (as opposed to the larger “scoops” variety.
- Cheese: We love both orange and white cheddar with this recipe, but you can also use a Mexican blend, which also includes some Jack cheese.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities and nutritional information.
How to make this recipe
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350 and spray a 2 quart casserole with cooking spray. Spread half a bag of Fritos on the bottom, followed by half a chopped sweet onion and a cup of shredded cheddar cheese.
Step 2: Spread two cans of chili over the first layer, smooshing it all the way to the edges as best you can (a rubber spatula works great for this).
Step 3: Sprinkle the rest of the cheese over the top of the chili, pop it in the oven and bake it for 15 minutes until the cheese is nice and melty. And…you’re done!
Recipe FAQs
You can! You put it together in exactly the same way, only using individual baking dishes. This avoids arguments over who got more or less Fritos. 😂
I wish I could say yes, but nope. Putting it together ahead of time would make the Fritos soggy. And nobody wants a soggy Frito.
You will need about 4 cups of homemade chili.
Pop your question or suggestion in the Comments section below and I will answer pronto!
Want to round out your meal?
Okay, let’s get some veggies in there! We love this easy coleslaw alongside this casserole, or you can serve up some roasted green beans on the side.
And let’s keep things simple for dessert with this simple apple cake.
Other chili recipes we love
Could you leave us a review?
If you try this recipe, we would love to hear how it came out for you! I’d be super grateful if you could leave a star rating (you pick how many stars! 🌟 ) and your thoughts in the Comments section.
PrintFrito Chili Pie
5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star
4.8 from 4 reviews
Sometimes you just need a little Frito Chili Pie and that’s all there is to it. Here’s your easy recipe! And I do mean EASY.
- Author: Kate Morgan Jackson
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 2 15 ounce cans chili (or 4 cups of homemade chili)
- 1 9.25 ounce bag of Fritos or other corn chips
- 1 peeled and chopped sweet onion
- 2 cups shredded cheddar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 and lightly grease a 2 quart casserole
- Layer ingredients in casserole in this order: half of the Fritos, then all of the onion, then one cup cheese, then all of the chili, then the rest of the Fritos, then the rest of the cheese.
- Bake until bubbly, 15-20 minutes.
Notes
-
- Chili: We are using the canned version in this recipe and you can too (with or without beans), but you can also use a homemade variety. This Cinnamon Chili is one of our favorite homemade chili recipes.
-
- Fritos: You can use any brand of corn chips. Look for the ones that are the regular smaller size (as opposed to the larger “scoops” variety.
-
- Cheese: We love both orange and white cheddar with this recipe, but you can also use a Mexican blend, which also includes some Jack cheese.
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Farley says
As far as easy goes, this couldn’t be more simple. I stepped a bit outside the box and used a mix of hot chili from stags, as well as a nalleys original. I also used chili cheese Frito’s. I guess a little extreme. But 17 minutes later… Pretty damn good.
Kate Morgan Jackson says
Well, I think chili cheese Fritos are a brilliant idea! :)
Janet says
Amazing! I was looking for a quick and easy Frito corn chip pie recipe to use up some Frito corn chips and canned chili I had on hand. I didn’t expect too much of the recipe because it is so simple! It was so so delicious! My husband and I loved it. The chips in the bottom gave it a wonderful corn flavor and the chips on top gave it a wonderful crunch. So full of flavor!
Thanks for the quick and easy Frito chili pie recipe.
Kate Morgan Jackson says
Janet! I’m so glad you loved it – it’s one of our every once in a while/when we need a supper treat faves! :)
Rhonda says
I’ve made this several times. I modify it. Fritos, onion, chili, and cheese. Then top with salsa and sour cream after it’s baked.
Kate Morgan Jackson says
Love your additions! :)
Anonymous says
Ok, I know I am a year late in responding to this, but I was going to serve Frito Pie to my helper bees at a seminar I am attending. Having never made it, I was looking for a recipe. I laughed at your description till I blew coffee out my nose.
So, in my hotel room, I will heat the chili, open the bag of Fritos and the bag of cheese. I will set them out in their true packaging and serve. I figure if I get the scoop kind of Fritos, the gals can just scoop the chili and the cheese? Forget the veggie…. we have to be stuck in a hotel room together, so no onions!!
Thanks for a delightful recipe, and I know I have a new favorite recipe site!!
Donotha says
This one takes me back to 1960. Fritoly Pie was the first thing I learned to make!! Glad to see it is still around. Lets just have fun with it and enjoy and not talk about the rest. I love your site and your upbeat talk, keep it up!!
Kate Morgan Jackson says
I shot the onion with a continuous fluorescent light that simulates daylight, with the light three quarters back and two silver cards bouncing the light back in for fill. The onions are on a ceramic white plate, and the shot was cropped close enough that you don't se any of the background.
Anonymous says
Are you using a light tent when shooting the onions?
Jen says
We like to top the chips with chili, cheese, tomato, lettuce, avocado, olives, and sour cream. Gets a few more veggies in and I try to load up on lettuce to fill up the plate. At any rate, still tastes delish!
Jenna says
That is a good idea only buying a single serving bag of Fritos. Then I wouldn't be so tempted to make more of this after! This looks awesome BTW. :)
Kate Morgan Jackson says
Mel, OMG on the recipe, thank you!!! I will give it a try right away! And will check on the email, sorry about that. Thanks to everyone for all the variation suggestions.
Mel says
I make something similar but slightly more nutritous. We call it Frito Pie, even though it has no resemblance to pie. I couldn't get the email to work so I'll add it here.
1 lb. hamburger
1 C. onion
2 cloves garlic (⅛-¼ tsp. minced garlic)
1 tsp. oregano
8 oz. can tomato sauce
2 ½ C. water
1 can (6 oz.) tomato paste
2 Tbsp. sugar
1 ½ tsp. salt
2 dashes Tabasco
⅔C. rice uncooked
Pepper to taste
Fritos
Toppings
Cheese
Lettuce
Tomatoes
Salsa
Sour cream
Olives, etc.
Brown together hamburger, onion, garlic, and oregano. Add tomato sauce, water, tomato paste, sugar, salt, Tabasco, rice and pepper; cook until rice is done, approx. 30 min. Serve over Fritos. Top with desired toppings.
So yummy. if you like the Frito Chili Pie, you'll like this too.
Kate says
Yum. We call them Frito Boats. The ingredients are pretty similar…with the addition of jalapenos!
Andrea says
The only way to make this better would be some sliced jalapenos! And we make ours in dishes too, even as lifelong Texans, we've never once eaten a frito pie from a bag, lol! Hey, have you heard of, or seen the Cheeto Pie? Just switch out the fritos for cheetos and there ya go! My boss eats that on a regular basis, but I'm not a big fan. Interesting concept though, lol!
Notes from a Broad says
I think "trans fat" means it "transforms your normal thighs into fat thighs" but I could be wrong :)
Last night I made nachos for dinner, with chicken etc .. but this looks better :)
Posti4 says
We make this a little different. We add cream cheese and bake. Got to say they would be delicious either way. And the Frito trans fat thing made me feel good! Thanks so much!