Frito Chili Pie is an easy dinner recipe that can be made in either a crock pot or on the stove top!
Sometimes you just need some comfort food. If that food is topped with cheese and chips, so much the better. Since I’m trying to take off my post pregnancy weight, I cut down on the amount of cheese (just enough to dust over the top) and chips (a small handful).
The chili was already fairly healthy, and I found that I didn’t miss the extra chips and cheese. If you like to keep the chips crunchier, spoon the chili over the chips because it keeps the chips from getting soggy.
I’ve included directions for preparing this in the crock pot or on the stove. Either way, this Frito Chili Pie is a delicious, easy dinner!
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Frito Chili Pie – Crockpot or Stove
Frito Chili Pie is an easy dinner recipe that can be made either in a crock pot or on the stove top!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
- 3 cloves garlic peeled and minced
- 15 ounce can tomato sauce
- 15 ounce can diced tomatoes undrained
- 10 ounce can Ro-tel undrained
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground oregano
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1-2 tablespoon chili powder more or less to taste
- 1 tablespoon chipotle Tabasco sauce
- 14 ounce can kidney beans drained and rinsed
- 14 ounce can pinto beans drained and rinsed
- 1/4 cup corn meal
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 1 bag of Fritos
- grated sharp cheddar cheese sour cream, lettuce, or any other desired toppings
Instructions
- Brown ground beef in a pot over medium-high heat.
- Drain ground beef, and add garlic to ground beef. Cook for 1-2 minutes.
CROCK POT: Add browned ground beef to 5 qt or larger crockpot with tomato sauce, Rotel, salt, oregano, cumin, chili powder, Tabasco, and beans. Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours before serving stir.
- Add in cornmeal and water, if necessary.
- Cover, and cook an additional 30-60 minutes.
STOVE TOP: Add tomato sauce, Rotel, salt, oregano, cumin, chili powder, Tabasco, and beans to the browned ground beef. Stir to combine.
- Cover and let simmer, stirring occasionally, for at least 1 hour.
- Mix corn meal with water, and then add to the chili. Stir to combine and simmer for an additional 10 to 15 minutes.
- I like to top my chili with the Fritos so that they stay crunchy, but you can top Fritos with chili. Add any other desired toppings, and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
*Cook time is for stove top preparation.
**Nutrition values are estimates.
Nutrition facts per serving (1serving)
adapted from momswithcrockpots.com
Ginger Dennis says
When I was in school (a long time ago) you had the option of the cafeteria or the snack bar. I choose the snack bar and ordered a Frito chili pie. It was a (then a 5 cent bag) opened on the side with canned chili, onions if you wanted them and covered with grated cheese. You ate it out of the bag with a plastic spoon. I think it cost 15 or 20 cents.
Kate says
So good! Sounds like what they sold at the football games when I was in high school! =)
Colleen Sipes says
Hello! This is one of my favorite meals except I usually open a can of chili! LOL! I want to try and make this because it sounds delicious.
I do have a question though. When you say “cornmeal” do you mean cornstarch or cornflour? To me cornmeal is yellow and used to make cornbread. I’m a little confused. Is it to thicken the chili? Thank you for your help!
Kate says
Thanks! Yes, it’s just regular yellow cornmeal, and I use fine ground so that it isn’t too gritty. It does make it a little thicker and provides a little more texture to the chili. I’ve also made it when I didn’t have any cornmeal, and it still came out just fine. =)
Don says
you give directions for the corn meal and water after the section about making it in a skillet. I am a very novice cook. There is no direction on when the corn meal and water should be added when cooking in croc pot. I am going to take a gamble and do it when all other items are added. Will update if this was correct or not.
THANK YOU
D PLUMMER
Kate says
Sorry about that! I add it toward the end, and then I cook it for another 30-60 minutes.
PETRA says
Although they hold up well in crispness, I find the Frito’s are way too salty.
Kate says
You can certainly leave them off and just eat the chili without them.
Laura says
Can I cut back or omit the Tabasco sauce? I do not like a lot of heat in my food.
Kate says
Sure! You can cut it back or omit it.
Laura says
Thanks I think I will try it soon. Looks really good.
Marlene says
I do not know what Ro-tel is – can you please advise and if i cannot get this any suggestions as to what i can use in replacement? Thanks – the recipe sounds like one i would like to try but not sure of that ingredient.
Kate says
Ro-tel is a national brand of canned tomatoes with green chiles. You can use any brand of canned diced tomatoes with green chiles as a substitute. If you have any other questions, please let me know!
Julie Chesterman says
How many servings does this make?
Kate says
I’ve never measured it out, but it makes a fair amount. I’m sorry that I can’t give you an exact measurement.
Carol Jean Miranda says
What are u sposed to do w/ corn meal if making in crockpot Your directions were for stove top method when u said to simmer sounds good
Carol Jean Miranda says
If u r making this in crockpot, do u put corn meal and water into crockpot? If so how long to u let it cook. Your instructions for the cornmeal were directed to the stove top method. Sounds like a great dish
Kate says
Thank you for catching that! You can add the cornmeal in the hour of cooking (on low), and you won’t need to add the water with it. If you find that the cornmeal makes it thicker than you’d like, you can always add in a little extra water at that point.
carolyne says
you stated add cornmeal with no water in the one hour of cooking on low in crockpot ( I assume last hour). if cooking on high would you still add cornmeal same way or if not when would add it. thanks!
Kate says
Usually, on high it cuts the cooking time in half, but I haven’t tried it with the cornmeal. I would guess that you could add it during the last 30-40 minutes, though.
Joanne T Ferguson says
G’day! used to love Fritos, true!
Your photo brought me back to childhood today too!
Cheers! Joanne
Viewed as part of Food Friends Friday Chili Party
Kate says
One of my favorite things about food is the way that it can bring back memories!! Thanks so much for coming by and for your kind comments!! =)