Frito pie is an authentic Mexican snack that is easy to make and perfect for your next Mexican Mexican-themed gathering. This recipe includes step-by-step instructions, ingredients, and the traditional way to serve the dish.
Origins
Frito pie is an American dish that features a mixture of chili, cheese, and corn chips. This snack food is a common staple in the South and Midwestern US. It’s usually served in a corn chip bag and is often topped with onions, jalapenos, or sour cream.
There are two main claims for the origin of Frito pie. One is that it was invented in San Antonio in the 1930s, while the other is that it was created in Santa Fe, New Mexico in the 1960s. The former has received the most credit.
However, the earliest Fritos recipe was published in 1949. A new book by Kaleta Doolin, daughter of Fritos inventor Charles Doolin, gives a different spin on the origins of Fritos.
It is also worth noting that Fritos was developed as a Mesoamerican staple. In fact, it has been around for 3,000 years. As such, it’s easy to imagine that Fritos came to the United States as an accidental Anglofication.
Regardless of who invented Frito pie, the dish has been reincarnated in many ways. It’s a popular treat at fundraisers, bingos, and state fairs. The humblest version is a pile of single-serve Fritos topped with chili and cheese.
For a while, Fritos was sold in a paper bag. Then, Fritos merged with Lay’s to form Frito-Lay. They dispensed 230 million pounds of corn per year.
Fritos were introduced into the United States in the 1930s. In the 1950s, Fritos became a huge hit in Dallas and Waco. Their popularity grew so quickly that they were moved to Dallas.
Some people believe that the Fritos Pie was invented by Daisy Dean Doolin, the mother of Fritos founder Elmer Doolin. She reportedly tinkered with a fruit cake recipe that featured Fritos. Another story claims that a woman in Santa Fe, New Mexico, created the Fritos Pie while working at a Woolworth’s store.
Regardless of the origin of Frito pie, it is still a favorite among sports fans, street vendors, and fundraisers. Whether you’re serving it with chili, cheese, or sour cream, it’s a fun and easy meal to prepare.
Ingredients
Frito Pie is a Mexican dish that is served in a casserole dish. It is a quick snack and is known as “taco in a bag.” You can find Frito pies at fundraisers, sports venues, open houses, and street vendors. Typically, it has ground beef, chili, Fritos, cheese, and onions. The toppings are entirely up to you.
To start, you will need corn chips, ground beef, chili, cheese, onion, and sour cream. If you have a can of crushed tomatoes, you can add that to your recipe.
Once you have your ingredients ready, you are ready to make your Frito pie. Start by sauteing your ground beef. When the meat is browned, add the onion. Stir until the onion is soft. Continue to cook the beef for another six to eight minutes.
While the beef is cooking, you can prepare your toppings. Chopped tomato, green chiles, shredded cheese, black olives, and sour cream are just a few of the toppings you can use.
If you prefer, you can omit the beans. You can also substitute ground chicken or turkey for the ground beef. Be sure to stir the meat mixture well to prevent it from sticking.
Finally, you will want to sprinkle your meat filling with cheese. Place your beef mixture in a medium-sized casserole dish. Use about half of the corn chips to line the bottom of the dish. Reserve about a cup of the corn chips for the topping.
Next, pour some enchilada sauce over the top of the meat filling. Spread the remaining corn chips over the top of the meat. Sprinkle some of the remaining cheese over the top of the enchilada sauce. This will create a crunchy layer on the top of your Fritos.
After the casserole has been baked, you can serve the Frito pie with a side salad, salsa, roasted tomato salsa, Mexican fiesta salad, or even Spanish rice.
If you like your Fritos a little mushy, you can omit the corn chips. However, you may need to add some water to the mixture to create the right consistency.
For extra flavor, you can mix your taco seasoning into the enchilada sauce. Also, you can sprinkle some hot sauce on the top of your Fritos.
Step-by-step instructions
When you are looking for a quick and delicious Mexican recipe, Frito pie is the perfect option. These corn chip casseroles are filled with taco seasoned ground beef and plenty of cheese. This dish is perfect for lunch, dinner or as a snack!
Frito Pie is a tasty Mexican recipe that is popular in the Southwest. It can be served with many toppings. For example, you can add shredded lettuce, chopped green onions, diced tomatoes, sliced black olives and hot sauce to your Frito pie.
Frito Pie can be prepared in a large baking dish or in a skillet. Generally, it takes about 30 minutes to cook. To prepare, begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees.
Next, add a little olive oil to your large skillet and place over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the ground beef and onions and brown it. The meat should be cooked for about five to seven minutes. Once the beef is cooked, stir in the enchilada sauce and the taco seasoning. Stir to combine and remove any excess fat.
After the beef mixture is cooked, you can add the green chilies and garlic. Stir to combine and cook for another minute. You can also substitute black beans for the pinto beans. If you are unable to find a green chili, you can use chili powder instead.
In addition to the enchilada sauce, you can sprinkle a bit of sour cream and salsa on top. Lastly, you can serve your Frito pie with guacamole.
One of the best parts of this dish is the ability to store leftovers for several days. However, the Fritos will become soggy if left out at room temperature for more than two hours. Store your leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
This recipe can be made a day in advance. Just make sure to cool it thoroughly before storing it in the freezer.
Frito pie can be reheated in the oven at 350 degrees for thirty to forty-five minutes. To keep the topping from becoming soggy, cover the fritos with foil. Remove the foil after about 10 minutes.
Traditional way to serve
Frito pie is a snack food that is popular in the United States. It is often served at fundraisers and state fairs, as well as sports venues and open houses. It is usually served in a single-serving bag of Fritos.
Although the origins of Frito pie are unknown, they are generally thought to be a Mexican or Mexican-American creation. Depending on the region, there are varying recipes for the dish. However, a basic recipe includes corn chips, chili, cheese and sour cream. These ingredients are typically topped with shredded cheddar cheese and raw onion.
To make the classic version, start by browning the beef in a pan. Once it’s browned, drain and return it to the pan with the remaining ingredients. The NM red chile sauce should be added along with the broth. This mixture will simmer for about 6 to 8 minutes before being drained.
For a more spicy and flavorful meat, you can add smoked paprika or cumin. Jalapenos are also a great option.
Alternatively, you can make your own homemade chili. Crushed tomatoes, pinto beans and green chili are other options. If you choose to make your own chili, you can add a variety of spices to the mix, such as chili powder, oregano and cumin.
Another option is to serve Frito pie casserole style. This recipe includes a base layer of Frito chips and a second layer of melted cheese. After the mixture is cooked, you can sprinkle on any additional toppings you like.
One of my personal favorites is Fritos on the Bottom. You can make these and store them for up to five days. Then, when you’re ready to enjoy your Frito pie, just slice off the top of the bag and you’re ready to eat.
When eating Frito pie, you should try to eat with a plastic fork. Because it’s a layered dish, you should also use a spoon to spread the mix over the beef.
While Frito pie is traditionally served with chili and shredded cheese, you can also top it with sour cream and jalapenos. There are a number of other optional ingredients you can add, including hot sauce.