Crockpot Frito Pie - Easy Dinner Recipe that's Loved By Kids and Adults. (2024)

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Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with our Crockpot Frito Pie recipe. This hearty dish combines layers of flavorful chili, crispy Fritos, and melted cheese, slow-cooked to perfection. Easy to make and irresistibly delicious, this Slow Cooker Frito Pie is a crowd-pleaser that will satisfy your cravings. Get ready for a mouthwatering Tex-Mex delight that will have everyone asking for seconds!

Crockpot Frito Pie - Easy Dinner Recipe that's Loved By Kids and Adults. (2)

Slow Cooker Frito Pie

Crockpot Frito pie is a scrumptious, soul-warming dish that takes comfort food to a whole new level. That’s what you get with Crockpot Frito Pie. Just imagine layers upon layers of savory chili, loaded with tender meat and aromatic spices, mingling with the perfect crunch of crispy Fritos. And let’s not forget about the gooey, melted cheese that blankets the entire creation, turning it into a melty, cheesy heaven. Whether you’re hosting a casual get-together, feeding your hungry family, or simply craving some comforting indulgence, Crockpot Frito Pie is the answer you’ve been looking for.

We also have a Baked Frito Pie Recipe if you rather use your oven.

What You Need

  • For the Chili: You can use your favorite chili recipe, but for this recipe I am using lean ground beef, onion, peppers, chili seasoning, garlic, green chiles, beans, tomato sauce, sugar and corn starch. You can also try my favorite Cincinnati Chili recipe.
  • Cheddar cheese
  • Frito Corn chips
  • Toppings
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How to Make Crockpot Frito Pie

Make the chili: Brown the ground beef and drain the grease. Add ground beef mixture and the rest of the chili ingredients to the slow cooker and stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for 4- 6 hours.

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Right before serving: 5 minutes before serving, stir in the cheese. Top with half of the corn chips and then the rest of the cheese. Cover until the cheese has melted.

Serve: Place the remaining chips on a plate and add the the Frito pie on top. Add your favorite toppings.

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Tips, Tricks, and Variations for Crock Pot Frito Chili Pie

  1. Layer it up: To achieve the best flavors and textures, layer your ingredients. Start with a generous layer of Fritos at the bottom of your slow cooker, followed by a layer of chili, then another layer of Fritos, and continue until you run out of ingredients.
  2. Customize the chili: Experiment with different types of chili to suit your taste preferences. Whether it’s a classic beef chili, a spicy vegetarian version, ground turkey, or even a white chicken chili, the choice is yours. Adjust the seasonings and spices accordingly to enhance the flavors. If tacos are more you speed, you can also use a taco seasoning and make this more like a taco frito casserole.
  3. Spice it up: If you like a little kick, don’t be afraid to add some heat. Sprinkle in some cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, or even diced jalapeños to give your Frito Pie a spicy twist.
  4. Toppings galore: Elevate your Frito Pie experience by adding an array of toppings. Some popular options include chopped fresh diced tomatoes or salsa and lettuce, chopped onions, sliced black olives, diced avocado or guacamole, sour cream, and fresh cilantro. Let everyone customize their own bowl with their favorite toppings.
  5. Crunchy perfection: To maintain the desired crunchiness of the Fritos, add them just before serving. This way, they retain their texture and provide a delightful contrast to the tender chili and melted cheese.
  6. Make it a meal: While Frito Pie is a fantastic standalone dish, you can turn it into a complete meal by serving it with a side of fresh salad, vegetables, like Easy Honey Glazed Carrots or Parmesan Zucchini, or even some honey cornbread muffins for a comforting and satisfying dinner.
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Other Easy Crockpot Dinners:

  • Crockpot Cashew Chicken
  • Slow Cooker Chili Mac
  • Crockpot Crack Chicken with Bacon

Crockpot Frito Pie - Easy Dinner Recipe that's Loved By Kids and Adults. (8)

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Crockpot Frito Pie

Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with our Crockpot Frito Pie recipe. This hearty dish combines layers of flavorful chili, crispy Fritos, and melted cheese, slow-cooked to perfection. Easy to make and irresistibly delicious, this Slow Cooker Frito Pie is a crowd-pleaser that will satisfy your cravings. Get ready for a mouthwatering Tex-Mex delight that will have everyone asking for seconds!

Servings: 6 servings

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 4 hours hrs

Total: 4 hours hrs 14 minutes mins

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Ingredients

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 small onion diced
  • 1 green bell pepper diced
  • 1 red bell pepper diced
  • 1 ounce chili seasoning
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 4 ounce diced green chiles
  • 15 ounce chili beans undrained
  • 15 ounce black beans rinsed and drained
  • 29 ounce tomato sauce
  • ½ tablespoon cornstarch
  • ½ tablespoon sugar
  • 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded, divided
  • 9.25 ounce corn chips
  • Toppings scallions, sour cream, etc

Instructions

  • In a medium skillet over medium high heat, brown and drain your ground beef.

  • To your slow cooker add the ground beef, onion, bell peppers, chili seasoning, garlic, green chilies, chili beans, black beans, tomato sauce, cornstarch and sugar.

  • Stir to combine.

  • Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours.

  • 5 minutes before serving stir in 1 cup of cheddar cheese.

  • Top with half the bag of corn chips.

  • Top the chips with the remaining shredded cheese.

  • Cover just until the cheese melts.

  • Place the remaining chips on your plates and spoon the frito pie on top.

  • Top with your favorite toppings, serve!!

Last Step:

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Nutrition

Calories: 728kcal | Carbohydrates: 71g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 1765mg | Potassium: 1560mg | Fiber: 16g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 4029IU | Vitamin C: 60mg | Calcium: 420mg | Iron: 8mg

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Categories:

  • Beef
  • Cooking Method
  • Dinner Ideas
  • Recipes
  • Slow Cooker

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Crockpot Frito Pie - Easy Dinner Recipe that's Loved By Kids and Adults. (2024)

FAQs

What to eat with Frito Pie? ›

The best side dishes to serve with Frito Pie are Spanish rice, guacamole, Tostilocos, pineapple salsa, Birria Quesadillas, pico de gallo, creamed corn, eggplant salad, Tabasco, chicken burrito bowl, sweet potato fries, black bean salad, chips and salsa, roasted jalapeños, and cornbread.

What do you call a bag of Fritos and chili? ›

What is Frito Pie? Despite its name, Frito pie is not pie at all but rather a pile of Fritos with chili on top. The humblest version of the dish is served from the chip bag itself: The bag is typically placed in a paper boat and split down the middle, and the chili is poured right inside.

What is a Frito Pie called? ›

Frito pies are sometimes referred to by the name walking taco or Frito boat, and can be made in a small, single-serving bag of corn chips, with chili, taco meat, chickpeas, pork rinds, pepitas, and many other varied ingredients, poured over the top.

Do Fritos only have 3 ingredients? ›

Ingredients. Corn, vegetable oil (corn and/or canola oil), and salt.

What state is known for Frito pie? ›

The similarly simple Frito pie is surprisingly (and famously) controversial, with the classic concoction of meat, chile (or chili, depending on the regional variety), cheese, beans, and, of course, Fritos, claimed by at least two possible points of origin: New Mexico and Texas.

Is Frito pie a Texan thing? ›

(NEXSTAR) — It may be a Texas classic and you may like to consider it a Texas creation, but the origin of the Frito Pie — the cheesy, crunchy county fair treat — is not so cut-and-dry. In fact, Texas is in a long-standing rivalry with another state for birthplace bragging rights.

What is the worlds largest Frito pie? ›

The largest Frito pie weighed 601.01 kg (1,325 lb), and was assembled by Frito-Lay (USA) at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas, Texas, USA, on 1 October 2012.

Does mustard go on Frito chili pie? ›

Sprinkle some shredded lettuce on top of the chili. Sprinkle some diced tomatoes on top of the lettuce. Squeeze in a hearty squirt of yellow mustard, if desired. Sprinkle onions on top, if desired.

What does Fritos stand for? ›

C.E. Doolin launched “Fritos” in 1932, inspired by a recipe he had purchased from Gustavo Olguin, a Mexican-American restaurant owner in San Antonio, where Doolin had worked as a fry cook. Olguin's “fritos” (the name came from the Spanish word frit, meaning fried) were small fried corn chips made from masa dough.

What can I put in chili besides Fritos? ›

toppings, sides & accessories
  1. cornbread I have multiple versions in The Pretty Dish!
  2. tortilla chips.
  3. fritos.
  4. flaming hot cheetos.
  5. tater tots.
  6. queso dip in a little slow cooker.
  7. freshly grated cheese monterey jack, cheddar, havarti.
  8. crumbled feta cheese or queso fresco.
Oct 5, 2018

What are Fritos Mexican? ›

Fritos are made by deep-frying extruded whole cornmeal, unlike the similar tortilla chips, which are made from cornmeal and use the nixtamalization process (known as masa). It is one of two brands representing Frito-Lay along with Lay's.

What is a patsy pie? ›

The English word "pasty" derives from Medieval French (O.Fr. paste from V. Lat pasta) for a pie, filled with venison, salmon or other meat, vegetables or cheese, baked without a dish. Pasties have been mentioned in cookbooks throughout the ages.

Why is it called possum pie? ›

Rather, this Arkansas specialty earned its nickname because it “plays possum,” meaning it also tries to fake out diners with a deceptive appearance. The standard explanation is that the pie's thick top layer of whipped cream obscures secret layers of flavoring beneath it.

Who made the first Frito pie? ›

Alas, no recipes are mentioned in any of these notices, leaving an opening for Lillian Townsend of Durant, Oklahoma, to sneak in from north of the Red River in February 1948 and become the author of what is now the earliest known Frito pie recipe: her casserole-style version is basically a quick-and-dirty scratch chili ...

What's the difference between a walking taco and a Frito pie? ›

Unlike a walking taco, a Frito pie is always made with, you guessed it, Fritos. But that's not even the main difference between the two foods—the thing that sets a Frito pie apart from a walking taco is that a Frito pie is topped with chili instead of taco meat.

Is Frito pie a New Mexico thing? ›

Frito Pie® is a New Mexico favorite, you can find this almost everywhere but many locals say the only way to eat a Frito Pie is from the bag of Fritos. All of the ingredients are added to the "one serving" bag of chips and you enjoy them from there. This is a piece of every New Mexican's childhood!

Are Fritos vegan or vegetarian? ›

Since 1932, Fritos has provided snack-hungry Americans with a Texas twist on the tortilla chip. Fritos' unflavored deep-fried corn chips are gluten-free with no artificial flavors, preservatives, or MSG. These classics contain just three ingredients—corn, corn oil, and salt—making them vegan-friendly.

What are the ingredients in Fritos sweet chilli? ›

Maize (69%), Palm Oil (Palm Fruit & Maize Germ) with Antioxidant (TBHQ), Salt, Vegetable Powders (Onion, Garlic), Sugar, Acidity Regulators (E330, E262), Hydrolised Vegetable Protein (Soya) Spices (Paprika, Chili, Ginger), MSG (Flavour Enhancer (E621)), Anticaking Agent (E551), Flavourings (Soya, Wheat), Yeast Extract ...

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