Frito Pie

Oh that’s right.

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With real life Fritos and everything.

I wanted to call this “Totally Healthier Frito Pie,” because it really kind of is. With the use of ground turkey, fresh veggies, some good kidney and pinto beans, some termaters, spices, corn, a piece of your heart, lightly salted Frito chippies and some good cheddar cheese? I mean it’s like, which door do you want me to shut? The front? Okay.

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By the way, you can totally use fresh corn if you want. I’ve just been recently diagnosed with the very serious Lazy Pants Syndrome, and one of the symptoms is cooking with Mexi-flavored canned corn.

It’s wonderful.

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When you bring this to the table, you need to be prepared for two things to occur, right before your very eyes:

1) The faces of your family will erupt in jubilation, like a 4th of July firecracker show, explosions ’round the table, like Pop Rocks in your mouth, but bigger, louder, scarier.

2) The faces of your family will then slide off their bodies, like the rivers of ecstasy, gently flowing in surrender, onto your brand new hardwood floors.

In other words, you deed guuuuuuud.

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But wear protective clothing. And maybe grab a mop.

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Do this.

Frito Pie:

What it took for 4:

* 2 tsp olive oil
* 1 pound ground turkey
* 1/2 red onion, finely diced
* 1 jalapeno, minced (seeded for less heat, sissy)
* 4 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 Tbs. chili powder
* 1 Tbs. cumin
* 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
* 1 (14.5 oz) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
* 1 (14.5 oz) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
* 1 (4 oz) can diced chiles
* 1 (11 oz) can Mexi-corn, drained
* 1-2 cups (or more!) Frito chips
* 1-2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
* coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

Preheat oven to 375.

Heat the oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high. Add the ground turkey; cook until browned all over, about 6 minutes. Add a pinch of salt and pepper.

Add the onions, jalapeno peppers and garlic. Sauté until veggies have softened, about 4 minutes. Add the cumin and chili powder; sauté another minute.

Add the tomatoes, beans, chiles and corn. Give a good pinch of salt and pepper to the mix and cook for 5 to 10 minutes, until it’s all combined and happy and in love.

Pour the mix into a baking dish (mine was 2 quarts. I bet a 9×13 would be perfect). Nestle the Fritos down in the chili mix. Not too far down in it, just sort of on top. Whatever you want! Top with shredded cheese and bake for 30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and slightly bubbling.

Garnish with cilantro, if desired and CLIMB IN.

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Ignore that cheeseless part at the bottom. You’ve met my husband, right?

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44 Responses to Frito Pie

  1. Tieghan June 3, 2013 at 7:51 am #
    Oh my gosh! I want this in my life tonight!! It looks so good! Seriously! Fritos! YES!
  2. Maria June 3, 2013 at 7:52 am #
    You actually made frito pie look somewhat appealing..ha!
  3. Amy @ The Nifty Foodie June 3, 2013 at 7:56 am #
    OMG...this looks insane!
  4. Cookbook Queen June 3, 2013 at 8:04 am #
    The front door. Shut it. This needs to be in my face. With haste (RHYME!! sort of)
  5. Julia June 3, 2013 at 8:36 am #
    Love me some frito pie, totally a guilty pleasure.
  6. Carly @ Snack Therapy June 3, 2013 at 8:46 am #
    After soccer games as a kid, our superstar parents would refuel our little bodies with walking Frito pies, aka a bag of Fritos topped with chili. But your version is wayyy healthier, especially if I use the Trader Joe's-brand Fritos, since we all know that anything from TJ's = healthy!
  7. Jess June 3, 2013 at 8:57 am #
    OH my gosh...how simple, yet, delicious!! Pinned!
  8. Heather June 3, 2013 at 9:21 am #
    I think you meant to write the number of servings as 1 and not 4, right? ;)
  9. Shelly (Pastry Shells) June 3, 2013 at 9:31 am #
    I had totally forgotten about frito pie! Umm... YES! Thanks for making it look fancy so I don't feel like a child when I make it! Love your posts... always!
  10. Ali | Gimme Some Oven June 3, 2013 at 9:32 am #
    That's definitely the most beautiful Frito Pie I've ever seen!
  11. cathie June 3, 2013 at 10:14 am #
    The roasted corn from the freezer section at trader joes would be sooooo good in this!
  12. Averie @ Averie Cooks June 3, 2013 at 10:43 am #
    I have made salmon cakes and a chili/cheese casserole with Fritos. They actually do a great job as breadcrumbs. Your pie looks great!
  13. Robyn Stone | Add a Pinch June 3, 2013 at 10:50 am #
    Mmmm. Yummmm!!! Frito Pie - Enough said!!!
  14. Amy @Very Culinary June 3, 2013 at 11:25 am #
    Frittos. And pie. I can't see straight.
  15. Wynona June 3, 2013 at 12:10 pm #
    Oh my....oh my....good ole Frito Pie!!! Love your comments....it's a great "study in downhome humor"....which in addition to Frito Pie...I also love!!!
  16. dixya| food, pleasure, and health June 3, 2013 at 12:30 pm #
    i think I am missing out on putting frito lays on things. need to do this asap!
  17. Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health June 3, 2013 at 1:06 pm #
    This pie looks seriously good. You just can't go wrong with cheddar, fritos and beans! I'll have to give this a try one day soon!
  18. Laurie {Simply Scratch} June 3, 2013 at 1:34 pm #
    I agree with Maria... How DO you do it?! Love this Bev!
  19. Jessica - The Novice Chef June 3, 2013 at 3:42 pm #
    Ohhh my gawd! I haven't had Frito Pie in forever!!
  20. Kari@Loaves n Dishes June 3, 2013 at 4:14 pm #
    I have had Fritos in eons, now I have a reason to go a and get a bag or three! yum!
  21. JessiMarie June 3, 2013 at 6:12 pm #
    This is easy, fast and yummy. The best part is that most of the ingredients are things already in the pantry which is super convenient. Perfect for sports moms who need something fast and healthy to eat after the game.
  22. Jenny June 3, 2013 at 8:08 pm #
    If this is as evil as Tater Tot Casserole then it looks evily delicious
  23. Julie @ Table for Two June 3, 2013 at 9:07 pm #
    HELLO Comfort food! I want it in my face!
  24. Katie June 3, 2013 at 9:28 pm #
    I think this is the only frito pie in my life that I've reallllly wanted to eat. Well done.
  25. Leslie June 4, 2013 at 6:44 am #
    I would be more than happy to shove this in my face
  26. angela@ another bite please June 4, 2013 at 2:10 pm #
    fritos...these are so awfully good...and for dinner hello why not :-)
  27. Pauline June 4, 2013 at 3:42 pm #
    oh my god, thank you!!! Ever since coming to Texas and trying my first frito pie (made with venison surprisingly), I've been craving frito pie. But I didn't want to indulge because it is so oily and unhealthy. I was hoping someone in the blogosphere had healthified it. Lo and behold, I stumble upon your post the day after the craving returned. I am so going to nake this soon! thanks for sharing!
  28. joan June 6, 2013 at 11:46 am #
    Ha I loved your number two description! I usually just pile my toppings on top of the fritos. I will definitely make this.
  29. Nutmeg Nanny June 9, 2013 at 8:49 pm #
    Oh man, this is amazing! My mouth is watering from these photos, so delicious :)
  30. Jennie @themessybakerblog June 13, 2013 at 11:33 am #
    Bev, this is so on next week's menu. OMG, I'm drooling!
  31. Stephanie L. Robertson July 12, 2013 at 11:50 am #
    My husband and I tried this for the first time on vacation at a café in Townsend, TN. I'd never heard of it before. Is this a new recipe? It is yummmm-my!
  32. Stephanie L. Robertson July 15, 2013 at 12:58 pm #
    Hi Bev, Thanks for sharing this recipe. I took it to a church potluck yesterday and it was a big hit! I'd love for you to pop by my blog at www.thewritesteph.com. Thanks! Stephanie
  33. Anonymous August 17, 2015 at 7:29 pm #
    super random but I thought you should know leann rimes just posted this recipe on instagram https://instagram.com/p/6gRTgSHV3k/
  34. Tara October 3, 2018 at 7:59 pm #
    Omg This was AMAZING! Loved every bite!

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

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