Street FoodEasyFree

Frito Pie

Name: Frito Pie
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 400 g Cooked pinto beans; 200 g Corn chips (Fritos style); 1 White onion; 3 cloves Garlic cloves; 400 g Crushed tomatoes; 2 tsp Ground cumin; 1 tsp Dried oregano; 0.5 tsp Black pepper; 4 tbsp Sour cream; 30 g Pickled jalapeños; 500 g Beef mince

40 min (10 prep + 30 cook) Easy 4 servings Texas

Edmond Bojalil

Recetas Mexas

Published: 29 Mar 2026 · Updated: 12 May 2026

Fritos corn chips topped with homemade chilli con carne and melted cheddar cheese, a Texas classic.

About this recipe

Frito Pie is one of Texas's most beloved snacks: a bed of Fritos corn chips topped with a generous homemade chilli con carne and melted cheddar cheese. It is served directly in an opened Fritos bag, making it the most practical and iconic dish of Texas stadiums, fairs and sporting events. Simple, hearty and addictive, it is Texan comfort food at its finest.

History & Origin

Frito Pie has a disputed history: both Texas and New Mexico claim its invention. The most widely accepted version places its origin at the Fritos factory shop in San Antonio, Texas, in the 1930s, when Daisy Doolin, mother of Fritos inventor Charles Elmer Doolin, began serving chilli con carne directly over the chips in small bags. The recipe became so popular that it became the signature dish of Texan American football stadiums, served in individual bags of Fritos opened at the top. Every autumn during the college football season, millions of Texans consume Frito Pie in the stands, and the recipe has been passed down through generations as a cultural ritual as important as the sport itself. At the Texas State Fair in Dallas, Frito Pie still has one of the longest queues of any stall, decades after its creation.

Estimated cost

£9.50

Total cost

£2.38

Per serving

* Approximate prices based on UK supermarkets

Nutritional information per serving

680

Calories

32g

Protein

54g

Carbohydrates

38g

Fat

Fibre

1100mg

Sodium

* Approximate values. May vary depending on ingredients used.

Method

1
Prepare the chilli: in a pot, fry the beef mince with the chopped onion over medium-high heat until browned, about 8 minutes.
2
Add the garlic, chilli powder, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper. Mix well and cook for 2 minutes.
3
Add the crushed tomatoes, pinto beans and a glass of water. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
💡 The chilli should be thick, not watery.
4
Adjust the seasoning. The chilli con carne should be well spiced and slightly hot.
5
Distribute the corn chips in deep bowls or serve directly in bags opened at the top. Cover with the hot chilli.
6
Finish with plenty of grated cheddar. If you like, also add sour cream, jalapeños and freshly chopped onion.