Crunchy, cheesy, slightly spicy, Frito pie casserole is a classic Southwestern dish that is both a super fun party food and a superbly easy dinner for any night of the week. Served right in the bag with the corn chips, walking tacos are a grab-and-go cousin to classic Frito pie.
Can we go ahead and call this the summer of Fritos? You’ll almost always find corn chips in our pantry. I use them as toppings for my salads all year long. But right now? We’re taking Frito consumption to new levels.
Walking Tacos
What are Walking Tacos? This variation on Frito Pie is served right in mini Frito bags so you can eat your Frito Pie on the go. It’s popular at fairs and festivals and can be made with chili or more traditional “taco” fillings like spiced ground beef, lettuce, and tomato.
Walking Tacos make great camping or outdoor food because you can make the fillings in advance, bring a few mini bags of Fritos and have a meal ready in an instant. Plus there are no extra bowls or dishes to carry around making it easy as (Frito) pie.
Depending on the appetites and ages of the crowd you’re serving, you’ll want to buy either the mini bags of Fritos or slightly larger ones, often found by the checkout at most grocery stores.
I have no idea why this was ever called a “pie”- it’s much more similar to a casserole or a layered dip you eat with a fork. I’ve eaten Frito Pie that was baked in the oven and also individual Frito Pies that are assembled and served on the fly.
However you choose to assemble it, Frito Pie is one of my favorite ways to enjoy a homemade chili. This meal is so EASY – just layer the following: Fritos, Chili, Cheese, Tomato and Green Onions! (I never turn down an extra sprinkling of Fritos on top too.)
Frito Pie is a camping food for my family every summer and the beauty of it is that it can be prepped ahead of time and then assembled when you’re ready to eat. Eating a favorite snack food as part of dinner always feels extra fun so I make sure to incorporate Frito Pie into our meal rotation when we’re not camping, too!
Another thing I love about this recipe is how easy it is to tweak it to suit different tastes or dietary needs.
How To Make Frito Pie
When served “Walking Taco” style, everyone can customize exactly how much of every ingredient they want in their Frito Pie. Some prefer a chili-heavy pie with just a smattering of Fritos on top for crunch while others make a pie that’s more chip than chili. I like a balance of both along with plenty of cheese.
Even when you’re not serving Frito Pie in individual-sized serving bags, you can make the dish similarly customizable by setting up all of the ingredients in a DIY “bar” and letting everyone assemble their own bowls.
Set out the chili, corn chips, shredded cheese, and your other favorite toppings, and have fun. This recipe is easy to make vegetarian by using a vegetarian chili too.
I’ve seen walking tacos served with small bags of tortilla chips and Doritos too, but Fritos are my personal favorite. Whether you call it “Frito Pie” or “Walking Tacos”, this recipe is sure to be a hit.
Frito Pie Recipe
Feel free to experiment with different chili recipes as the base for this recipe. Hearty tomato-based chilis with ground beef or turkey work best, in my opinion. We love Five Bean Steak and Sausage Chili or the Easiest Chili You’ll Ever Make for this meal.
The recipe amounts provided in the recipe below will feed approximately four people. However, this is a “recipe” that easily feeds a crowd. I typically make a big pot of chili and then set out all the other ingredients alongside the chili. Everyone builds their own meal with however much of each ingredient that they would like.
Frito Recipes
It’s probably obvious by now that corn chips and I have a good thing going. I love them here, of course, and also just straight out of the bag as a snack food. One of my favorite ways to use Fritos is as a salad topping, but there really are so many more ways you can enjoy them beyond salads and snacking.
Have you tried the Spicy Frito Salad with Chicken ? the Bacon and Egg Taco Salad ? and last but definitely not least, please promise me you’ll try Frito Pie Huevos Rancheros . This is what breakfast dreams are made of.
Speaking of snacking though, this Frito Snack Mix looks right up my alley and I’m looking forward to giving it a try next time I want to mix up my snacking routine.
(FYI Frito Lay, I’ll happily be your spokesperson for the awesomeness of the corn chip. That really should be a thing.) Frito recipes are life these days.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 2 cups Fritos corn chips
- ▢ 3 cups hearty chili store-bought or homemade
- ▢ 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Optional Toppings
- ▢ ½ cup shredded or chopped lettuce
- ▢ ½ cup diced tomatoes
- ▢ ¼ cup sliced green onions
- ▢ 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Divide the corn chips between four bowls. (Or slit individual bags of Fritos open on the side.) Scoop warm chili on top of the chips and sprinkle generously with cheese.
- Top with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, or cilantro as desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
{originally published 6/21/19 – recipe notes and photos updated 6/9/25}
Frito Pie
Ingredients
- 2 cups Fritos corn chips
- 3 cups hearty chili store-bought or homemade
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Optional Toppings
- ½ cup shredded or chopped lettuce
- ½ cup diced tomatoes
- ¼ cup sliced green onions
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Divide the corn chips between four bowls. (Or slit individual bags of Fritos open on the side.) Scoop warm chili on top of the chips and sprinkle generously with cheese.
- Top with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, or cilantro as desired. Serve immediately.
