Oh MY! Frito Chili Pie in the Sky!

 

It may be obnoxious in concept but don't even think about trying to tell me it doesn't look yummy to the tummy.  As digustingly fat-riddled and bad for you as it can be at times, like when you go get it from Sonic, you don't have to make it out of a can and it can lean more towards a taco salad kind of meal.

This is my little variation on the theme. I started with my idea of Frito Chili Pie from childhood, which is almost a camping phenomenon where you heat up canned chili and spoon in into individual Frito bags and eat it right out of the bag, and then made a left turn at a casserole recipe a roommate of mine in college (the first time), cough-twenty-cough years ago, used to make called Sour Cream Chili Bake, and ended up with what Gene and I ate for dinner last night.  No way could it be considered "diet" but take a look at how I made it and see if you don't agree that Frito Pie might have gotten a bit of an unfair bad rep over the years from people making it with obnoxious ingredients.

I don't believe for a second that the food manufactures tell the truth on every label but I would like to point out that on the Frito's bag is lists ingredients as:  Whole corn, corn oil, and salt.   They also specifically say "No preservatives" and "No transfats".  Doesn't make Fritos a healthfood or low fat but I do like that it's not fried in hydrogenated shortening.

Supposedly. 

Boy,  you know, we wouldn't have to be quite so cynical about corporations and their labeling if so many of them didn't lie all the time. 

Frito Chili Pie Casserole:

10 oz. bag Frito's Scoops Cornchips

1 cup grated Sharp Cheddar cheese

1/2 medium onion, diced

1 lb. extra-lean ground beef

2 tsp beef soup base or 2 beef bouillon cubes

1 can enchilada sauce

1 can red kidney beans, rinsed

Garnish:

Fresh tomato, diced

Green onions, diced

Sour Cream

Additional chips, lightly crushed

 

1.  Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.  Layer 1/2 of a 10 oz bag of Fritos in the bottom of a greased 9"x9" casserole dish.   Layer 1/2 cup grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese on top of chips.

2.  In large skillet over medium heat, saute' onion.  When translucent, add ground beef and brown until cooked through.

3.  To beef and onion, add 1 can dark red kidney beans, rinsed, 2 tsps beef soup base or 2 bouillon cubes, and 1 jar of your favorite Enchilada sauce.  Simmer for 5 minutes.

I chose Hatch "5 Pepper Roasted Enchilada Sauce" because it has tons of flavor without tons of heat. I like spicy but Gene doesn't so I have to walk a line most times between spice and heat. This enchilada sauce isn't as smooth and red as most. It's more like a darker chunky salsa, another thing I like about it.

4.  Pour beef mixture over top of chips and cheese in casserole dish. Top with 1/2 cup grated Sharp Cheddar cheese.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

5.  To serve, garnish with fresh diced tomato, chopped green onions,  crushed Fritos, and sour cream.

Serves 6

Nutrition per serving (without garnish):  Calories: 502,  Protein: 28, Carbs: 32, Fat: 23.

Nutrition per serving (Sonic's Frito Pie):  Calories: 940, Protein: 25, Carbs: 72, Fat: 64

Don't think for a minute I'm trying to argue that this is hands-down healthy or falls into the diet category. But, for the once a year yearning for "fast food", making it at home is twice as good for you as driving past a window. Piling on fresh tomatoes and green onions from the garden makes it even better for you and to your tastebuds.

Comments

[Kalyn]

A few years ago I had my niece visiting and she request that I cook something very similar to this, and it was indeed very tasty. (Of course this was before South Beach took over my life!!)

[Jeff]

mmm...that looks so good...yummy, tasty dinner...that wouldn't last too long here :)

[sher]

Yes, that looks downright delicious--and elegant. This is also Peggy Hill's signature dish on King Of The Hill--along with Brown Betty. I would eat the entire pan of that Frito Pie that you made. It would be best not to leave it around me.

[Glenna]

Kalyn--Yeah, it is tasty, but you'd have to leave out all the "good stuff" to make it SB friendly. Sigh. The sacrifices we make...

Jeff--Thanks! It didn't last long around here either. I said something about having leftovers a couple of nights later since I had to work and Gene looked sheepish and said "It's gone...but it was so good."

Sher--YES! I love Peggy Hill. Now all I have to do is master the Apple Brown Betty...that I have absolutely no idea what that is, and I'll be the Peggy Hill of Springfield.

[eric rochow]

this reminds me of college in southern illinois, its one of those ultimate comfort foods of the midwest, now i want to go buy a bag of fritos. thanks for posting the recipe Glenna.

eric http://gardenfork.tv

[Glenna]

Eric--Sorry to be a bad influence in the Frito buying thing! Thanks for leaving your site addy. I'll check it out.

[Tanna]

I fear this will result in craving for fritos at 3am. Oh, dear Oh, dear.
That looks really good.
Nice blog!

[Glenna]

Tanna-- Thanks so much!

And I hear you. I just got up at 4am and from answering comments I keep looking longingly at the Frito bag on the counter when I go into the kitchen. Eggs, eggs are what we're supposed to eat early in the morning. Help me remember that!

[Chocolate Lover]

That does look so delicious. I cannot wait to try it out. I am sure my whole family will love it. Thanks.

[Glenna]

Choc lover--go for it! It really was good. Making it homemade is a lot like eating a taco salad. Sort of. Let me know if they like it.

[TexanNewYorker]

I hope you see this, since I'm commenting on an old post . . . just FYI, Apple Brown Betty is like a cross between bread pudding and apple cobbler.