Frito Pie

[kentauros]

The thread on Sloppy Joes and on cereal eaten out of little boxes reminded me of the old way of making Frito Pie. Where you slit open a snack bag, pour in the chili, cover with diced onions and shredded cheese, then dig in.

I think I'll make that for lunch today instead, just forgoing the snack packages and using a bowl

So, how do the rest of y'all make this treat?

[TexasTowelie]

1. Occasionally I will brown some hamburger meat to include in the frito pie.

That increases the amount of protein in the meal which is good for diabetics.

I've never tried it, but some guacamole or sour cream might make a nice addition also.

[CBGLuthier]

2. Wrapped with a large flour tortilla

Home made chili, mustard, onions.

Of course, we don't eat like that anymore.

Making me hungry just thinking about it.

[femmocrat]

3. They call that a "walking taco" too.

Popular in school cafeterias everywhere, I think. The kids like it a lot, sodium be damned!

[blogslut]

4. I pour some corn chips in a bowl...

smash them up a bit, top that with canned chili (no beans) then zap it in the micro. After it's heated I top with chopped onion and shredded cheddar.

They still do it open-bag style at some local food places.

I have frito pie maybe once a year. I see the corn chips on the shelf and get an urge. It's the only time I eat canned chili as well.

[GreydeeThos]

5. Yea, but who is going to wash the bowl? n/t

[kentauros]

6. Mr. Apt. Dishwasher will

[blogslut]

7. I am an old.

Washing bowls don't scare me!

[kairos12]

8. Love Frito Pie.

[OriginalGeek]

9. Growing up in Texas my favorite school lunch was Frito Pie

We got it once a week and I would have eaten it 5.

Thankfully, in Texas, no beans in the chili (which is just how I like it) but the thing I can't seem to duplicate is that the lunch lady could take an ice-cream scoop and plop down a perfect dome of chili on top of the Fritos and it stayed in shape. And they served it all on top of whole lettuce leaves (as opposed to brown, ugly shreds) with the shredded cheese on top. It was GLORIOUS.


I'm ashamed to admit I have not yet perfected my own personal chili recipe. I don't think you can claim to be Texan without one. Mine are always failures - perhaps because I grade them against the memory of elementary school Frito Pie.

[grasswire]

10. Yes. We first called them "pepper bellies"

I first had them at an elementary school carnival. Great hand-held meal.

Now we make them in a bowl at home. I put the cheese on the chips and then pour in the hot chili to melt the cheese.

I feel very, very, very guilty when I eat some. I always have a very small portion because I can't take the carbs. The sodium isn't great either.

We love Nalley's chili best for this.

[Rhiannon12866]

11. I heard about that during the primary coverage

One of the reporters was having that, called it a "local treat." It may have been in Iowa, but apparently it's not regional. And doesn't anyone remember those single serving boxes of cereal that were lined with waxed paper, you just slit the scored line on the front of the box and poured the milk in? My mother got those for us occasionally and they were popular in diners. For all I know, they still are...