Frito pie Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Frito pie

Place of origin	United States
Main ingredients	Chili con carne, cheese, corn chips (Fritos)

Frito pie served in a Fritos bag

Frito pie is a yummy and easy-to-make dish. It's super popular in the central and southwestern parts of the United States. The main ingredients are chili, cheese, and corn chips, usually the famous Fritos brand.

You can add lots of other tasty things too! Some popular additions include salsa, refried beans, sour cream, onion, or jalapeños. There are many different ways to make Frito pie, and it has different names depending on where you are.

Frito pie can be made in a big baking dish called a casserole dish. But a super fun way to eat it is right out of a single-serve Fritos bag! You just open the bag, add the toppings, and eat it with a fork. In Mexico, there's a similar dish called chilaquiles.

The History of Frito Pie
How to Make Frito Pie
Different Ways to Enjoy Frito Pie
- Frito Boats and Walking Tacos
- Tostilocos
See also

The History of Frito Pie

The exact story of how Frito pie began isn't totally clear. Many people believe it started in Mexico. It was a popular dish at parties and celebrations there before it became famous in other countries like the United States.

Early Recipes and Frito-Lay

The first known recipe that used Fritos corn chips with chili was printed in Texas in 1949. Some people think Daisy Doolin invented it. She was the mother of the person who started the Frito Corporation. Daisy was also the first person to use Fritos in her cooking.

Another idea is that Mary Livingston created the recipe. She was the executive secretary for the Frito Corporation. The Frito-Lay company, which makes Fritos today, says the recipe came from Nell Morris. She joined Frito-Lay in the 1950s. Nell helped create an official cookbook that included the Frito pie recipe.

Frito Pie at Disneyland

The founder of the Frito Corporation, Doolin, was an early investor in Disneyland. When Disneyland opened in 1955, it had a restaurant called Casa de Fritos. The menu from the 1950s shows "Frito Chili Pie" as one of its dishes!

The Santa Fe Story

Another popular story says the "real" Frito pie started in the 1960s. This version was made by Teresa Hernández. She worked at the F. W. Woolworth's lunch counter in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Her Frito pie used homemade red chile con carne with cheddar cheese and onions. It was served right in the chip bag, which was thicker back then.

How to Make Frito Pie

Frito pie is a very simple dish to prepare. At its most basic, it's just a pile of Fritos corn chips. Then, you add beef chili as a topping.

Historically, some people served it right inside the chip bag. They would split the bag down the middle. Common toppings include shredded cheese and chopped raw onion. You can also add other things like sour cream and jalapeños for extra flavor.

Different Ways to Enjoy Frito Pie

Frito Boats and Walking Tacos

Sometimes, Frito Pies are called "walking tacos" or "Frito boats." These are made in a small, single-serving bag of corn chips. You can add chili, taco meat, chickpeas, or even pork rinds. Many other ingredients can be poured over the top too.

You can finish your "walking taco" with grated cheese, onions, jalapeños, lettuce, and sour cream. This style is known as a Frito boat or walking taco in the central Midwestern United States. In the Ohio Valley area, people often call this "taco-in-a-bag." "Walking taco" is a very common name in the Midwest. In parts of Southern California, they are sometimes called "pepper bellies."

Frito pies are very popular at many events. You can often find them at sports games, fundraisers, bingo nights, and state fairs. Street vendors also sell them.

Tostilocos

In Mexico, there's a special version of this dish called tostilocos. The name means "crazy chips." This dish is topped with interesting ingredients. These include cueritos (pickled pork rinds), cucumber, and jícama. It also has lime juice, Valentina hot sauce, chamoy, and Tajín chili powder. Sometimes, "Japanese peanuts" are added too.