Crockpot Frito Pie
OK, I realize the name of this recipe may sound a little weird, so let me explain: it’s not really a pie. I called it Crockpot Frito Pie because it’s sort of a Crockpot version of tamale pie – which isn’t exactly a pie either. It’s more like a hearty casserole, with beef, beans, tomatoes, and all your favorite Mexican seasonings under a cornmeal crust. You know, Mexican comfort food.
Now, part of this dish’s charm is that the cornmeal topping bakes up nice and crisp on top, but it stays soft underneath and soaks up all the tasty juices from the filling. Which means there’s an obvious snag with turning it into a Crockpot meal: the crust wouldn’t get crisp. Stewing in that covered pot all day, it would just soak up all the liquid and turn soggy.
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So I had a crazy idea: why not skip the crust and just use Fritos? These fried corn chips are super crunchy, but also pretty thin…so when you line the bowl with them and spoon the hot beef mixture on top, they soak up just enough juice to be tender and crisp at the same time.
Top that bowl with cheddar cheese, onion, sour cream, and peppers, and you’ve got a hearty, zesty, comforting dish that practically cooks itself.
Crockpot Frito Pie
Ingredients:
2 pound lean ground beef
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 small onion, chopped (about 1/3 cup)
2- 3 cloves garlic, minced
1 (8oz) can tomato sauce
1 (14oz) can diced tomatoes
1 (14oz) can diced tomatoes with green chilis
2 (15oz) cans red kidney beans, drained
1 pack of taco seasoning (or 1 ounce of my DIY Taco Seasoning)
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1 Tablespoon sugar
2 Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Suggested toppings:
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese,
grated
½ cup minced sweet onion
Sliced pickled jalapeños
Sour cream
Fritos corn chips
Directions:
- Season beef with salt and pepper. Brown the ground beef with the chopped onion in a skillet over medium-high heat. Drain grease from meat if necessary, but this shouldn’t be needed if you use a lean beef.
- Pour ground beef mixture into the crockpot. Add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, beans, and seasonings to the crockpot. Stir until well combined. Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
- Serve in a bowl with following.
Fritos, topped with beef mix, topped with shredded cheese, onions, jalapenos and sour cream.
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Corey, Darryl, Big D & Little D
Crockpot Frito Pie
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Ingredients
- 2 pound lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 small onion, chopped (about 1/3 cup)
- 2- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 8oz can tomato sauce
- 1 14oz can diced tomatoes
- 1 14oz can diced tomatoes with green chilis
- 2 15oz cans red kidney beans, drained
- 1 pack of taco seasoning, or 1 ounce of my DIY Taco Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 Tablespoon sugar
- 2 Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Suggested Toppings:
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- ½ cup minced sweet onion
- Sliced pickled jalapeños
- Sour cream
- Fritos corn chips
Instructions
- Season beef with salt and pepper. Brown the ground beef with the chopped onion in a skillet over medium-high heat. Drain grease from meat if necessary, but this shouldn't be needed if you use a lean beef.
- Pour ground beef mixture into the crockpot.
- Add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, beans, and seasonings to the crockpot. Stir until well combined. Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
- Serve in a bowl with following.
- Fritos, topped with beef mix, topped with shredded cheese, onions, jalapenos and sour cream.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer: Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
Did You Make This Recipe?
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Frito Pie is popular here in Texas. I like to do 2-3 shallow layers of chips, chili, and cheese, then mix it all up so I get some of each in every bite. Yum!
This was so yummy! I cut the recipe in 1/2 since it is just my Hubby and I. Just wondering about the 2 cups of cheddar cheese listed 2 times. Is this correct?
This looks really good. I am confused as the second paragraph states there is a cornmeal topping? I can’t find that in the recipe.
Ok, I see my error in reading the recipe. Cornmeal will get to soggy. However, cornmeal topping did sound delicious.