While I was at the Book Lovers Con I got introduced to Frito Pie and oh boy! It was tasty, satisfying and so easy to make. I figured I’d share this recipe with you in case you needed a quick dinner or munchie. If you don’t want to make your own chili, just pick up a can of your favorite chili at the supermarket. In a real rush? Just open a small bag of Fritos and spoon the chile and toppings into the bag! Since the hero in the book I’m currently writing is from Texas, I may have him cook this up for the heroine as a treat!
Easy Chile
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 10 ounce can Rotel Diced Tomatoes and Green Chiles
1 6 ounce can tomato paste
2 tbsp cumin
1 tbsp chili powder
1 cup of either water, beer or red wine (your choice based on availability or taste)
salt and pepper to taste
Directions for Cooking the Chile
Cook the onion and garlic in some olive/vegetable oil until soft. Add the cumin and chili powder and cook for another minute or two. Add the ground beef and brown. Drain off some of the grease. Add the Rotel, tomato paste, and a cup of water/beer/red wine. Simmer for at least half an hour. If you can let it go for at least an hour, the better the flavor.
Assembling the Frito Pie
Place one small bag of Fritos in a bowl (approximately 1 cup of Fritos). Spoon a cup or so of chili over the Fritos. Add your favorite toppings and enjoy! You can also make this into a casserole by placing some Fritos on the bottom of a baking dish, adding the chile, and topping with some more Fritos and cheese before baking for about half an hour.
Toppings for the Frito Pie
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Onions, chopped
Scallions, chopped
Tomatoes, chopped
Jalapeño, chopped
Sour Cream
Your Favorite Hot Sauce
