Cole Cooks: New Mexico Frito Pie Recipe (2024)

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Is Frito pie a New Mexico thing? ›

Another story claims that true frito pie originated only in the 1960s with Teresa Hernández, who worked at the Woolworth's lunch counter in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Her frito pie used homemade red chili con carne with cheddar cheese and onions, and was served in the bag, which was thicker in the 1960s than it is now.

Unlike a walking taco, a Frito pie is always made with, you guessed it, Fritos. But that's not even the main difference between the two foods—the thing that sets a Frito pie apart from a walking taco is that a Frito pie is topped with chili instead of taco meat.

However, the Southwest may have the strongest claim on Frito pie, with the oldest known recipe containing Fritos chips and chili originating from Texas in 1949. Although some also contend the original Frito pie recipe came out of a Dime store in Santa Fe, New Mexico, but this wasn't until the 1960s.

Frito pie is also found across the Midwest, where it's usually referred to as a "walking taco."

And though the origin story seems to be settled, the celebration of Frito Pie goes rightfully on in both New Mexico and Texas.

Sabritas is the brand under which Pepsico brands the Frito-Lay products in Mexico, such as Cheetos, Fritos, Doritos and Ruffles. It is also the namesake for its own line of potato chips.

Fritos are made by deep-frying extruded whole cornmeal, unlike the similar tortilla chips, which are made from cornmeal and use the nixtamalization process (known as masa). It is one of two brands representing Frito-Lay along with Lay's.

The Texas State Historical Association can confirm that Fritos were invented in San Antonio in 1932. Credit is given to the Doolin family, which owned the Highland Park Confectionary. Charles Elmer Doolin wanted to add a “salty snack” to the company's line of products and responded to an ad in the San Antonio Express.

The walking taco, also called taco in a bag, is tied to the Frito pie. A Frito pie is essentially a pile of Fritos corn chips with chili ladled on top. But in the case of walking tacos, the bag is laid on the side and split open. The chili is then spooned right into the bag.

The largest Frito pie weighed 601.01 kg (1,325 lb), and was assembled by Frito-Lay (USA) at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas, Texas, USA, on 1 October 2012.

Why is it called Frito pie? ›

Records of the name Frito pie date back to at least 1946. The name Frito pie is likely a reference to its most traditional version, which specifically uses Fritos corn chips. Despite the use of the word pie in its name, Frito pie when made in a dish more closely resembles a casserole.

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And, before those, there was the Frito pie — the original, original walking taco, allegedly born in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The name walking taco is sometimes used synonymously with the term Frito pie or to refer to an on-the-go variation of it, though the name Frito pie is more often used in the South, especially Texas, where it most often refers to a bag of Fritos chips filled with chili.

Texas Declares “Pecan Pie” the Official State Pie

Whereas, though there are many ways to enjoy pecans, it is practically a given among Texans that they belong, first and foremost, in a pie.”

It is made with sautéed pimentos, sweet peppers, and onions, and mixed with cornmeal, milk and of course whole kernel corn and creamed corn at times. Shredded cheese is usually added into the corn pie and over top so it bakes up golden and bubbling.

Records of the name Frito pie date back to at least 1946. The name Frito pie is likely a reference to its most traditional version, which specifically uses Fritos corn chips. Despite the use of the word pie in its name, Frito pie when made in a dish more closely resembles a casserole.

Since 1932, Fritos has provided snack-hungry Americans with a Texas twist on the tortilla chip. Fritos' unflavored deep-fried corn chips are gluten-free with no artificial flavors, preservatives, or MSG. These classics contain just three ingredients—corn, corn oil, and salt—making them vegan-friendly.

Corn, vegetable oil (corn and/or canola oil), whey, salt, spices, maltodextrin (made from corn), cheddar cheese (milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes), potassium salt, tomato powder, monosodium glutamate, onion powder, natural flavors, romano cheese (cow's milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes), dextrose, sugar, ...