Instant Pot Frito Pie Recipe

What is a Frito pie??!! With crunchy chips with 5 ingredient Instant Pot chili poured over the top, this takes your Southern favorite fair food a step further. Make this Instant Pot Frito pie recipe in Ninja Foodi pressure cooker in a new way this weekend.

Ninja Foodi Frito Pie

Think about total comfort food with a bit of a kick, this is it! We started with our 5 ingredient chili and created this oldie but goodie dish. You can make Ninja Foodi chili too, it doesn’t matter what brand of pressure cooker you have at home. With this one specifically you’d use the lid that is not attached though.

Load this up with all the toppings you love like sliced avocados, jalapenos and/or cheese and OMG. As for meat you typically use ground beef but sausage is another option. Paired with these crunchy crispy corn chips your kids will definitely ask for seconds.

You can totally make it either way but I’m a bit obsessed with my fancy pressure cooker so we are going to go with that….but I’ll explain both ways to you…..

I had it for the first time when I lived in Texarkana and went to a local fair. I had no idea when I got there what that even meant since in Ca. that just wasn’t a thing. Since I already loved the chips I thought I’d give it a whirl and OMG was it so good. Transitioning it into something for a fun dinner idea with my own kiddos I thought I would use my pressure cooker this time. You could certainly use a pot on your stovetop instead but I love this multi cooker.

What are the ingredients in a Frito pie

1. Bag of Frito corn chips – I used the traditional smaller size, not dip size
   • This is a GREAT camping recipe too, cook over a campfire, pour chili into small Frito bags, topped with toppings and serve in bag!!
2. Black beans
3. Enchilada sauce – I used mild and it still had quite a bit of kick to it, better than tomato sauce
4. A great Ground beef recipe – you could use ground sausage too and I think that would be pretty killer
5. Onion – just adds lots of flavor to everything
6. Taco seasoning – you can make your own but I’m too lazy for that and buy one in the packet
7. Diced tomatoes – I like petite diced in the can personally
8. Chili powder or diced roasted jalapenos will make it spicy if you like

Toppings

• Shredded cheese
• Avocado – or guacamole
• Sour cream
• Green onions
• Slow cooker cornbread is a great side

These are the basic ingredients we used. Keep in mind there is an array of musts depending on where you are in the country and whom you talk to. Typically. people will have a family hand me down recipe that may have onions, insist on no beans or others that have to use cheese. Add what you love.

What’s the difference between Frito pie and walking taco?

Like I said, you can make this Instant Pot Frito chili pie style or on the stovetop. Just use a pot with a lid. Once it is done you can cover and keep warm so people can enjoy it over the next few hours. Another option is to pour it into a slow cooker and set to keep warm for longer. If you’re making it on the stovetop make it like this:

How to Make Frito Pie in Instant Pot

• Set pressure cooker to saute and add ground beef and onions, cook until pink is gone
• Turn Instant Pot off and add taco seasoning packet, mix until meat is covered with seasoning.
• Add can of black beans, enchilada sauce, and diced tomatoes and stir.
• Put lid on and close steam valve.
• Set to pressure high for 3 minutes
• Do a quick release and serve as follows:

How to serve Instant Pot Chili Frito Pie

For Instant Pot frito pie recipe; Put Fritos on plate + scoop of meat + some Fritos + all the toppings you want. There really isn’t any pressure cooking necessary for this one. You just need to use the saute feature so no waiting for it to come to pressure which makes it a lot faster indeed.

Can you use something other than chips?

You can use lots of other options to make this recipe as well if you run out of these chips!! Tortilla types are just fine but will have a different flavor since those are made from the flour vs. corn versions. Another one we love is to pour this over crisped air fryer frozen tater tots y’all. I know, you have got to try this option too right???

How to save leftovers

With that said if you do have any leftovers you can totally save it and use what you have to create a whole new dish the next day. You’ll need to wait until it cools down completely first and then pour it into a bowl with a lid.

Put into the fridge and warm within the next 3 days. It is even good just eaten as is really, just like a thinner chili. Jump to recipe and get started friends!