Frito pie
Frito pie is a meal made with chili, cheese, and corn chips that is popular in the Midwest and Southwest of the United States (traditionally Fritos). Salsa, refried beans, sour cream, onion, rice, and jalapeos are all possible additions. By region, there are numerous variations and alternate names. Frito pie is traditionally made in a casserole dish, but it can also be made in a single-serve Fritos-style corn chip bag with various toppings. Chilaquiles is a similar dish in Mexico.
History
The origins of the Frito pie aren’t entirely understood. It is thought to have originated in Mexico and gained popularity at fiestas before spreading to other nations such as the United States.
The first recorded recipe for chili made using Fritos brand corn chips was published in Texas in 1949. Daisy Doolin, the mother of the Frito Corporation (Doolin) founder and the first person to use Fritos as a food ingredient, or Mary Livingston, Doolin’s executive secretary, may have created the dish. The recipe is credited to Nell Morris, who joined Frito-Lay in the 1950s and assisted in the development of an official cookbook that contained the Frito pie.
Doolin and his Frito Corporation were early investors in Disneyland, and in 1955, the Casa de Fritos restaurant opened in the park. The 1950s menu included “Frito Chili Pie.”