Jason’s award winning “Frito Pie” chili
Our friends the Dotsons host an annual “OctChiliFest” party where everyone brings their favorite chili concoctions to compete for prizes. This year, I took my famous Frito Pie chili and it won first place against some very tough competition! Here’s how you can make a batch for yourself…
You need:
- One pound of ground beef (I prefer extra lean if they have it)
- One pack of Brooks “Secret” chili seasoning – Original flavor
- One can of Brooks Chili Beans – Hot
- One can of Brooks Chili Beans – Hot & Spicy
- One can of Bush’s Best dark red kidney beans
- One can of Del Monte diced tomatoes – Zesty chili style
- One jar of Muir Glen organic salsa – Medium Chipotle
- One box of Barilla Elbows macaroni pasta
- One or two bags of Fritos
Start with your favorite chili pot. Put in both cans of chili beans and the diced tomatoes, including the sauce in the cans. Drain the water from the kidney beans, then put them in. Add the whole jar of salsa and stir everything together. Start simmering this pot around medium heat so that the chili can get started while you prepare everything else.
Next, brown the meat in a skillet. As it gets done, drain off any excess fat – otherwise, you’ll have greasy chili. I push all of the meat to one side of the skillet, then tilt it so that the grease runs to the other side. Then, I use a big spoon to scoop the grease out and put it into one of the bean cans for disposal. Once you’ve gotten rid of any grease, add the seasoning pack to the meat and mix it in. Then, pour the meat into the chili pot.
Finally, boil a pot of water and prepare the macaroni pasta per the directions. After you strain the pasta and drain the hot water off, rinse the pasta off with more water so that it doesn’t stick together.
Now you are ready to enjoy a Frito pie! Scoop some macaroni into a bowl, pour in some Fritos, then ladle on a generous helping of chili. You can top it off with sour cream and/or some shredded cheddar cheese if you are feeling extra saucy. All you need at this point is a comfy couch, a big TV and a good football game – and you’re set!