Frito Chili Cheeseburger
A beast of a burger, piled high with a zesty chili con carne recipe, grilled onions, Fritos, shredded cheese and a juicy beef patty. This Frito Chili Cheeseburger Recipe brings two soda shop favorites together.
It’s burger Friday!!! We’ve only got two left this month so I want to make sure they count.
Today I’m giving you the naughtiest burger in my beefy arsenal, the Frito Chili Cheeseburger.
I make no apologies for this bad boy. He is what he is, take him or leave him.
Just know, if you cast him aside for light summer dishes, you are sorely missing out.
This cheeseburger recipe is an ode to trips to the old Main Street soda fountain/drug store that once held a place of high regard in downtown Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, where I grew up.
On special occasions, my dad would take me to Petrik’s Drugstore and lift me up on a stool at the soda fountain. We would order Vanilla Cokes and a Frito Chili Pie, or sometimes a Cheeseburger.
These were the best daddy-dates a little girl could remember. We’d talk about our week and munch on classic Americana offerings. We left hand-in-hand, with full bellies, toothy grins, and a Cow Tales candy.
When that little drugstore closed several years back, I was heart broken. It seemed like a chapter of my life had been permanently washed away.
So this cheeseburger recipe is dedicated to my dad, to Petrik’s Drugstore may it rest in peace, and to childhood memoires of Main Street America.
This decedent towering chili cheeseburger starts with one fabulous chili con carne recipe.
The burger itself, doesn’t take very long to make, but do allow time to simmer up a great chili–it makes all the difference. You can make the chili several days in advance if you like, or make a larger chili con carne recipe one night for dinner and reserve some for these chili cheeseburgers later in the week.
The combination of old-fashioned beefy chili, with grilled onions, crunchy Frito corn chips, a perfectly grilled patty, and oozing cheese is something to experience.
I suggest you make them for somebody you love. Lifelong memories are sure to follow….
Frito Chili Cheeseburger Recipe
Ingredients
For the Chili Con Carne Recipe:
- 4 strips bacon chopped
- 1 pound beef chuck roast or stew meat, cut into small chunks
- 1 small onion peeled and chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground chipotle chili
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 14 ounces kidney beans drained
- 14 ounces crushed tomatoes or diced
- 1 tsp. sugar
- 1/2 lime juiced
- 1 tablespoon masa corn flour
- Salt and pepper
For the Chili Cheeseburger Recipe:
- 2 pounds ground chuck
- seasoning salt
- 1 large red onion sliced into rings
- 1 bag Fritos corn chips
- 2 cups shredded cheddar
- 6 hamburger buns
Instructions
- Place the chopped bacon in a medium sauce pot over medium heat. Brown the bacon, then add the chopped beef roast, onions, and garlic, and cook another 5-8 minutes until the beef is browned on all sides. Stir occasionally.
- Add the spices and sugar to the pot, along with the canned tomatoes and beans. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Stir and cover. Once the mixture comes to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for 1 1/2-2 hours, until the beef is very tender. (The smaller you chop the beef the faster this happens.) Once the meat is tender, add the masa and lime juice. Stir and allow the masa to thicken the chili for another 5 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste.
- Once the chili is ready, Preheat the grill to high heat. Separate the ground beef and form into 6 patties that are just slightly larger than the buns. Sprinkle both sides generously with seasoning salt.
- Grill the patties for 3-5 minutes per side. (I like mine a little pink, so three minutes per side is usually perfect.) Then grill the sliced onion rounds for 1-2 minutes per side.
To assemble:
- Place the grilled onions of the bottom bun, followed by the hamburger patty, a heaping scoop of hot chili, a hefty sprinkle of cheddar cheese, and a handful of Fritos. Place the top bun over the stack and press a little.
Nutrition
This looks incredible, Jason would go nuts if I made this!
Your burger is perfectly timed with the first day of summer!
I’m glad I’m not the only one who likes to put chips on their burger ;)
Really heartwarming post! And the burger- oh my god I’m in love! :)
Everyone should have one of these massive master pieces, but perhaps only once in a life time.
How fun! I love an inventive burger recipe!
I will be adding a hot dog to this too!!!! SO EXCITED!!!
Heck, ya! Perfect for the long weekend here in Canada. :)
I love the way your brain works! I want this.
Oh my word, girl!!! I wasn’t having any pregnancy cravings today until I saw THIS! MUST. Have. NOW! ;)
I love burgers, especially in the summer time!
The Texan in me is freaking out right now. I must have this!!
Wow!!!!
Those look so good! I am really digging the double serving of beef in these huge burgers!
Ummmm yes.
Oh boy, this thing is a beast. A true guys burgers and my eldest broth would LOVE it it. LIke I think he would warship at my feet if I mad it for him. This is amazing and I will for ure be making it soon on our family vacay!
Sommer, you had me at “the naughtiest burger”! Hey, if Bobby Flay can add potato chips to his burgers, you are in good company with your Frito Chili Cheeseburger! Mmm. The Big Lug and I are coming right over! xo
A BEAST of a burger!!! yes!!!