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
It is hard to beat a great chili cheeseburger and this is a great chili cheeseburger! My favorite is a Carolina all the way burger (mustard, chili, onions, and slaw).
Oh my, my mouth is watering. This looks amazing!!
You’re killin’ me with this one. Yum!!!
OMG Sommer- this is indulgence at it’s best! I love chips in my sandwiches- why not my burger!?
This is the most delicious burger, ever.
Good Honk! I have NEVER replied to anything. BUT, put Fritos on top, excuse me let me get this call, it is Heaven.
Awesome. I used to have frito pies for lunch all the time back in school. I’ve definitely got to give this a try.
I love fritos on a burger. What a great recipe, can’t wait to try it out :)
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That burger looks awesome! I’m already in love with Frito pie wraps, but I’ve never tried it in burger form. Sounds great!
the moment I started reading the recipe , I craved for this hamburger and the good old days .Our kids and their families are visitng for 4th of July . We will celebrate with this delicious reciepie. well written, thank you for sharing with us.
Oh my gosh!! I’m literally drooling all over :D
Sommer, what a creative burger! I love experiencing different textures at the same time, while I’m eating (I’ve always been a person who mixes my food, rather than eats separate piles, if you know what I mean!), and I just know I’ll love this burger!
I can’t even tell you how much I love this!
Great burger and great story. I grew up in Claremore and spent a ton of time in Broken Arrow. Lots of softball tournaments, kens pizza and Brahms ice cream :)
Well, it’s so nice to “meet” a fellow Okie. :)
Are you freaking kidding me, Sommer!!? This is brilliant. I love the idea of burger Friday for the summer. I’ll be checking in to see what you create, but this has to be the best one you’ll be sharing all summer. LOVE.
This is pure genius, Sommer. Great idea!
What a great burger, I have to make this for my guys.