This healthier Turkey Frito Pie is a spicy, tomato-based turkey sausage chili with loads of cheese and homemade salty corn chips. A one-skillet dinner that is quick to pull together and makes the perfect, easy weeknight dinner or a dip for the big game.
This post is sponsored by Prego®. The recipe and opinions stated below are 100% my own.
One of my favorite comfort foods on a cold day is chili. Not only is chili extremely easy to make but when you pile all the toppings on, like homemade corn chips, it's absolutely delicious! I love making my Southwest Chipotle Chili and Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili, but this easy Turkey Frito Pie ranks right up there with them.
The base of this chili is what makes it taste amazing as well as cutting down on ingredients and cook time. Prego Traditional Italian Sauce combined with a spicy chili sauce is a pair made in flavor heaven. It's rich and tomato-y with hints of zesty spices, which takes this chili to the next level. Now you're probably wondering why this is called Frito Pie, right? I could have called it Turkey Chili Pie but when you toss on those corn chips, the name is pretty apt.
Table of contents
What is Baked Frito Pie?
Frito Pie has been around for years. Its popularity began in the Southwestern and Midwestern states where they started tossing some chili in a Frito bag for an eat-on-the-go lunch or snack. It is usually comprised of a chili base topped with cheese and corn chips. Of course, it is now popular for a quick dinner, made in one skillet, then topped with any number of tasty additions. Some of my favorite toppings for this more Italian-leaning Turkey Frito Pie include chopped tomatoes, shredded lettuce, basil, and parsley.
Since the new year began, I've been working on making some of my favorite comfort foods a little healthier. I think this Healthier Baked Frito Pie might even be better than the original! And sneaking in some riced cauliflower, which no one will notice, is a great way to get a few veggies into dinner. I won't tell, if you don't! Check out some of the easy changes I made below.
Tips and variations
- Using ground turkey or turkey sausage in lieu of ground beef makes this a leaner protein meal.
- Swapping out name-brand corn chips for homemade means you can control the level of salt while the baking cuts down on the fat.
- Adding cauliflower sneaks in some vegetables and no one will be able to tell.
- For use as a dip, leave off the corn chips and bake. Make the corn chips a little larger and use them to scoop out the incredibly delicious chili.
- For a less spicy alternative to chili sauce, use ketchup. You can also add Asian Garlic Chili Sauce or Sriracha Chili Sauce (but, be warned, they are very spicy).
How to make a Frito Pie Casserole
Gather the simple ingredients - Prego® Traditional Italian Sauce, ground turkey, riced cauliflower, cheese, onions and peppers, corn tortillas and chili sauce.
How to make homemade corn chips
- Spray both sides of corn tortillas with vegetable oil or olive oil nonstick spray.
- Slice tortillas into one-inch-wide strips. I like to use a pizza cutter but you can use a sharp knife as well.
- Spread corn strips out on two cookie sheets, trying not to overlap.
- Bake until crispy then sprinkle with salt. This baking method eliminates many of the calories from deep-fried corn chips.
How to make turkey chili
- Place a little olive oil in a large skillet and brown ground turkey. I used a turkey sausage which went great with the Italian sauce flavors.
- When sausage is partially cooked, add onions, peppers and garlic.
- Cook until sausage is done and vegetables are tender.
- Combine Prego® Italian Sauce with chili sauce and pour into cooked mixture. Stir well.
- Top chili mixture with homemade corn chips.
- Sprinkle grated cheese on top of chips. (As an alternative, you can also sprinkle the cheese on the chili mixture then top with chips.)
- Ready to bake.
- Bake until you see deliciously melted and browned cheese. I like to add the cheese last so that the corn chips do not get overdone. Plus the cheese-covered chips are delicious!
When you need to get dinner on the table, nothing beats this 30 minute Frito Pie Casserole. But that's not all this yummy chili offers! Make it into a dip for the big game by leaving off the corn chips. Just sprinkle the cheese on the chili and bake as directed. Then serve with tortilla chips for a spicy, warm appetizer everyone will love. Enjoy!
More one-skillet recipes
Garlic Chicken with Orzo is a one-skillet dinner combining moist chicken with garlic, onion, tomatoes, spinach and orzo for a balanced meal with little cleanup.
Beef Shepherd’s Pie is an all-in-one hearty dinner complete with vegetables, ground beef and potatoes in a rich gravy.
Italian Sausage Tortellini Skillet combines Italian sausage with tortellini and spinach in a creamy tomato base. Dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes.
Healthier Turkey Frito Pie
Ingredients
- 1 lb. turkey sausage
- 1 cup onions roughly chopped
- 2 cups tri-color peppers roughly chopped
- 2-3 cloves garlic
- 1 cup riced cauliflower
- 24 oz Prego Traditional Marinara
- ½ cup chili sauce
- 3 cups homemade corn chips see instructions below
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup cheddar cheese
- Garnishes: chopped tomatoes chopped basil and parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Brown ground turkey sausage in a large oven-proof skillet.
- When meat is about halfway done, add onions, peppers and riced cauliflower. Cook until meat is done and vegetables are tender.
- Mix marinara and chili sauce and stir into meat mixture.
- Immediately top with homemade corn chips.
- Sprinkle cheeses on top.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes or until cheese starts to brown.
- Remove from oven and garnish with shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, chopped basil and parsley.
Notes
- Using ground turkey or turkey sausage in lieu of ground beef makes this a leaner protein meal.
- Swapping out name-brand corn chips for homemade means you can control the level of salt while the baking cuts down on the fat.
- Adding cauliflower sneaks in some vegetables and no one will be able to tell.
- For use as a dip, leave off the corn chips and bake. Make the corn chips a little larger and use them to scoop out the incredibly delicious chili.
- For a less spicy alternative to chili sauce, use ketchup. You can also add Asian Garlic Chili Sauce or Sriracha Chili Sauce (but, be warned, they are very spicy).
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