The History of Frito Pie

The origins of Frito pie are highly contested. New Mexico claims that the dish originated in the state in the 1960s. More specifically, the claim holds that a woman named Teresa Hernandez created the dish at Woolworth’s in Santa Fe by spooning chili over some Fritos. Texas has also fiercely laid claim to the dish, insisting that back in the 1930s, a San Antonio resident named Daisy Doolin came up with the dish. Notably, Doolin was the mother of Fritos entrepreneur Charles Elmer Doolin. Her version included cheese and chopped onions, and these toppings remain emblematic of Texan-style Frito pie today. Both states lay claim to the dish and it is very popular in both areas, but Frito pie became especially ubiquitous in Texas, where it became a staple offering at high school concession stands and youth sports games. It even made its way onto restaurant menus! Over time, Frito pie became popular in the Midwest as well, where it is often referred to as a “walking taco” and is often served during events like state fairs. Today, Frito pie remains very popular, particularly in parts of the South, Southwest, and Midwest, but it’s gained even wider notoriety in recent years.