Kimchi Frito Pie Recipe

By Marvin Gapultos
Updated March 21, 2025
Photographs: Marvin Gapultos.

Topped off with sliced green onions, cilantro, and shredded cheese, this combo of spicy kimchi, savory beef, and crunchy corn chips creates a tasty, tasty mess of flavors—the kind best washed down with a cold beer.

Recipe Details

Kimchi Frito Pie Recipe

Prep 10 mins
Cook 15 mins
Active 15 mins
Total 25 mins
Serves 6 to 8 servings
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon canola oil

  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil

  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic (about 3 medium cloves)

  • 1 tablespoon minced ginger

  • 3 green onions, thinly sliced, white and green parts separated

  • 2 pounds ground beef

  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1/4 cup soy sauce

  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar

  • 3/4 cup homemade or store-bought low sodium chicken or beef broth

  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch

  • 2 cups roughly chopped kimchi

  • 8 bags of individual-sized Fritos corn chips

  • Shredded cheddar cheese, for garnish

  • Roughly chopped cilantro, for garnish

Directions

  1. Heat both of the oils in a large wok over high heat until shimmering. Add the ginger, garlic, and the white parts of the onions and stir-fry just until the garlic begins to brown, 30 seconds to 1 minute.

  2. Add the beef and break the beef up using a wooden spoon or spatula. Stir-fry the beef until it is cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the pepper, soy sauce, and sugar and stir to combine. Whisk the beef stock and cornstarch together in a small bowl, then pour the mixture into the wok. Continue to stir and cook until the liquid reduces and thickens, 3-4 minutes.

  3. Stir in the kimchi and cook just until the kimchi is warmed through, 1 to 2 minutes. Open one end of each of the Frito bags, then spoon some of the kimchi beef mixture into each bag. Garnish with shredded cheese, cilantro, and the rest of the green onions and serve immediately.

Special equipment

large wok or sauté pan

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
992Calories
62gFat
69gCarbs
41gProtein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories992
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 62g80%
Saturated Fat 13g67%
Cholesterol 108mg36%
Sodium 1392mg61%
Total Carbohydrate 69g25%
Dietary Fiber 5g20%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 41g
Vitamin C 2mg10%
Calcium 237mg18%
Iron 6mg32%
Potassium 735mg16%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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