Thomas Rhett and Lauren Akins Bond Over This Southern Tailgate Favorite

Fans of country singer Thomas Rhett and his wife and best-selling author Lauren Akins know that the two Southerners root for different college football teams. Lauren roots for the University of Tennessee, her alma mater and home of the Volunteers. Thomas pulls for the University of Georgia Bulldogs, where his father, country singer Rhett Akins, played football in college.

The pair recently revealed on “Biscuits & Jam,” a “Southern Living” podcast, that they both love everything about football—the game, the culture, the traditions, and the spirit. They’ve been attending football games together since they went to the same high school—Thomas on the field and Lauren in the stands.

While they may root for different teams, one of the traditions they both love is tailgating, and one of their go-to game-day snacks is something they can always agree on during football season: Frito pie. 

Frito Pie, a Tailgating Classic

Frito pie is a dish made of chili and corn chips and found at tailgates all over the South and Midwest. Thomas grew up eating Frito pies and still loves them today. In 2022, he starred in the first Fritos commercial the brand produced in 20 years. “I think I ate five of them the day that we shot that commercial,” he said, “I couldn’t stop. They do spicy Fritos and put Tabasco on the top of it…son, that’s good.” 

On “Today with Hoda and Jenna,” when the hosts were talking about all the ways they love Fritos, Thomas mentioned he loved them in Frito pie. Clearly, he’s a fan.

How to Make Frito Pie

There are various ways to make this Southern game day staple:

One method is to put Fritos into bowls, add chili or seasoned beef on top, and then top it all with shredded cheese, usually Cheddar. Another method is to make a casserole version by oven-baking Fritos topped with chili and cheese in a large dish or skillet. A third (and more portable) method is to make a version of the tailgate-friendly walking taco. Open an individual-sized bag of Fritos and spoon the chili into the bag on top of the chips, followed by cheese and other toppings.

You can add any other toppings to any version of Frito pie, such as olives, salsa, diced avocado, jalapeños, sour cream, and green onions. If you’d put it on top of chili, you can put it on top of Frito pie. 

You don’t have to be a Southerner to enjoy Frito pie. Try it at your next tailgate or at home as you watch the big game.