This post is sponsored by U.S. BANK and Kroger
This hearty Aztec Pie Recipe has all of the Mexican flavors you love. With layers of corn tortilla chips, ground beef and cheese, it is a kid-friendly meal that can be enjoyed by all. It is a great take-along to a neighborhood, church or team potluck. This recipe will become a fabulous family favorite that can be served any day of the week.
I also want to share with you some of my favorite money-saving tips for you next shopping trip. I’m all about convenience and efficiency when trying to save money. Just a few tweaks to your life can mean more savings at the register.
This Aztec Pie Recipe was given to me by a close friend and amazing chef. She was a neighbor and like a second mom growing up. I would help her prep food when she was inviting guests over. I learned much about flavors, presentation and food just by being with her. This Aztec Pie recipe is one of her family favorites, and I am privileged to be able to share it with you today.
Aztec Pie Recipe – Ingredients – Yields 6-8 servings
- 2 cups chopped onion
- 1 Tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
- 2 Tbsp chili powder
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 can (28 oz) whole tomatoes, cut up, reserve juice
- 1 can  (7 oz) mild chopped green chilies
- 1 bag tortilla chips
- 1 cup thinly sliced green onions, discard tops
- 1 can (6 oz.) pitted ripe olives, drained and sliced; reserve some for garnish (optional – not pictured)
- 2 cups Mexican-style shredded cheese
- 1 avocado, chopped
- cilantro, chopped for garnish
- lime
Aztec Pie Recipe – Cooking Directions
- Preheat oven to 400.
- Heat an oven-proof skillet. Sauté onion in oil until wilted and pale golden. Add garlic and cook one minute longer. Transfer to a small bowl.
- Crumble beef into skillet. Stir and cook until meat is no longer pink, about 8 minutes. Return onion and garlic to skillet.
- Stir in chili powder, sugar, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper and cinnamon. Cook 2-3 minutes more, stirring to blend flavors.
- Stir in the tomatoes, reserved tomato juice and chilies. Reduce heat to moderately low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Transfer mixture to a bowl; reserve.
- Wipe skillet clean with paper towels.
- Place half of the chips in an even layer on the bottom of the skillet.
- Spoon half of the meat sauce over them.
- Sprinkle with green onion.
- Reserve some of the olives for garnish and scatter the rest over the green onions. Sprinkle with half of the cheese.
- Press down with spatula to compress slightly.
- Top with remaining chips, press down.
- Spread remaining meat sauce over top; sprinkle with remaining cheese.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly and cheese is melted. Remove skillet from over and let sit for 10 minutes before serving.
- Garnish the top with reserved olives, additional green onions, avocado, lime and cilantro.
Printable Recipe Found Below
Tips for Saving Money on your Aztec Pie Recipe
{Image Being Short – Image of Checking out at the Kroger Store}
Have you fallen in love with the recipe? Want to try it? I hope so! I believe it can quickly become a family favorite for you too. Saving money for this recipe is easier than you think.
I’m not a coupon person because of the time, dedication and knowledge it takes to really do it well. However, I do have some tips that will help you cut costs at the register – some involving simple coupon ideas and some ideas that you may not have considered.
I shop at my local Kroger® store, Fred Meyer, because it is not only conveniently located by my daughter’s school, but I find it a great place to compound savings.
- Consider the Kroger Visa Card – The Kroger REWARDS Visa® Card may be a new concept to you. You get 1 point per qualifying net $1 spent anywhere Visa is accepted. 2 points are earned per qualifying net $1 spent in the Kroger® family of companies (excluding fuel centers). You get 3 points per qualifying net $1 spent on the Kroger® family of quality brands. Every 1,000 Points = $5 in FREE groceries. Read more about the REWARDS Visa® card here. As a Banner REWARDS Visa® cardholder, you’ll save an additional 25¢ per gallon of fuel for one year, each time you redeem 100 Fuel Points. This is a fantastic savings for one full year— if you visit the fuel pump weekly, you can see significant savings per gallon using this card (for the first year). Simply using your Kroger® REWARDS Visa provides oodles of savings.
- Buy Store Brands – As mentioned above, if you have the Kroger® REWARDS Visa Card, you will get 3 points for every $1 spent on Kroger® brands. Buying the store brand usually saves tons of money anyway, so I’d always look for the Kroger® brand to maximize your savings at the register. I saved money on this particular recipe just by following this easy tip.
- Bring Competing Store Coupons – I’m not great at clipping coupons. However, some coupons for products already on my list cross my radar without much effort. My Kroger® store accepts coupons from other stores, so I encourage you to check in with your local Kroger® and see if they do the same. This makes shopping convenient for those who don’t want to jump around town from store to store to maximize their savings.
- Take Advantage of Store Reward Cards – Store reward cards offer discounts on products in the store. I also get money back for my purchases. The added bonus is that my daughter’s school receives money when I use my reward card. Having parents register their cards has raised hundreds for our school. Contact your local Kroger® or school to see if it has a similar program.
- Compare Prices – This might be an obvious tip, but compare prices as you shop. Shop when you have a little bit more time so you can carefully see the differences in price and shop accordingly. Your family’s budget will benefit. Do not look at the overall price. Always look at the price per unit to get the direct comparison.
In our family, we have adopted the motto, “Spend less. Give more.” Although I am not a huge coupon person, I have found simple steps that provide less output so we can be more generous. You can do the same!
I hope this Aztec Pie Recipe not only fills the belly but delights the soul. I’m also hoping that my money saving techniques have been helpful in cutting costs for all the meals you serve around your table.
Aztec Pie Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups chopped onion
- 1 Tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
- 2 Tbsp chili powder
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 can whole tomatoes cut up, reserve juice
- 1 can mild chopped green chilies
- 1 bag tortilla chips
- 1 cup thinly sliced green onions discard tops
- 1 can 6 oz. pitted ripe olives, drained and sliced; reserve some for garnish
- 2 cups Mexican-style shredded cheese
- 1 avocado chopped
- lime for serving
- cilantro chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400.
- Heat an oven-proof skillet. Sauté onion in oil until wilted and pale golden. Add garlic and cook one minute longer. Transfer to a small bowl.
- Crumble beef into skillet. Stir and cook until meat is no longer pink, about 8 minutes. Return onion and garlic to skillet.
- Stir in chili powder, sugar, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper and cinnamon. Cook 2-3 minutes more, stirring to blend flavors.
- Stir in the tomatoes, reserved tomato juice and chilies. Reduce heat to moderately low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Transfer mixture to a bowl; reserve.
- Wipe skillet clean with paper towels.
- Place half of the chips in an even layer on the bottom of the skillet.
- Spoon half of the meat sauce over them.
- Sprinkle with green onion.
- Reserve some of the olives for garnish and scatter the rest over the green onions. Sprinkle with half of the cheese.
- Press down with spatula to compress slightly.
- Top with remaining chips, press down.
- Spread remaining meat sauce over top; sprinkle with remaining cheese.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly and cheese is melted. Remove skillet from over and let sit for 10 minutes before serving.
- Garnish the top with reserved olives, additional green onions, avocado, lime and cilantro.
*Earn points on net spend toward free groceries, excluding purchases made at The Kroger Family of Companies Fuel Centers. Net spend is purchases minus credits and returns. Rewards certificates cannot be redeemed at Fuel Centers. Rewards sent automatically only to balances greater than or equal to 1,000 points, if your Account is open and in good standing.
**Offer applies to new cardholders only. Discount is available at The Kroger Family of Companies Fuel Centers when you redeem at least 100 existing fuel points earned in a single month. You must scan, redeem points and pay with your Kroger REWARDS Visa® in order to receive the fuel discount. Additional 25¢ discount offer expires one year from the cardholder’s approval date. Upon expiration, cardholder will receive additional 5¢ fuel discount at The Kroger Family of Companies Fuel Centers when they scan, redeem points and pay with their Kroger REWARDS Visa®. Not valid with any other fuel offer. Accumulation excludes taxes, office services, alcohol, tobacco, fuel, prescriptions and any purchase prohibited by law. Fuel discount effective for a limited time at participating fuel center locations. Not valid in LA, MO or where prohibited by law. Purchases made at The Kroger Family of Companies Fuel Centers do not earn Rewards points. Please see store for fuel discount details and in-store spending requirements. Selling or purchasing fuel points is prohibited. Fuel redemption offer cannot be combined with any other discounts. No discounts to dealers, wholesalers or fleet programs. No cash back. Not valid where prohibited by law. We may suspend or remove you from the fuel program due to violation of these terms or because of fraudulent activity or suspected fraudulent activity.The creditor and issuer of the 1-2-3 REWARDS® Visa® Card is U.S. Bank National Association, pursuant to a license from Visa® U.S.A. Inc.
