The Knoxville-original chili-over-Fritos bowl born at the 1982 World's Fair, served in a sliced-open Fritos bag with chili, cheese, sour cream and salsa.

Joe and Carol Schoentrup and Mark and Ann Lawrence built a food concession at the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville serving chili over corn chips. They called it the Petro after the fair's energy theme. The concession sold 175,000 units in six months, then sold to brothers Dale and Keith Widmer who built it into the East Tennessee chain that still serves the original Petro at Market Square.

Where to eat Petro's Chili and Chips (The Petro) in Knoxville

1 editor pick for Petro's Chili and Chips (The Petro) in Knoxville, ranked by editorial score. All Knoxville signature dishes · Petro's Chili and Chips (The Petro) across every city.

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Make it at home

Serves 445 minEasy

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
  • 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 4 individual-size bags Fritos corn chips
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • Sour cream and salsa for topping

Method

  1. Brown ground beef with onion and garlic in a heavy pot over medium-high heat, about 7 minutes.
  2. Drain excess fat. Stir in tomato sauce, kidney beans, chili powder and cumin.
  3. Simmer uncovered 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chili thickens.
  4. Slice each Fritos bag open lengthwise.
  5. Spoon hot chili directly onto the chips in each bag.
  6. Top with shredded cheese, a dollop of sour cream and a spoonful of salsa.
  7. Serve immediately with a plastic fork, eaten directly from the bag.

Editor tip. The bag is the bowl: this is the Knoxville canonical presentation. Don't use a plate.

Common allergens: Corn, Dairy.