Copycat Wendy's Chili Recipe (2024)

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Mom Foodie

Easy Family Recipes, Drinks and Healthy Lifestyle

Copycat Wendy's Chili Recipe (1)

By Robin Gagnon | Updated on

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An easy to makeWendy's Chili recipe copycatthat you can make right at home. My mom is a big fan of the chili at Wendy's, so it was sort of a must to find a good knock-off version of the recipe.

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Copycat Wendy's Chili Recipe (2)

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Wendy's Chili Recipe - Copycat version

Love Wendy's Chili, but want a nice big pot of this chili at home? Today, I have a Copycat version of the Wendy's Chili Recipe for you. Now you can make the restaurant favorite right in your own home. What could be more perfect for Game day or a special treat after a grueling afternoon of clearing snow. As a nice bonus canned beans make this an dump easy recipe to toss together, that only needs to simmer a few hours before you are enjoying. The only hands on work really involved in making this chili recipe is browning the ground beef and chopping a few vegetables.

I'm sure you will still visit Wendy's for an occasional cup of their's, but this is a great recipe when you what a full pot of chili.

Copycat Wendy's Chili Recipe (3)

I am not guaranteeing the Wendy's chili ingredients are exactly the same. My main goal here is not an identical clone of what's in Wendy's chili, rather the flavor and texture of their chili.While the recipe is geared toward the stove top it is easily adapted to make in a slow cooker. I hope you like my copycat recipe!

Can this Chili be Frozen?

Yes, this chili can absolutely be frozen to reheat and serve later.

More Copycat Recipes

A few more of your restaurant favorites to make at home.

  • Olive Garden Breadsticks
  • Chick-Fil-a Chicken Salad
  • Starbucks Banana Bread
  • Panera Bread Tomato Soup
  • Choco Tacos recipe
  • Chick-Fil-A Sauce Recipe
  • Olive Garden Minestrone Soup Recipe

Copycat Wendy's Chili Recipe (4)

Copycat Wendy's Chili Recipe

Wendy’s Chili recipe copycat that is easy to prepare at home..

4.88 from 24 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: chili recipe, copycat recipes, Wendy's chili

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours hours 45 minutes minutes

Total Time: 2 hours hours 55 minutes minutes

Servings: 6

Calories: 435kcal

Author: Mom Foodie Contributor

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. Ground Beef
  • ½ Yellow Onion Medium, diced
  • 1 Celery Stalk diced
  • ¼ Cup Poblano or Hatch Chilies roasted, skin removed and diced
  • 15 oz Tomato Sauce
  • 15 oz Tomatoes Can Diced
  • 15 oz Kidney Beans canned, drained not rinsed
  • 15 oz Pinto Beans canned, drained not rinsed
  • 2 teaspoon Cumin
  • 2 Tbsp. Chili Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • Water

Instructions

  • In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat brown the Ground Beef, drain and reserve 1 Tbsp. of drippings in the pot.

  • Add the Onion, Celery and Chilies to the pot and cook over medium heat until the Onions start to turn translucent.

  • Add the Beef. Tomato sauce, Diced Tomatoes, Kidney and Pinto beans, Cumin, Chili Powder, Black Pepper, Salt and 1 Cup water. Bring to a simmer, cover and let cook 2 ½ - 3 hours. Add water as necessary to maintain desired consistency.

  • Serve hot.

Notes

While I do suggest using the chili spices as listed, if you don't have some of them using a mild chili seasoning will still produce good results.

To make the chili in a crock pot brown the meat first, then cook on the low setting for allotted time.

Nutrition

Calories: 435kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 53mg | Sodium: 536mg | Potassium: 1340mg | Fiber: 15g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 2395IU | Vitamin C: 17.7mg | Calcium: 110mg | Iron: 7.2mg

Copycat Wendy's Chili Recipe (5)

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Copycat Wendy's Chili Recipe (9)

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. LaVonne says

    I love a hot bowl of chili on a cold winter day. Thank you for this recipe!

    Reply

  2. Carlee C says

    Wendy's Chili is SO GOOD! I especially love it topped with sour cream, and chedder cheese.

    Reply

  3. valmg @ From Val's Kitchen says

    We're big chili fans here. Before I started making chili at home we went to Wendy's for theirs sometimes on cold days.

    Reply

  4. katrina g says

    this looks amazing. I love wendy's chili. We had one in town but they closed a few months ago. I will be trying this soon.

    Reply

  5. Tonya says

    Thanks the fam loved it and chili recipe was easy.

    Reply

  6. frank bailey says

    Making a pot of the chili right now. It must be very close to the Wendy's chili recipe. Tastes graet.

    Reply

  7. IFortuna says

    This is my favorite chili. Thanks for the recipe. : )

    Reply

  8. andipanda says

    I don't understand. Beef browned, beans canned and still, I must cook all together for 2.5-3 hours?

    Reply

    • Robin Gagnon says

      Simmering melds the flavors. You can certainly eat the chili sooner, but simmering makes it better.

      Reply

  9. Wendy says

    I do not understand either; I do cook the canned beans in my Dutch oven casserole 2-3 hours, they will fall apart because they are already cooked

    Reply

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FAQs

What are the ingredients of Wendy's chili? ›

Chili Concentrate: Chili Sauce (Water, Tomato Juice, Tomatoes, Calcium Chloride, Seasoning (Sugar, Salt, Corn Starch, Dried Chilies, Spices, Flavor Enhancer [Dextrose, Salt, Yeast Extract, Silicon Dioxide, Modified Corn Starch], Citric Acid, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate, Xanthan gum), Beans (Pink Beans, Red ...

What makes Wendy's chili taste so good? ›

The reason we love Wendy's chili so much really comes down to three things: the beef, the beans, and the fact that it's straight comfort food.

What secret ingredient will deepen the flavor of your chili? ›

Stir some puréed pumpkin into your chili just after sautéing your aromatics (onions, garlic, etc...) and before adding any liquid. This will deepen and sweeten its flavor, making it a great balance for all the chile peppers and heat.

What is the sand in Wendy's chili? ›

Wendy's Chili: Sand

One key ingredient to Wendy's chili is an anti-caking agent called silicon dioxide. Street name: sand or glass powder.

What does Wendy's use as fillers in their meat? ›

Our signature square hamburger patties have no fillers or additives, because we know the beef is what matters when it comes to making the best hamburger in the game.

What is Wendy's hot chili seasoning? ›

The ingredients listed on the real Hot Chili Seasoning are water, corn syrup, salt, distilled vinegar, natural flavors, xanthan gum, and extractives of paprika.

Is Wendy's chili made fresh every day? ›

Made fresh every day

We prep from scratch every day—slicing our tomatoes by hand, preparing our house-made chili and cooking our bacon to ensure quality and freshness in every order.

Does Wendy's sell canned chili? ›

Get the same delicious flavor you love—minus the beans—with this no-bean canned chili, inspired by the famous Wendy's chili recipe. Hearty seasoned beef, tender peppers, and savory spices come together in this flavorful favorite. Heat and enjoy.

What adds the most flavor to chili? ›

Cocoa powder, bacon, cinnamon, ground coffee and tomato paste will all add a rich sweet & salty flavors that are sure to surprise and delight. Warming spice blends, like Garam Masala, Ras el Hanout or Baharat are another simple and delicious way to add layered flavors to this simple one-pot meal.

How unhealthy is Wendy's chilli? ›

According to the Wendy's website, a large chili contains 1,270 milligrams of sodium. This is approximately 55 percent of the recommended daily sodium allowance for adults, which is under 2,300 milligrams. Furthermore, the chili has 15 grams of total fat, 30 milligrams of cholesterol, and 31 grams of total carbs.

Does beef broth make chili taste better? ›

The base of your chili determines the success of the dish! This flavor foundation plays a crucial role in enhancing the overall flavor. Instead of using plain water (please, never just use water), consider using stock, broth, or bone broth as your base to add richness and depth.

What is the secret to really good chili? ›

Five Tips for Better Chili
  • Make Your Own Chili Powder. Okay, if you're using a store-bought shaker of “chili powder” please get up from your computer, walk to your pantry, and throw it away. ...
  • Use Beans from a Bag, Not from a Can. ...
  • Roast your Chiles. ...
  • Vary your Meat. ...
  • A Hoppy Bottle of Beer Brings it all Together. ...
  • Chili Powder.
Nov 29, 2016

What is the most important spice in chili? ›

Most Common Chili Spices. Cumin, Chile Powders, and Paprika are the most common spices in chili followed by garlic, onion, coriander, Mexican oregano, and bay leaves. These ingredients can be combined to create a savory and well-balanced pot of top notch comfort food.

Why do you put vinegar in chili? ›

With only about 1 tablespoon per pot added toward the end of the cooking process, the vinegar will make the flavors more vibrant without overwhelming the dish with its biting tang. Through just a splash, everything becomes a little brighter, and the chili's flavors are more balanced.

Does Wendy's use real beef in their chili? ›

The Wendy's Chili recipe ingredients are simple at their core, but at Wendy's it's all about blending our signature beef with the perfect mix of hearty vegetables, chili beans and savory spices. The result is a taste that's both satisfying and sentimental, and it's the perfect comfort food anytime of the year.

What gives chili its distinct flavor? ›

Cumin, Chile Powders, and Paprika are the most common spices in chili followed by garlic, onion, coriander, Mexican oregano, and bay leaves. These ingredients can be combined to create a savory and well-balanced pot of top notch comfort food.

What are some facts about Wendy's chili? ›

As reported by Entrepreneur, the practice for making Wendy's chili was demonstrated by a staff member at the chain. They posted a video on social media showing the employee combining unsold burger patties with water, crushing them, and then placing them in a bag for storage in the freezer.

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