This Wendy’s Chili Recipe is the best copycat version with just the right blend of tomatoes, spices, veggies, and beef. It’s a classic chili recipe your whole family will want again and again.
It didn’t start out as the perfect chili recipe, it sort of evolved over the course of 20 or so years. I found the recipe in a copycat cookbook I checked out from the library when I first got married. You can tell by our recipe card it has helped me make many pots of chili. It’s a classic chili recipe our whole family enjoys.
Wendy’s chili top questions
Wendy’s admits it would be a waste to throw out all the hamburgers that sit on the grill too long. They want to serve the freshest burgers fast so the older ones are placed inside a bin in the refrigerator and repurposed by being boiled, chopped up, and then put into the chili.
Yes. Matter of fact my family things the flavor gets better each time it’s reheated.
Wendy’s does not include any dairy in their chili, however, if you have a dairy allergy it may not be safe to eat. They use grilled hamburger patties for the meat that could have been grilled next to a patty with cheese. If you make this copycat recipe at home then your recipe will be dairy-free.
Yes, the chile can be vegetarian or vegan by substituting the ground beef for vegan beef substate crumbles. I used Gardein Beefless Ground when I made the recipe for this photoshoot. I asked my husband after dinner if he noticed and he was surprised what great flavor it had.
What’s in Wendy’s Chili?
- ground beef or vegan beef substitute
- tomato sauce
- stewed tomatoes
- diced onions
- green chilies
- diced celery
- pinto or kidney beans
- cumin
- chili powder
- salt and pepper
- water
How to make Wendy’s Chili
Time needed: 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Stovetop recipe for making Wendy’s chili
- Cook hamburger in stockpot and drain
- Add diced onions and celery to hamburger, cook 5 minutes or until tender
- Add the rest of the ingredients and allow to simmer for 1 hour
- Serving options: top with cheese, chopped onions, jalapenos, sour cream, and hot sauce
Wendy’s chili toppings
- Diced Onions
- Shredded cheese: cheddar or pepper jack if you like it spicy
- Sour cream or greek yogurt
- Tortilla chips, we like to serve this chili over a plate full of chips and toppings
- Saltine crackers
- jalapenos
- hot sauce
Wendy’s chili in an instant pot recipe
This chili recipe is easy and even quicker to make in an instant pot. Just turn your Instant Pot to high sautee and brown your ground beef. Drain fat off when done.
Add all remaining ingredients from the recipe. Cook on high pressure for 6 minutes. Allow to quick release and serve with your favorite toppings.
More great soup recipes
Cincinnati Chili is one of our family’s favorite comfort foods. There really is nothing quite like it and it’s always a fun meal to serve to guests because it is so unusual and oh so delicious.
Preparing your own fresh Mexican Vegan Tomato Soup is easy and a healthier alternative to canned soup. I start with large ripe yellow tomatoes because they have a mild smooth flavor, but red ones work fine also.
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This Wendy’s Chili Recipe is the best copycat version with just the right blend of tomatoes, spices, veggies, and beef. It’s a classic chili recipe your whole family will want again and again.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 29 ounces can tomato sauce
- 1 cup onions diced small
- 4 oz can diced green chilis
- 1 cup celery diced small
- 2 14 oz cans stewed tomatoes that have been lightly pureed
- 1 14 oz can pinto beans or kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 cups of water
Instructions
Stovetop directions
- Cook hamburger in stockpot and drain
- Add onions and celery to hamburger, cook 5 minutes or until tender
- Add the rest of the ingredients and allow to simmer for 1 hour
- Serving options: top with cheese, chopped onions, jalapenos, sour cream, and hot sauce.
Instant Pot Directions
This chili recipe is easy and even quicker to make in an instant pot.
Just turn your Instant Pot to high, sautee, and brown your ground beef. Drain fat off when done. Add all remaining ingredients from the recipe. Cook on high pressure for 6 minutes. Allow to quick release and serve with your favorite toppings.
Vegan Wendy’s Chili
Prepare recipe as stovetop except omit step one of cooking the beef. Sautee onion and celery in 1 tablespoon of olive oil instead. Add all ingredients and 2 cups of vegan beef crumble substitute. I used Gardein Beefless Ground when I made the recipe for this photoshoot. I asked my husband after dinner if he noticed and he was surprised what great flavor it had.
Keywords: wendy’s chili recipe
Sounds like a great chili recipe. I make a vegetable chili I make where I add in hominy, black beans, chopped red pepper and diced squash. I like to make a big batch and freeze it in small containers for quick lunches. Hope your family has a Happy Thanksgiving.
Blessings,
Victoria
Victoria,
What a great idea adding hominy, black beans, red pepper and squash. I will try doing that next week, after all our Thanksgiving left overs are gone. :)