There’s something so comforting about a warm bowl of chili, especially when it tastes just like the one from your favorite drive-thru. This copycat chili Wendy’s style recipe has all the rich, savory flavor you love, only made fresh in your own kitchen.
Whether you’re cooking for a crowd, meal prepping for the week, or setting up a chili bar for game night, this one’s always a winner.
Copycat Chili Wendy’s Style
Bold, hearty flavor just like the real thing. Beginner-friendly and easy to make with confidence. Hands-off cooking just simmer and go. This chili is also Budget-friendly with ground beef and canned products. Prep-ahead friendly and fully customizable with turkey, extra beans, or add some heat.
I wanted a fool proof recipe for chili and this recipe turned out perfectly. It is so delicious! And easy. Lots of meat too.
— Shirley W.
Ingredient Tips
Here’s a quick overview of the key ingredients for this recipe. For the full list of ingredients and exact measurements, be sure to check the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Ground beef (90% lean): Wendy’s famously repurposes their grilled hamburger patties by chopping them into their chili, giving it that signature flavor. At home, we’ll use fresh, lean ground beef to keep things simple, flavorful, and easy to prep. Ground turkey also works well if you’re looking for a leaner option.
- Celery: Choose crisp stalks and dice very small for better blending.
- Tomato sauce: Use canned no-salt-added tomato sauce to control seasoning. Substitute with crushed tomatoes or purée.
- Stewed tomatoes: Choose canned stewed tomatoes and lightly purée before using. Substitute with diced or fire-roasted tomatoes.
- Beans (kidney and pinto): Use canned, rinsed and drained to reduce sodium. Substitute with black beans, cannellini beans, navy beans, or chickpeas.
- Seasoning (chili powder, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder): Choose fresh, good-quality spices. You can substitute chili powder with taco seasoning or ancho chili powder if needed.
How To Make Copycat Wendy’s Chili
Cook Beef and Drain Fat
Just toss your ground beef in a big pot and cook it over medium heat. Break it up as small as you can, think little pea-size crumbles. Once it’s browned, tip the pot and spoon off the grease. I like to blot it with a paper towel too to keep it lighter.
Sauté the Veggies and Add Ingredients
Stir in your diced onion, bell pepper, and celery. Let them soften for about 5 minutes. Pour in the tomato sauce, stewed tomatoes, and both types of beans. Give it all a good stir.
Now sprinkle in the spices, sugar, and salt. Add the water, stir again, and make sure everything’s mixed well. Set the chili to simmer. Your kitchen is about to smell amazing!
Variations, Substitutions, and Recipe Tips
Make it Spicy: Add roasted jalapeños, cayenne, or hot sauce.
Go Meatless: Swap beef for lentils or plant-based crumbles. Just know it’s not going to taste the same but it will be good.
Bulk It Up: Stir in corn or extra beans.
Low-Sodium: Use no-salt-added canned goods and reduce added salt.
Change the Beans: Black beans or chickpeas are great alternatives.
Hospitality in Action Challenge
Hosting a chili dinner party can be a fun and delicious way to gather friends and family for a hearty meal. I have all the tips and recipes like this Wendy’s Chili so you can host a great chili bar dinner. Check out the make-ahead tips, decor ideas, and topping recipes. By setting up a chili food bar, you create a customizable experience where guests can build their own bowls of chili with a variety of toppings and sides. I even have free printable chili bar labels for you.
More Beef Chili Recipes
- Sweet and Spicy Southern Chili Recipe
- Easy Crockpot Skyline Chili Recipe
- Thick and Hearty No Bean Chili Recipe (Slow Cooker)
- Easy Crockpot Beer Chili: With PGA Beer
- Zippy’s Chili Recipe Hawaiian Style
- Best Copycat Texas Roadhouse Chili Recipe
- Quick Instant Pot Cincinnati Chili; Skyline Copycat
If you’re craving Wendy’s chili but want a homemade version that’s easy, affordable, and full of familiar flavor, this recipe has you covered. If you have any questions about making this recipe, feel free to ask in the comments below. I’m here to help!
Copycat Chili Wendy’s Style Recipe
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Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef, 90% extra lean
- 1 cup onions, diced small
- 1/3 cup green pepper, diced smal
- 1 cup celery, diced very small
- 1 20 ounce tomato sauce
- 1 14 oz stewed tomatoes, canned, slightly purred with a blender
- 1 14 oz kidney beans, canned, rinsed, and drained
- 1 14 oz pinto beans, canned, rinsed, and drained
- 2 teaspoons cumin, I believe this is what they call "spices" in their list of ingredients.
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoon chili powder, mild
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 cups water
Instructions
- Cook hamburger in a large pot over medium heat. Break apart the hamburger as you stir it. You will want your hamburger to be pea-size pieces. Cook until there is no pink left in the meat.2 pounds ground beef
- Remove from heat. Drain off the fat. I like to tip the pan and then spoon off any grease. Then, blot the meat with paper towels to get the last bit of fat from the meat.
- Over medium heat, add onions, green peppers, and celery to the cooked hamburger. Cook on medium heat for 3 minutes to tenderize the vegetables.1 cup onions, 1/3 cup green pepper, 1 cup celery
- Add tomatoes, beans, seasonings, and water. Stir well to incorporate the ingredients.1 20 ounce tomato sauce, 1 14 oz stewed tomatoes, 1 14 oz kidney beans, 1 14 oz pinto beans, 2 teaspoons cumin, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 1/2 teaspoon chili powder, 2 teaspoons salt, 2 tablespoons sugar, 2 cups water
- Bring to a boil, then turn the heat to low and simmer covered for 1 hour. Stir every 15 minutes to be sure the chili is not sticking to the bottom of the pan.
Gina’s Notes and Tips
- Refrigerate: Cool completely, refrigerate in airtight containers for up to 4 days.
- Freeze: Portion into freezer bags, lay flat, and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: Warm on stovetop over medium heat or microwave in 1-minute intervals, stirring in between. If it is too thick, you might need to add a splash of beef broth or water.
How I Found What Is Really in Wendy’s Chili Recipe
This recipe started when I checked out a cookbook with restaurant recipes from the library. I was newly married (1982) and was trying to find the perfect chili recipe that tasted like our favorite take-out chili. We were on a newlywed budget, so creating a less expensive chili just like Wendy’s was my goal.
I copied the recipe on the small index card, minus the beans. It took a few years to convince my husband that beans are good in chili. Over time, I had to glue the small card onto a bigger one, and we made a few changes, like using stewed tomatoes and canned green chilis.
It didn’t start as the perfect recipe; it evolved over the course of 20 or so years. You can tell by our recipe card. Many pots of chili have been made using this recipe card.
Kidney and pinto, just like Wendy’s.
Yes. Brown the meat and vegetables in a pan first, then transfer to the slow cooker and add everything else. Set your slow cooker to low for 6 hours or use the chili setting.
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. :)
I have eaten Wendy’s Chili and it is awesome! I’m saving this and want to make it soon
This was a family favorite recipe when my kids were little. It’s our go-to chili recipe for that first GA cold snap.
I’ve never found celery in any bowl of chili I’ve ever eaten from Wendy’s
You will find a list of all the ingredients, including celery on the Wendy’s website nutrition page. However, my copycat recipe does not include items such as Citric Acid, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate, Xanthan gum since this is adapted to home cookes who do not need items found in commercially produced foods.
Wendy’s Website: chili nutrition
I will need to try absolutely love wendys chili
I hope you like this copycat recipe. We had 6 kids and this was a much more grocery budget frindly way to serve them great chili.
I wish people would not rate recipes 5 stars when have not tried yet. It’s misleading:(
Agreed!
It’s frustrating for bloggers to have people do this too. I want to know what people think after they make the recipe. Is there something that was hard to follow that I could go in and change. I have made a few changes over the years to recipes because of tips my readers have given me that made it easier or better for them.
I wanted a fool proof recipe for chili and this recipe turned out perfectly. It is so delicious! And easy. Lots of meat too. The only thing I changed was adding twice the amount of chili powder. Very good!!
Thanks for commenting Shirley, I have added your review to the top of the post to let others know how much you enjoyed this recipe.