How to make chili like Wendy's - Copycat Wendy's Chili Recipe (2024)

By: Melissa Coleman Last Updated: This post may contain affiliate links.

How to make chili like Wendy's - Copycat Wendy's Chili Recipe (1)

This Wendy's Chili recipe is an easy-to-follow, spot-on, copycat version for any Wendy's chili lover to make at home.

A great dish to curl up with by the fire for dinner.

How to make chili like Wendy's - Copycat Wendy's Chili Recipe (2)

I am a Goldilocks kind of chili lover.

I want mine not to thick but not too watery either.

This copycat Wendy's chili recipe is just right and a no-brainer. It's delish!

Also, did you know it is gluten-free?

I love Wendy's chili, but to be honest, when I want chili I'm usually wanting to be at home where I am cuddled under the blankets while eating it.

That is why I love this chili recipe.

I can make it at home without having to get out of my pajamas, that is assuming I have all the ingredients.

Speaking of ingredients here is what you will need and how to make a batch for yourself.

What ingredients are in Wendy's Chili recipe?

  • 2 lbs Hamburger
  • 2 cans of tomato sauce (15oz cans)
  • 2 cans of kidney beans (w/ liquid)
  • 2 cans of pinto beans (w/ liquid)
  • 1 cup diced onion (medium-sized)
  • ½ cup diced green chili (1-2 chilies)
  • ¼ cup diced celery (1 stalk)
  • 3 medium tomatoes (chopped)
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 3 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoons pepper
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 cups of water
How to make chili like Wendy's - Copycat Wendy's Chili Recipe (3)

Yes, there are several ingredients and seasonings in this chili, but you can put this recipe together in no time.

You won’t be disappointed when you make a delicious bowl of this amazing just like Wendy's chili from scratch.

How does Wendy's make their chili?

Brown beef & drain (chop into pea-size bits)

How to make chili like Wendy's - Copycat Wendy's Chili Recipe (4)
How to make chili like Wendy's - Copycat Wendy's Chili Recipe (5)

If you are using a regular pot bring it to a simmer over low heat and cook for approximately 2-3 hours, stirring every 15 minutes.

You can also usea crockpot (my preference), for 6-8 hours on the low setting.

Great served with all your favorite toppings such as shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, and oyster crackers.

How to make chili like Wendy's - Copycat Wendy's Chili Recipe (6)

This copycat Wendy's chili recipe is a great recipe to prep the night before.

Allow it to simmer on low in the crockpot while you’re at work, school, etc.

Just in time for dinner, you will have an amazing, hearty meal ready to go.

How to make chili like Wendy's - Copycat Wendy's Chili Recipe (7)

This copycat chili may have several ingredients but truthfully it is a simple go-to for many families and the flavor is familiar and inviting.

It makes you want to go have a bowlful right now.

Plus you can make a double batch and freeze the leftovers for a quick easy meal later on in the month.

How to make chili like Wendy's - Copycat Wendy's Chili Recipe (8)

When we make chili we also love to have this Copycat Boston Market Cornbread.

It goesperfectlywith this chili dish.

How to make chili like Wendy's - Copycat Wendy's Chili Recipe (9)

Want to print or save the best chili recipe?

How to make chili like Wendy's - Copycat Wendy's Chili Recipe (10)

Wendy's Chili Recipe

Melissa Coleman

This Copycat Wendy's Chili recipe is perfect for any Wendy's chili lover. A great dish to curl up by the fire for dinner.

4.70 from 46 votes

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 3 hours hrs

Total Time 3 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Course Main Dish Recipes

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs Hamburger
  • 2 cans tomato sauce 15oz cans
  • 2 cans kidney beans w/ liquid
  • 2 cans pinto beans w/ liquid
  • 1 cup diced onion medium sized
  • ½ cup diced green chili 1-2 chilies
  • ¼ cup diced celery 1 stalk
  • 3 medium tomatoes chopped
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 3 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoons pepper
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 cups water

Instructions

  • Brown beef & drain (chop into pea-size bits)

  • Combine all ingredients.

  • If you are using a regular pot bring to a simmer over low heat and cook approximately 2-3 hours, stirring every 15 minutes.You can also usea crockpot (my preference), 6-8 hours on the low setting.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply

  1. Kendra says

    My family loved this Chili. It does taste like Wendy’s. This is my new go to chili recipe.

    Reply

    • Melissa says

      So glad they loved it. It is our go-to recipe as well.

      Reply

  2. Beverly says

    Can or should you use Red Chili Kidney Beans?? Chili Pinto Beans, if they even have such??

    Reply

    • Melissa says

      Beverly, I believe Bush's beans make chili beans that are kidney and pinto. I have never used these, but I am sure they would work out fine. Just keep in mind it could change the "Wendys" taste just slightly.

      Reply

How to make chili like Wendy's - Copycat Wendy's Chili Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do Wendy's make 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 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 Wendy's chili sauce made of? ›

Ingredients include: water, corn syrup, salt, distilled vinegar, natural flavors, xanthan gum, extratives of paprika. You can put this sauce on several Wendys menu items: burgers, fries, chili, chicken, mixed with ketchup.

Why is Wendy's chili so sweet? ›

The beans also play a role in the texture and flavor of the chili. Both pinto beans and kidney beans are used, which means they each provide their own unique properties. Pinto beans have a creamy texture and a nutty and slightly earthy flavor. Kidney beans have a dense texture and subtly sweet flavor.

What brand is Wendy's chili? ›

The canned product is made by Conagra, the massive corporate owner of other canned foods such as Wolf brand chili and Chef Boyardee, so you know manufacturing Wendy's restaurant chili as a mass-marketed canned product is bound to be this company's forte.

Is Wendy's chili 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 chili have sand in it? ›

Sand (Silicon Dioxide)

Used as an anti-caking agent, it is often added to processed beef and chicken to prevent clumping, and is listed in the ingredient panels for chili from both Wendy's and Taco Bell.

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 is the secret to perfect chili? ›

Only Add Flavorful Liquids

Instead of adding water to your chili, add some more flavor with chicken or beef broth, red wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, or even beet or wine. Each one of these options brings out different notes and levels of sweetness that will enhance your culinary creation.

What adds the most flavor to chili? ›

Here are some of the most common (and most effective) flavor boosters to add to your chili recipe.
  • Booze (Beer, Wine, or Liquor) ...
  • Liquid Smoke. ...
  • Brine or Vinegar. ...
  • Soy Sauce. ...
  • Fish Sauce. ...
  • Worcestershire Sauce. ...
  • Coffee or Espresso Powder. ...
  • Chocolate.
Aug 23, 2021

How do you get the depth of flavor in chili? ›

To enhance the flavor of your chili, brown the meat before adding it to the pot. This step not only caramelizes the meat, but gives your chili more texture, adding a depth that cannot be achieved by simply simmering it in the chili.

Does Wendys use real ingredients? ›

Yes, Wendy's uses fresh, never frozen beef on every hamburger, every day. * We go the extra mile to ensure we are sourcing only the highest quality beef, and we transport fresh beef in refrigerated trucks to Wendy's restaurants thousands of times every week.

Does Wendys use burgers for chili? ›

Accordingly, Wendy's developed an off-putting solution: Incorporate old, unsold burger patties into the restaurant's chili. Find this fact a little too disgusting to be true? As reported by Entrepreneur, the practice for making Wendy's chili was demonstrated by a staff member at the chain.

Is Wendy's chili made fresh everyday? ›

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.

Why does Wendy's chili have milk? ›

Chili: According to Wendy's representatives, their Chili does NOT contain milk in the ingredients. They label it as “contains milk” due to the potential cross-contamination of the burger patties on the grill. Cheese is also used on the grill, and the patties are chopped and added to the chili.

What is Timberline chili? ›

It'll warm your heart from the inside out. Tomato sauce with ground beef, dark red kidney beans and diced bell peppers. Topped with cheddar cheese, and fresh jalapeño.

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