Wendy’s Chili Recipe

Who doesn’t love the iconic Wendy’s Chili? You can recreate this copycat Wendy’s chili at home, and the result will be like the restaurant. You can prepare this in under 45 minutes; best of all, this tastes even better the next day!

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Why This is the Best Copycat Wendy’s Copycat Chili Recipe

If you are looking for a tried and true copycat recipe, look no further. I developed this copycat version over 20 years ago. This recipe has stood the test of time. People love this recipe.

This chili is perfectly seasoned—not too spicy and just enough spice. This easy chili recipe is going to become one of your go-tos. You can enjoy the leftover chili the next day.

Wendy’s Chili Meat

It is said that Wendy’s chili is made from grilled hamburger patties that didn’t make it into their burgers. You don’t have you start with hamburger patties, you can use fresh ground beef.

It is easier to start out this way when you make your own chili. We suggest that you brown the beef very thoroughly before making your chili.

If you are a die-hard Wendy’s Chili fan, you can start out with about 2 pounds of ground meat and fry it up as hamburgers, but you must cook them until they are very well done.

Did you know?

• Wendy’s Chili is gluten-free.

This Wendy’s chili copycat recipe has lots of fresh ingredients, and it can be put together in no time. It has onions, celery, green bell pepper, two types of beans, beef, and chili seasoning.

You won’t be disappointed when you make a delicious bowl of this amazing chili from scratch. You’ll enjoy the wonderful aroma of chili cooking on the stovetop.

Wendy’s Chili Recipe Ingredients

Here’s a list of what you need:

• Ground beef – Ground chuck is recommended due to its fat and lean meat ratio
• Tomato juice – This is added instead of water, so the chili has a rich tomato flavor.
• Tomato puree – I use this instead of tomato sauce or stewed tomatoes because it has more flavor.
• Canned red kidney beans – drain and rinse before using
• Canned pinto beans – drain and rinse before using
• Onion – white onions are recommended
• Celery
• Green bell pepper
• Chili powder – McCormick brand is recommended
• Ground cumin
• Garlic powder
• Salt
• Ground black pepper
• Oregano
• Cayenne pepper – if you need your chili to have more spice, I recommend adding a bit more
• Sugar

Tomato juice enhances the flavor of this chili, as does the chili powder, though you may want to start with a little less chili powder. I find 1/4 cup isn’t too hot and is still very flavorful.

How does Wendy’s make their chili?

Wendy’s makes chili in a big pot with leftover hamburger patties and chili ingredients. You only need a skillet to brown some ground beef and a big pot to cook the chili. Here are the easy steps:

1. In a skillet, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat.
2. Drain the browned ground beef.
3. Put the drained beef and the remaining ingredients in a 6-quart pot.

4. Add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine.
5. Bring the chili to a boil, then cover the pot and reduce the heat to low. Let it simmer for 1 to 1½ hours, stirring every 15 minutes.

6. Serve this delicious chili and enjoy it as-is or with your favorite chili toppings and side dishes.

Recipe Notes

It is important to cook this chili the entire time, as listed in the recipe. The flavors mellow and change over the cooking time.

I understand that some people also feel that 3 tablespoons of chili powder is too much. I think it’s best to stick with standard brands of chili powder.

Chili powder is a combination of several spices, there isn’t a chili powder plant. Stick with a well-known brand, and if you naturally like foods that are less spicy consider using less. Again, I fully stand behind the 3 tablespoons as listed in the recipe below.

You can substitute ground beef for ground turkey. Just note that it won’t have the same beefy flavor.

Recipe variations

If you cook the recipe as written, you will get the best-tasting copycat of Wendy’s chili. But you can make substitutions. Some people like to use ranch-style beans instead of pinto beans for a unique flavor, while others love to use just dark red kidney beans.

You can swap the ground beef and use ground turkey if you want.

Can you make Wendy’s Chili in a slow cooker? Yes, you can!

Can you make this delicious chili in a Crockpot slow cooker? Of course! Brown the ground beef, drain the beef, pour everything into a slow cooker, and cook on low for about 4 to 6 hours.

I hope you enjoy this recipe!

What to Serve with Wendy’s Chili

Here are some sides, toppings, and other dishes to go with this hearty chili:

• Baked Potato
• As a topping on a chili dog
• Corn Chips or Tortilla Chips (or make nachos with chili on top of them)
• French Fries
• Garlic Parmesan Buffalo Wings
• Grilled Cheese Sandwich
• Jalapeno Peppers
• Salad
• Saltine Crackers
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• Sour Cream

How to Store Wendy’s Chili

This recipe makes quite a bit. Chances are, if you don’t invite the whole team over for chili, you will have plenty to enjoy. Let’s go over how you can best store the chili!

• Refrigerate – in an airtight container for up to five days.
• Freeze: Cool the chili to room temperature. Please place it in an airtight freezer-safe container or a vacuum-sealed bag. Keep it in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Best Way to Reheat Leftover Wendy’s Chili

If you need to reheat a portion of Wendy’s chili, I recommend doing so in the microwave. If you need to reheat several portions, I recommend doing so on the stovetop in a pot over medium-low heat.

Check out my other Wendy’s copycat recipes

More Chili and Stew Recipes

Be sure to look at more fast food to make and homemade soup recipes.

Wendy’s Chili

You can recreate the famous taste of Wendy’s Chili at home