↑

The Magical Slow Cooker

Slow Cooker Recipes

  • Recipe Box
  • Buy my Digital Cookbook
  • About me
  • Contact Me
  • Free Slow Cooker Newsletter

Home » Dinner » Copycat Wendy’s Chili Recipe

Copycat Wendy’s Chili Recipe

by Sarah Olson on March 24, 2014 | Updated May 14, 2020 39 Comments

6690shares
  • 1969
  • 4691
  • 30
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
2 image collage about wendy's chili for pinterest

Do you love Wendy’s Chili? Try this copycat version filled with all the same ingredients but made at home in a big batch.

2 photo collage about how to make wendy's chili.

I have a friend who worked at Wendy’s, and she told me that at Wendy’s they chop up the hamburgers off the line, that are about to expire, and save them for the chili? Well, this is a bit gross, but I do like how big and chunky the meat is. So when making this chili, I cook up seasoned hamburger patties, chop them up, and throw them in the slow cooker, so there are big chunks of meat, just like Wendy’s.

ingredients for wendy's chili in slow cooker not stirred together.

How to make Wendy’s Chili:

You will need these ingredients:

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • ¼ salt to taste
  • ½ pepper to taste
  • ¼ onion powder to taste
  • 1 cup white onion diced
  • 1 Anaheim Pepper seeds and stem removed, diced
  • ½ cup celery diced
  • 15 oz kidney beans drained and rinsed
  • 15 oz pinto beans drained and rinsed
  • 14 oz beef broth
  • 6 oz tomato paste
  • 14.5 oz tomatoes
  • 1.25 oz McCormick Original Chili Mix
Chili in paper bowl with onions and cheese on top.

Directions:

  • To make this just like Wendy’s, form the meat into hamburger patties and season with salt, pepper and onion powder. Cook on in a skillet just as you would hamburgers.
  • Crumble the meat and add to the slow cooker with the remaining ingredients. Stir.
  • Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.

What to serve with Wendy’s Chili:

  • Shredded cheddar cheese
  • Diced white onions
  • Saltine crackers
  • OR over a baked potato!

Here are many more Slow Cooker Chili Recipes:

  • Slow Cooker V8 Chili
  • Slow Cooker Cream Cheese Chicken Chili
  • Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili
  • Slow Cooker No Bean Texas Chili
  • Slow Cooker Beef Enchilada Chili
  • Slow Cooker Venison Chili
  • Slow Cooker Chipotle Turkey Chili
  • Slow Cooker Steakhouse Chili
  • Slow Cooker Poblano White Chicken Chili
  • Slow Cooker Low Carb Beef and Bacon Chili

Want to make more magic in your crockpot? Stay up to date and subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube.

homemade wendy's chili in paper bowl with cheese and onions on top.

Slow Cooker Copycat Wendy’s Chili Recipe

5 from 7 votes
The best fast food chili around can now be made right at home in your slow cooker.
Print Pin Rate
Course: Soup
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Copycat Wendy’s Chili
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours
Total Time: 8 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 396.16kcal
Author: Sarah Olson

Equipment Needed:

  • Slow Cooker- 6 quart or larger-oval

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1/4 salt to taste
  • 1/2 pepper to taste
  • 1/4 onion powder to taste
  • 1 cup white onion diced
  • 1 Anaheim Pepper seeds and stem removed, diced
  • 1/2 cup celery diced
  • 15 oz kidney beans drained and rinsed
  • 15 oz pinto beans drained and rinsed
  • 14 oz beef broth
  • 6 oz tomato paste
  • 14.5 oz tomatoes
  • 1.25 oz McCormick Original Chili Mix

Toppings for serving

  • cheddar cheese grated
  • onions yellow or white; diced
  • saltine crackers
US Customary – Metric

Instructions:

Hamburgers

  • Form beef into patties, season with salt, onion powder, and black pepper.
  • Heat skillet on medium high, cook the patties until done, then crumble. (see notes)
  • Add the meat to the slow cooker.

Making the Chili

  • Add all the remaining ingredients to the slow cooker, stir well.
  • Cover, set to LOW for 8 hours. Do not open lid during cooking time.
  • Once done, stir and ladle into bowls
  • Top with onions, cheese, and saltine crackers.

Recipe Notes:

At Wendy’s they use chopped up hamburgers, so the meat is bigger and chunkier, so that’s what I did, I shaped my hamburger into 4 patties, sprinkled with salt, onion powder, and lots of black pepper, and cooked them on the stove top. Then chopped them up, and threw into the slow cooker. Or you can brown the meat like normal by breaking up as you cook it.
I buy the little white paper bowls from a restaurant supply store (Cash and Carry), not good for the environment, but great for taking to work!

Nutrition:

Calories: 396.16kcal | Carbohydrates: 49.44g | Protein: 31.43g | Fat: 9.6g | Saturated Fat: 3.48g | Cholesterol: 49.14mg | Sodium: 568.42mg | Potassium: 1518.33mg | Fiber: 16.57g | Sugar: 7.93g | Vitamin A: 3949.84IU | Vitamin C: 20.37mg | Calcium: 105.57mg | Iron: 7.71mg
Made this recipe?I want to see your photos! Tag me on Instagram @themagicalslowcooker
6690shares
  • 1969
  • 4691
  • 30

FREE EMAIL SERIESSLOW COOKER SECRETS

Get Sarah's tricks to delicious and hands-free cooking!

    Filed Under: Beef, Chili, Dinner, Ground Beef Tagged With: Crock pot, ground beef, slow cooker, wendy's chili

    Comments

    1. Jill Curry says

      December 21, 2020 at 8:18 am

      I am assuming the measurements are in teaspoons…”1/4 salt”, 1/2 pepper, etc. ?

      Reply
    2. Jill Curry says

      December 19, 2020 at 11:50 am

      It is true that Wendy’s chops up burgers they did not sell for their chili meat. My 16 year old son worked there this summer and revealed this (oddity) to me.

      Reply
    3. Christine Guerriero says

      September 5, 2020 at 8:00 am

      They have this delivered, pre-prepared. Then they simmer it for the day. It’s delicious, but they do not make it at the restaurant.

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        September 5, 2020 at 8:22 am

        Yes, times have changed since I wrote this blog post.

        Reply
    4. Tins says

      February 15, 2020 at 6:44 am

      An this be cooked on the stove instead of the crockpot?

      Reply
    5. Kathy C. says

      January 20, 2020 at 9:52 am

      5 stars
      I haven’t had Wendy’s Chili in years but do recall how much I enjoyed their chili with a side Frosty! Those fast food days are gone, but this chili recipe made up for it. It was so good! Whole Pot was polished off same day. I want to make it in my new Instant Pot but not sure how to convert cooking times.

      Reply
    6. Kathy C. says

      January 20, 2020 at 9:47 am

      Can I use my instant pot for this recipe? I made it in my slow cooker (loved it!) but got an IP for Christmas and love using it. I am new to the IP community so not sure how to convert your recipe. Family asking fir this chili again.

      Reply
      • PATRICK GULA says

        June 16, 2020 at 3:49 pm

        LOOK UP A N IP CHILI RECIPE ON THE WEB AND USE THAT AS A GUIDE

        Reply
    7. Lisa says

      January 5, 2020 at 5:32 am

      Can you cook this 4 hrs on high?

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        January 5, 2020 at 9:25 am

        Yes! Chili does great for 4 hours on high.

        Reply
        • Viv says

          June 17, 2020 at 9:53 pm

          I use vegetable juice ( V8 or store brand fir my liquid and I use rotel ( chopped, canned tomatoes with green chili’s) and a package of fry taco seasoning instead of chili’s. Thus makes hearty chili and is not to spicy.

          Reply
    8. KT says

      October 15, 2019 at 11:23 am

      Hi I can’t wait to try this! What is the approximate serving size (1 or 1.5 cups?) and how many calories in a serving? Thanks!

      Reply
    « Older Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published.

    Recipe Rating




    Photo of Sarah Olson holding a slow cooker

    Hello! I'm Sarah

    Welcome to The Magical Slow Cooker. Let me help you find recipes for your slow cooker that you'll enjoy!

    Best Chili Recipes

    vegetarian chili in slow cooker uncooked with wooden spoon in it.

    Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili

    close up of prime rib chili in slow cooker

    Slow Cooker Prime Rib Chili

    Slow Cooker Hot Chili

    close up of white chicken chili in slow cooker with wooden spoon in it. Fritos on side.

    Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili

    beef chili in slow cooker with cornbread and oyster crackers on the side.

    Chuck Wagon Chili

    pumpkin chili with meat and beans. Cornbread, cheese and onions on the side.

    Slow Cooker Pumpkin Chili

    Magical Cooker logo

    FREE EMAIL SERIESSLOW COOKER SECRETS

    Get Sarah's tricks to delicious and hands-free cooking!

      Most Popular Recipes

      close up of enchilada casserole

      Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole

      close up photo of chicken, potatoes and green beans in slow cooker

      Seasoned Chicken, Potatoes and Green beans

      shredded creamy chicken with bacon and cheese on top.

      Slow Cooker Crack Chicken

      close up of pasta, chicken and cheese in slow cooker

      Slow Cooker Olive Garden Chicken Pasta

      cooked salisbury steaks in gravy in slow cooker

      Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak

      Close up of chicken and gravy in a slow cooker.

      Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy

      Featured on:

      Featured in BuzzFeed, The Kitchen, Popsugar, 12 Tomatoes, yummly, Today, and Country Living

      FREE EMAIL SERIESSLOW COOKER SECRETS

        Privacy Policy  Nutritional Disclosure

        The Magical Slow Cooker is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
        Copyright ©2021, The Magical Slow Cooker. All Rights Reserved.
        Design by Pixel Me Designs