Do you love Wendy’s Chili? Try this copycat version filled with all the same ingredients but made at home in a big batch.
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.
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
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
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Slow Cooker Copycat Wendy’s Chili Recipe
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
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:
Nutrition Information:
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
I am assuming the measurements are in teaspoons…”1/4 salt”, 1/2 pepper, etc. ?
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.
If you think of it from a business standpoint, it’s pretty smart. Utilizing good meat, instead of throwing it away. I know a lot of grocery store deli’s will utilize the chicken that would normally get thrown out to make salads, etc.
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.
Yes, times have changed since I wrote this blog post.
An this be cooked on the stove instead of the crockpot?
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.
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.
LOOK UP A N IP CHILI RECIPE ON THE WEB AND USE THAT AS A GUIDE
Can you cook this 4 hrs on high?
Yes! Chili does great for 4 hours on high.
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.
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!
Hello!!! I am single and do not require nor need servings for 6. I also, like fresh beans over can. Any suggestions??? If so can you provide the recipe.
Hi Sheena, you could freeze it?
I made this last weekend. My first attempt at making Chili EVER! It turned out wonderful!! My kids went back for seconds even !! LOVED IT!!! Easy to make and delicious !!!
That is so great to hear! Especially great when the kids like it!
Could I use dry beans? If so how much?
Hi Allison. A few years back I heard it is not good to use dry kidney beans in slow cooker recipes. For some reason they don’t get rid of a toxin when cooked in the slow cooker. Here is some info on it: https://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/be-careful-with-red-kidney-beans-in-the-slow-cooker
Thanks for the great chili recipe ! Does anyone know what ingrediants might be in the “Hot Chili Seasoning” packet that Wendy’s offers for its chili? The Wendy’s seasoning packet adds a welcome spicy kick but only discloses “natural flavors” on the back of the packet itself.
Thanks!
You are wrong about the meat size, Wendy’s standard was no bigger than a dime
no smaller than a pea.
Good to know Larry!