Copycat Wendy’s Chili Recipe
50 Comments Apr 01, 2023
Updated Apr 29, 2025
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
If you love the taste of Wendy’s chili, you can now recreate this masterpiece in the comfort of your own kitchen with this Copycat Wendy’s Chili Recipe. Everything from the beans and veggies to the spices is there, making this one of the best copycat recipes out there.
There’s something about Wendy’s chili that we can all agree is simply irresistibly delicious. All the spices, chunks of bell peppers, green chilies, and chunks of their hamburger patties make this hearty chili a worthwhile purchase every time.
When you’re looking to have this favorite chili on demand, use this easy chili recipe to have Wendy’s chili any day and time. It’s so good, you’ll want to make a double batch.
Ingredients for Wendy’s Chili
Make this chili FROM SCRATCH with only a few ingredients. See the recipe card for full ingredient amounts and instructions.
- Ground Beef: You’ll notice that Wendy’s chili has actual chunks of their hamburger patties, but for this Wendy’s copycat chili recipe, you’ll use fresh ground beef.
- Tomatoes: Canned tomatoes and tomato paste are used to create part of the flavorful base and hearty texture.
- Beans: A host of beans are needed to make this a classic copycat Wendy’s chili recipe. One can each of pinto beans and red kidney beans are drained and rinsed.
- Vegetables: Fire-roasted green chiles and diced celery, white onion, and chopped green bell pepper encompass both the look and flavor of Wendy’s chili.
- Seasonings: Minced garlic, apple cider vinegar, chili powder, salt, and black pepper seal the deal on this easy chili recipe.
How to Make Copycat Wendy’s Chili
Step One – Place the fresh ground beef into a nonstick skillet.
Step Two – Cook beef over medium high heat until brown and no longer pink.
Step Three – Drain any excess fat and transfer the cooked ground beef to a 6 quart slow cooker along with the remaining ingredients.
Step Four – Stir, cover, and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 8 hours. Serve and enjoy!
My Serving Suggestions
Here are my classic ways to serve and some great ideas to serve leftovers so the chili doesn’t get boring.
- Picture all the classic toppings Wendy’s serves with their chili: cheese, diced onions, saltine crackers, cheese, and a splash of hot sauce.
- Add a touch of sour cream for even more flavor.
- Serve over rice or slow cooker baked potatoes to stretch the recipe out and feed more people.
- For leftovers, you don’t have to serve in a bowl! – Spoon it over hot dogs for irresistible chili dogs, or create loaded nachos or hearty chili cheese burritos. The possibilities are endless!
Featured Comment
“Really enjoyed this chili recipe tonight for dinner! Nice and saucy, just the way I like my chili! Very easy to put together. Nice to come home from running some errands and dinner is ready!“
– Kelly
Wendy’s Chili Recipe
How to Video
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. ground beef
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 medium sized onion, diced
- 2 celery ribs, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, deseeded and chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 30 oz. diced tomatoes –, two 15-oz.cans
- 30 oz. tomato sauce, two 15-oz. cans
- 8 oz. green chilies, two 4-oz. cans
- 15 oz. canned kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 30 oz. canned pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup dark chili powder, (regular works fine too)
- sour Cream and/or shredded cheddar for topping, optional
Instructions
- Heat a medium sized nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add the ground beef and brown until no longer pink. Drain the meat to remove excess fat. Transfer the cooked ground beef to a 6 quart slow cooker.
- To the slow cooker, add the rest of the ingredients and stir.
- Cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 8 hours.
- Serve hot, top with a dollop of sour cream and shredded cheddar. Enjoy!
Sarah’s Notes
- To store the chili, refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days. To freeze, let the chili cool completely and store in a freezer safe airtight container for up to 3 months.
- To reheat the chili, warm single servings in the microwave, or to reheat a larger batch, reheat on the stove top over medium low heat.
- Don’t forgo browning the hamburger, the texture will be off if you through the ground beef in without browning first.
- Picture all the classic toppings Wendy’s serves with their chili: cheese, diced onions, saltine crackers, cheese, and a splash of hot sauce.
- Add a touch of sour cream for even more flavor.
- Serve over rice or slow cooker baked potatoes to stretch the recipe out and feed more people.
- For leftovers, you don’t have to serve in a bowl! – Spoon it over hot dogs for irresistible chili dogs, or create loaded nachos or hearty chili cheese burritos. The possibilities are endless!
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
I’m making it for the second time in 2 weeks. The first time I shared with family and friends who came back and asked for more.Absolutely delicious .
Good