Wendy's Chili Copycat Recipe - I Heart Naptime (2024)

Simply Crave-Worthy!

When it comes to different chili recipes, I’ve made everything from homemade chili to white chicken chili, and finally this Wendy’s chili copycat recipe! It has loads of flavorful spices, is easy to make and so hearty and satisfying.

It took a little testing and tweaking then testing some more to get the family’s seal of approval, but I’ve done it! This right here is the BEST Wendy’s chili copycat recipe that tastes even better than the original.

Grab your bowl and spoon and let’s get started!

Why This Recipe Works

• Delicious. The juicy beef, the tomatoes, the spices, and the buttery beans, all come together in a tasty bowl of chili. If you love Wendy’s chili you’re going to love this version even more.
• Customizable. Adjust the spice level, add in some extra veggies, and top with your favorite toppings. Make this Wendy’s chili your own!
• Easy! It’s a one-pot meal with just 15 minutes of prep time. The hard part is waiting for it to simmer but that’s when all the flavors marry, so patience is key!

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

• Ground beef: Use whatever ground beef you have. We will drain the grease once it’s cooked so if it’s not lean that’s fine.
• Veggies: Chopped onion, celery, and green bell pepper will be cooked with the beef to give the chili its flavor foundation and textural elements.
• Tomatoes: Adding layers of flavors using canned tomatoes with green chiles (like Rotel or Hunt’s seasoned diced tomatoes) and tomato sauce. What’s red chili without the flavor of tomatoes?
• Chili seasoning: McCormick Mild Chili Seasoning Mix is what I use for this recipe. I do have a homemade chili seasoning which I love, but for this Wendy’s chili copycat recipe, McCormick’s is a fan favorite.
• Beans: I use both kidney beans and pinto beans and I don’t drain them. I add the liquid right into the pot.
• Salt & pepper: To taste
• White vinegar: Adding it in just before serving rounds out the flavors. You won’t taste the acidity, you’ll just know it adds a little something extra.

Make it Spicy!

Although I have perfected this recipe for Wendy’s chili, there’s always room to make it your own.

If you like spicy chili use medium Rotel rather than mild. Or you could add chili powder or cayenne pepper. If you’re serving people who have different tolerances for spice, having sliced jalapenos to put on top is a great compromise.

• Cook the ground beef. In a large pot over medium heat, brown the meat for about 8-10 minutes, crumbling it up as it cooks. Once it is no longer pink, drain the grease, then stir in the onion, celery, and bell pepper. Cook for 5 minutes until the onions are translucent and soft.
• Add remaining ingredients. Pour in the tomatoes, tomato sauce, and water. If there isn’t enough liquid add an extra 1/2 cup of water. Don’t forget you’ll be adding the liquid from the beans too. Then, stir in the chili seasoning, beans, and season with salt and pepper.
• Lower heat and simmer. Bring the chili to a boil and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for an hour and wait for all of those aromatic flavors to become friends. Trust me, it’s worth the wait!
• Grab a bowl and spoon, it’s ready! Just before serving, mix vinegar into the chili. Enjoy with your favorite toppings like shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream and a piece of sweet cornbread.

Best Toppings for Wendy’s Copycat Chili

• Shredded cheese
• Sour cream
• Tortilla chips
• Cilantro
• Green onions
• Sliced jalapeno

Expert Tips

• Double batch. Make a couple of batches by doubling the recipe and freeze half for later.
• Make it lighter. Use ground turkey or ground chicken instead of beef if preferred.
• Leftover hamburger. Save a step by using my leftover baked hamburgers recipe that have been chopped up. In fact, that’s the history of how the founder of Wendy’s created this chili recipe.
• Add butter. Some readers have found that adding 1 Tablespoon of butter at the end provides richness and mellows out some of the more robust flavors. Try it if you’d like!
• Low heat. Don’t stray too far for too long. Keep an eye on the pot and make sure it’s always at a low simmer and not a boil. Stir occasionally so nothing is catching at the bottom.

Wendy’s Chili in the Slow Cooker

This copycat Wendy’s chili is a great crockpot meal.

Technically you don’t need to brown the meat first, but I like to. The original Wendy’s version uses crumbled-up hamburger patties that already have that grilled char flavor. To get that extra flavor, I like to brown the meat before dumping everything into the slow cooker.

Then, cook on low for 3-4 hours.

Serving Suggestions

Anything served on the side of Wendy’s copycat chili is a bonus! This satisfying recipe is perfect all on its own, however, having something to dip is always fun!

Crackers, tortilla chips, cornbread muffins, or Olive Garden breadsticks are usually on the table.

Serve the chili in a bread bowl for the extra wow factor. You could also add these cornbread croutons on top.

Use it (or leftovers) as a topping on nachos, french fries, a baked potato, or turn your hot dog into a chili dog.

Recipe FAQs

Want to try more copycat recipes? Bang Bang shrimp, PF Chang’s lettuce wraps, and Kung Pao chicken are on the blog too!