Next time a craving for Wendy’s chili strikes, forget about a trip to the restaurant. Head to the grocery store and make a Wendy’s copycat instead! Cooking up a big batch of this Classic Chili gives you plenty of leftovers and you’ll skip hard-to-pronounce ingredients like Xanthum Gum and Disodium Inosinate in the real thing.
How to Make Copycat Wendy’s Chili
The ingredients here are mostly pantry and refrigerator staples. Make sure to use “fresh never frozen” beef for authentic Wendy’s flavor.
Psst… Ever wonder what the real Wendy looks like?
Ingredients:
- 1 medium green pepper, chopped
- 2 medium onions, chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped celery
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 2 cans (28 ounces each) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1-2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 2 cans (16 ounces each) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
Step 1: Saute the vegetables and meat
In a Dutch oven or large soup kettle, saute green pepper, onions and celery in oil until tender, about 5 minutes. Add ground beef and cook until browned. Drain any liquid.
Step 2: Simmer
Stir in tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, Worcestershire sauce and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Then reduce heat and simmer for 1-1/2 hours. You can tweak the seasonings for your chili now—more garlic powder and onion powder will give you the classic Wendy’s flavor.
Find something to do while you wait. You could learn how Wendy’s got its name or clean out the refrigerator. Your pick!
Step 3: Add the beans
Last, drain the kidney beans completely. Toss ’em in the Dutch oven. Simmer, uncovered, 10 minutes longer. (You want beans that are tender, but haven’t turned to mush from over-boiling.)
Step 4: Garnish
The best thing about eating Wendy’s chili at home is you can use every garnish in your refrigerator to dress it up. Put on a dollop of sour cream, chives and cheddar cheese or a handful of oyster crackers.
Pro Tip: This recipe makes a lot of chili. To have a meal on-demand for busy nights, I’d recommend freezing this recipe in individual servings. You can warm a single portion on 70% power in the microwave or over medium heat. It’s the recipe that keeps on giving!
More Copycats Inspired by the Wendy's Menu
Go on a burger road trip in your own backyard. Grill the patties and load them sky-high with your favorite toppings. For instance, peanut butter and bacon make them southern style; coleslaw and tomatoes,
a northern version. —Susan Mahaney, New Hartford, New York
My 3-year-old went through a chicken-nuggets-and-french-fries-only stage, so I made these golden nuggets for him. Even the grown-ups like them! —Amanda Livesay, Mobile, Alabama
This hearty slow cooker chili can cook for up to 10 hours on low in the slow cooker. It's so good to come home to its wonderful aroma after a long day away. —Sue Call, Beech Grove, Indiana
In spring we look for something light and refreshing on the menu after the heavier comfort food of winter; this salad is a great solution. —Muriel Bertrand, Shoreview, Minnesota
Do you know which Wendy's salads are the healthiest? Here they are, ranked.
I created this chicken sandwich recipe based on a meal my daughter ordered at a restaurant. She likes to dip her sandwich in the extra honey-mustard sauce. —Marilyn Moberg, Papillion, Nebraska
My family is all about chili fries, but restaurant versions pile on the calories. For a healthier approach, bake the fries and serve them with green onions and avocado. —Beverly Nowling, Bristol, Florida
We pile our favorite gyro fixin’s into nutritious quinoa bowls. Our local gyro guy has a cool but spicy sauce that transforms his sandwiches. It’s a must here, too. —Leah Lyon, Ada, Oklahoma
These special stuffed baked potatoes are a hit with my whole family, from the smallest grandchild on up. I prepare them up to a week in advance, wrap them well and freeze. Their flavorful filling goes so nicely with juicy ham slices. —Marge Clark, West Lebanon, Indiana
I recently made this recipe of Mom's for my in-laws and they told me it was the "best fried chicken ever." Slicing the chicken breasts into strips cuts down on cooking time and ensures every piece is crunchy and evenly coated. Serve the homemade chicken tenders with your favorite dipping sauce. —Genny Monchamp, Redding, California
My favorite memory of eating this dish was when my mom made it for lunch on weekends when we were home from school and could have something other than "brown bag" lunches. Happy memories of childhood and late summer days just make this salad extra special. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho
This cookie recipe—a favorite of our four children—has been in my collection for years. Sometimes I'll substitute mint-flavored chips for the semisweet chocolate chips. Either way, the chocolate cookies disappear quickly. This is one of our favorite easy chocolate chip cookie recipes. —Sheri Ziesemer, Olympia, Washington
This is a great kid-friendly recipe that takes only 20 minutes to prepare and cook.—Sharon Haswell, Cheshire, Massachusetts
I threw these ingredients together on a whim and the sandwich turned out so well, I surprised myself! If you're in a rush, microwave the bacon—just cover it with a paper towel to keep it from spattering too much. —Dana York, Kennewick, Washington
Yes, you
do want fries with that—especially these crispy, golden fries, full of garlic flavor and just a little bit of heat. —Steve Westphal, Wind Lake, Wisconsin
We devour these spicy chicken nuggets at least once a week. If you want to tone down the heat, skip the chipotle pepper. —Cheryl Cook, Palmyra, Virginia
Where can you get a juicy burger that is so superior to drive-thru fare? Right in your backyard with this delicious bacon cheeseburger recipe. —Jackie Burns, Silverdale, Washington
I came across this unique grilled combo when I was digging in my mom's recipe box. The crisp bacon, hard-boiled eggs and crunchy green onions make these cozy sandwiches look impressive when company drops by for lunch. Best of all, they're a snap to assemble. —Ann Fuemmeler, Glasgow, Missouri