• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
I'm Hungry For That
  • Home
  • Breakfast Recipes
  • Dinner Recipes
  • Dessert Recipes
  • All Recipes
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Breakfast Recipes
  • Dinner Recipes
  • Dessert Recipes
  • All Recipes
    • Instagram
  • ×

    Wendy's Chili Made In 30 Minutes | The Best Copycat Recipe

    by Joe Duff 2 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    If you're looking for the perfect cold-weather meal to have for dinner, look no further than this Wendy's chili recipe. It's made with simple ingredients like seasoned ground beef, tender veggies, canned tomatoes, beans, and chili seasoning, and everything gets cooked in one pot. How awesome is that?! So, not only is this chili super delicious, but it's super easy to make too. 

    A bowl of chili freshly topped with shredded cheese sits on a grey counter. Next to the bowl is a fork and knife, plus partial views of a second bowl of chili, a wood board, and a small bowl of shredded cheese.

    Table of Contents

    • The Best Wendy's Chili Recipe
      • Ingredients
        • Ingredient Substitutions and Additions
      • How To Make Wendy's Chili Copycat Recipe
        • Step 1: Cook The Ground Beef and Veggies
        • Step 2: Make The Tomato Sauce
        • Step 3: Serve The Wendy's Chili
      • How To Store This Wendy's Chili 
        • How To Reheat Chili
      • Wrapping It Up
    • More Copycat Recipes
    • One Pot Homemade Wendy's Chili Recipe Made In Just 30 Minutes
      • Ingredients
      • Instructions
      • Did you make this recipe?

    The Best Wendy's Chili Recipe

    I know, chili isn't the first thing that you think of when you think of Wendy's, but it should definitely be the second. Wendy's chili is loaded with meaty chunks of ground beef, beans, and bits of tomatoes and it's seasoned to perfection. Honestly, I'm obsessed with it - I might even like it more than their burgers.

    So, that's exactly why I decided to make this copycat Wendy's chili recipe. I wanted to be able to make it at home, so I could eat it whenever I wanted to. And I also wanted to skip the pesky drive-thru line too.

    Now, not only is this Wendy's chili recipe delicious, but it's also really easy to make too. So if you love Wendy's chili, you'll love this recipe! In only about 30 minutes, you'll end up with enough servings of chili to feed the whole family. Plus, everything cooks in one pot so clean up is a breeze.

    Also, this chili makes the best leftovers. So if you can't finish it the first day you make it, don't worry. You can always reheat for lunch/dinner the following day/s after you make it and have a delicious ready-to-go meal.

    By the way, and as good as this copycat Wendy's chili is on its own, it's even more delicious with this sweet potato cornbread on the side. So, I highly recommend making that to go along with it.

    Wendy's chili in a white bowl on a grey counter, with a fork and knife in the background and partial views of a second bowl of chili, a small bowl of cheese, and a wooden board.

    Ingredients

    If you've ever cooked homemade chili before, you'll recognize this list of ingredients. They're all pretty standard chili ingredients and I bet you probably have most - if not all - of them in your kitchen/pantry already.

    Anyway, here's everything you need to make this Wendy's chili copycat recipe:

    • 2 tbsp. Olive Oil
    • 1 pound Ground Beef
    • 1 Celery Stalk, chopped
    • ½ Onion, chopped
    • ½ Green Bell Pepper, chopped
    • 1 (14 oz.) Can Stewed Tomatoes (or tomato sauce)
    • 1 cup Water
    • 4 tbsp. Chili Seasoning
    • 1 (14 oz.) Can Kidney Beans, drained
    • 1 (14 oz.) Can Pinto Beans, drained
    • Salt and Pepper
    • 1 tbsp. White Vinegar
    • Cheddar Cheese, to top

    Pretty simple chili recipe, right? And if you want to make another chili recipe that's just a little different than this Wendy's chili, you can use most of these ingredients to make this Texas Roadhouse chili.

    Ingredient Substitutions and Additions

    Now, there's plenty of room to modify this Wendy's chili depending on what you have in your pantry. When it comes to the tomato sauce ingredients, stewed tomatoes make the best sauce, but crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, or even your favorite jar of tomato sauce will work too.

    Also, if you like your chili to be on the spicier side, add cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, chili powder, or even a little hot sauce. We love adding a splash of Frank's Hot Sauce to this chili recipe from time to time to give it a little kick.

    And for an elevated flavor, I recommend adding in a sprinkle of McCormick mild chili seasoning. 

    When it comes to the fix-ins, this recipe calls for cheddar cheese, but you don't have to stop there! I like to add sour cream, bacon bits, and sometimes sliced avocado, and green onions to my chili too.

    By the way, you can use a lot of these same ingredients to make this Carrabba's lentil and sausage soup. So you might want to check that soup recipe out next if you end up with some leftover ingredients after making this Wendy's copycat chili recipe.

    An assortment of ingredients for chili including bowls of stewed tomato, beans, raw ground beef, celery, onion, bell pepper, and more. There is a partial view of a large pot with a white kitchen towel in the pot.

    How To Make Wendy's Chili Copycat Recipe

    The steps required to make this Wendy's chili recipe could not be easier. Honestly, this is the easiest chili recipe you'll ever make from scratch.

    As I mentioned, everything cooks in one pot, making the cooking process seamless and clean-up super quick. That's a win-win for a busy weeknight meal.

    Now, let's stop wasting time and dive right into this recipe for the best Wendy's chili! 

    A large pot with raw ground beef freshly added. The pot sits on a grey counter and is surrounded by a white kitchen towel and bowls of celery, cheese, and vinegar.

    Step 1: Cook The Ground Beef and Veggies

    First, grab your favorite large pot - or Dutch oven - and set it over medium heat on your stovetop.

    Then, add the olive oil to the pot, followed by the ground beef, breaking it up with a wooden spoon if necessary. Cook the ground beef until it's browned on all sides.

    Once it's cooked, add in the celery, onion, and green bell pepper. Cook the veggies for about 15 minutes or until they're fork-tender.

    A large pot containing ground beef, green bell pepper, onion, and celery. The pot sits on a grey counter and is surrounded by a kitchen towel and bowls of cheese and vinegar.

    Step 2: Make The Tomato Sauce

    Now, we're going to make the base for this chili. To do that, add the stewed tomatoes (or tomato sauce or diced tomatoes), water, and chili powder to the pot with the beef and veggies.

    Then, let everything cook together for about 15 minutes. And don't worry about putting the lid on the pot since the chili will continue to cook down and condense, making for an even richer and more flavorful chili.

    Anyway, once that cooks, it's time to add the kidney beans and pinto beans (combo of chili beans), followed by the vinegar. Cook everything for 5 more minutes or until your family starts asking what smells so good!

    A large pot with chili simmering in the pot and a slotted wooden spatula in the pot. Kidney beans and pinto beans have just been added to the pot and have not yet been stirred. The pot sits on a grey counter next to a white kitchen towel and a small bowl of shredded cheese.

    Step 3: Serve The Wendy's Chili

    When your Wendy's copycat chili recipe is done cooking, serve it in about four individual bowls.

    Then, you can add a little salt and pepper on top if you want, followed by some shredded cheddar cheese. Additionally, you can top your hearty chili off with whatever you want, like some tortilla chips and sour cream. Enjoy!

    A large pot of chili on a grey counter that is surrounded by a white kitchen towel, a small bowl of cheese, and sprigs of dried thyme.

    How To Store This Wendy's Chili 

    As good as this recipe for Wendy's chili is right after making it, it's honestly even better leftover!

    So, since that's the case, I always like to double or triple the recipe when I make it.

    Also, storing the chili is a breeze. You can store the leftover cooked chili in the refrigerator in an airtight container for about 4 days. And if you want to keep it for longer, you can store the chili in an airtight container - or freezer-safe bag - and freeze it for  4-6 months.

    2 white bowls of Wendy's chili sit on a grey counter. There is also a fork and knife in the corner, dried sprigs of thyme, a small bowl of cheese, and a pot of chili sitting on a wooden board.

    How To Reheat Chili

    To reheat your leftover chili, you can place it in the microwave and heat it in 20-second increments, stirring between each one, until thoroughly warm. With that said, I recommend placing a plate over the top of your bowl while it's microwaving to avoid any potential messes.

    Alternatively, you can place your leftover chili on the stovetop set to medium heat, and heat for a few minutes - stirring regularly - until it reaches your desired temperature.

    Two bowls of chili on a grey counter with a fork and knife, dried sprigs of thyme, a small bowl of cheese, and a large pot of chili resting on a wood board.

    Wrapping It Up

    Well, that's how to make Wendy's chili at home.

    Seriously, of all the homemade chili recipes I've tried, this one by far is the simplest and most richly flavored one yet.

    Honestly, it gives this Texas Roadhouse chili recipe a run for its money - and that's saying something.

    Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this copycat Wendy's chili recipe as much as I/we do.

    Leave a comment below and let us know how it went. And, as always, don't forget to check us out on Youtube, Instagram, and TikTok for more easy recipes just like this one.

    Wendy's chili in a white bowl on a grey counter, with a fork and knife in the background.

    More Copycat Recipes

    Craving more copycat recipes from your favorite restaurants?

    Well, if you are, we have you covered! 

    Try some of our other copycat recipes next:

    • Olive Garden chicken alfredo
    • Outback mac and cheese
    • McDonald's spicy chicken sandwich
    • McDonald's snack wraps
    • Chick-Fil-A nuggets
    Print

    One Pot Homemade Wendy's Chili Recipe Made In Just 30 Minutes

    Wendy's chili in a white bowl on a grey counter, with a fork and knife in the background and partial views of a second bowl of chili, a small bowl of cheese, and a wooden board.
    Print Recipe

    ★★★★★

    5 from 2 reviews

    If you're looking for the perfect cold-weather meal to have for dinner, then look no further than this Wendy's chili recipe. With simple ingredients like seasoned ground beef, tender veggies, canned tomatoes, beans, and chili seasoning, you end up with a one-pot chili recipe that's too good to beat!

    • Author: Joe Duff
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 30 minutes
    • Total Time: 35 minutes
    • Yield: 4 servings 1x
    • Method: Stovetop
    • Cuisine: Wendy's

    Ingredients

    Scale

    2 tbsp. Olive Oil

    1 pound Ground Beef

    1 Celery Stalk, chopped

    ½ Onion, chopped

    ½ Green Bell Pepper, chopped

    1 (14 oz.) Can Stewed Tomatoes

    1 cup Water

    4 tbsp. Chili Seasoning

    1 (14 oz.) Can Kidney Beans, drained

    1 (14 oz.) Can Pinto Beans, drained

    Salt and Pepper

    1 tbsp. White Vinegar

    Cheddar Cheese, to top

    Instructions

    1. In a big pot, heat the olive oil and add the ground beef.
    2. Cook until the meat is browned. Add the celery, onion, green bell pepper, and cook for 15 minutes, or until the veggies are tender.
    3. Add the tomatoes, water and chili seasoning and cook for 15 more minutes.
    4. Add the kidney beans, pinto beans and vinegar. Cook for 5 more minutes.
    5. Season with salt and pepper. Top with cheddar cheese.

    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag us @ImHungryForThat — we can't wait to see what you've made!

    « The BEST Cabbage Roll Casserole Recipe (Prepped In 15 Min.)

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Fred

      October 12, 2022 at 5:16 pm

      My favorite chili that I have made to date.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    2. Pao

      October 12, 2022 at 7:46 pm

      Hubby said this is 10/10.

      ★★★★★

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    Primary Sidebar

    Hey there! We're Brendan & Joe, and we love to create recipes that make you say "I'm hungry for that!" We've both... Read More…

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
    A tin filled with french fries. There is text above the french fries that reads "click here to join our weekly newsletter".

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About Us

    • About

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    YouTube

    • Subscribe

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.

    Privacy Policy Copyright © 2021 Terms & Conditions