The History of Wendy's Chili Recipe
THE SIGNATURE WENDY'S CHILI RECIPE IS THE PERFECT MIX OF OUR SIGNATURE BEEF, HEARTY VEGETABLES, CHILI BEANS AND SAVORY SPICES.
Wendy’s Pays Tribute To Signature Menu Item On National Chili Day
There’s something to be said about the level of comfort a bowl of chili can bring. When it comes to our list of menu items we wish we could snuggle, chili definitely tops the list. Hey, don’t act like you’ve never dreamt of snuggling up to a big ole’ bowl of chili by the fire on a cold winter night. We digress… But, it is National Chili Day so let’s dive into the history of this signature item that’s been on our menu since our early days.
So, What Makes Wendy’s Chili Recipe Deliciously Different?
What is it about chili that makes it so desirable? The Wendy’s Chili recipe ingredients are simple at their core, but at Wendy’s it’s all about blending our signature beef with the perfect mix of hearty vegetables, chili beans and savory spices. The result is a taste that’s both satisfying and sentimental, and it’s the perfect comfort food anytime of the year. Who else but Wendy's could bring you #allthefeels in every bite?
With Great Beef Comes Great Responsibility
Don’t worry, this isn’t the part where we segue into the robust history of Wendy’s chili. We’ll keep it short and savory. Being a resourceful man – and a little ahead of his time – Dave Thomas inherently understood the concept of food recovery. And by building the brand on the promise of serving fresh, never frozen beef*, Dave knew his hamburgers would have a shorter shelf-life. He even asked himself, “what do you do with the leftover hamburger?” The answer was simple: combine the beef we use for our hamburgers with a hearty helping of vegetables, chili beans and a dash of spice.
Creating the perfect chili recipe wasn’t easy, but Dave knew it would be worth it. After many marathon cooking sessions, Dave created a sustainable solution and a delicious menu item that has stood the test of time and holds a special place in the hearts of customers.
Comfort Without The Calories
A large-serving size of our chili is packed with 23g of protein and 5g of fiber, with only 250 calories. And while we can’t speak for its medicinal merit, it’s been known to cure almost every craving and remedy a few bad days. Simply put, it’s a taste that lets you reminisce and keeps you coming back for more.
Now, we didn’t write this up to make you hungry on purpose. BUT… if that rumble you heard was your stomach growling, might we suggest a bowl of Wendy’s Chili?
Click here to find your nearest Wendy’s: Find My Wendy’s
*Fresh beef available in the contiguous U.S., Alaska and Canada.
FAQs
Wendy's chili dates back to the very beginning of the franchise. When Wendy's opened in 1969, there were only five items on the menu: signature burgers, fries, soft drinks, chili, and the famous Frosty. Dave Thomas didn't go into the restaurant business dying to have chili on the menu, it just sort of happened.
Is Wendy's chili made from old hamburgers? ›
He even asked himself, “what do you do with the leftover hamburger?” The answer was simple: combine the beef we use for our hamburgers with a hearty helping of vegetables, chili beans and a dash of spice. Creating the perfect chili recipe wasn't easy, but Dave knew it would be worth it.
Did they change Wendy's chili recipe? ›
Lorraine Thomas and Charlotte Immke developed and finalized the recipe for Wendy's chili that was sold in the first restaurant on the first day, and hasn't really changed all that much since. The most striking change to Wendy's chili over the years has been a largely external factor: the cost of making it.
What secret ingredient will deepen the flavor of your chili? ›
Stir some puréed pumpkin into your chili just after sautéing your aromatics (onions, garlic, etc...) and before adding any liquid. This will deepen and sweeten its flavor, making it a great balance for all the chile peppers and heat.
What do Wendy's use in their chili? ›
Chili Concentrate: Chili Sauce (Water, Tomato Juice, Tomatoes, Calcium Chloride, Seasoning (Sugar, Salt, Corn Starch, Dried Chilies, Spices, Flavor Enhancer [Dextrose, Salt, Yeast Extract, Silicon Dioxide, Modified Corn Starch], Citric Acid, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate, Xanthan gum), Beans (Pink Beans, Red ...
Is Wendy's chili made fresh every day? ›
Made fresh every day
We prep from scratch every day—slicing our tomatoes by hand, preparing our house-made chili and cooking our bacon to ensure quality and freshness in every order.
Is Wendy's chili healthy? ›
There's nothing quite like a hearty bowl of soup to warm and fill you up on a cold day, and when it comes to healthy Wendy's food, chili's tough to beat. A large chili has just 340 calories per serving and 15 grams of fat.
What was Wendy's original name? ›
Wendy was actually born Melinda Lou Thomas, but according to the New York Times, her siblings had difficulty pronouncing her name and called her “Wenda.” Thus, the nickname Wendy was born. In 1969, when she was 8-years-old, her father Dave Thomas opened his dream fast food joint and named it after her.
What's the healthiest thing to eat at Wendy's? ›
Wendy's Crispy Chicken Sandwich is made with lean, white meat chicken for a good source of protein, and it clocks in at just 330 calories. Topped with crispy lettuce and mayo, this sandwich is balanced with protein for fullness, carbs for extra energy, and fat for flavor—making it the perfect healthy Wendy's order.
What grade of hamburger does Wendy's use? ›
Fresh Beef
We only source beef with high quality grades, such as Prime or Choice, and we always cook your hamburgers fresh to order.
Accordingly, Wendy's developed an off-putting solution: Incorporate old, unsold burger patties into the restaurant's chili. Find this fact a little too disgusting to be true? As reported by Entrepreneur, the practice for making Wendy's chili was demonstrated by a staff member at the chain.
What brand is Wendy's chili? ›
The canned product is made by Conagra, the massive corporate owner of other canned foods such as Wolf brand chili and Chef Boyardee, so you know manufacturing Wendy's restaurant chili as a mass-marketed canned product is bound to be this company's forte.
Why did Texas Pete stop making chili? ›
“We quit making chili because we couldn't sell it for what it cost us to make it," says Garner. "We were actually losing money on it, and we could not sustain our business if we had continued to do that product.”
Is Wendy's going to sell their chili in stores? ›
Wendy's famous chili is typically sold hot at its restaurants. Soon, Wendy's will sell its chili in canned form at grocery stores. The fast food chain is partnering with Conagra (CAG) to bring Wendy's “beloved chili into homes across the country” in canned-form for $4.49 when it hits shelves this spring.
Is Wendy's chili made fresh everyday? ›
Made fresh every day
We prep from scratch every day—slicing our tomatoes by hand, preparing our house-made chili and cooking our bacon to ensure quality and freshness in every order.
Why does Wendy's chili have milk? ›
Chili: According to Wendy's representatives, their Chili does NOT contain milk in the ingredients. They label it as “contains milk” due to the potential cross-contamination of the burger patties on the grill. Cheese is also used on the grill, and the patties are chopped and added to the chili.
What is chili magic? ›
Where there's chipotle smoke, there's chili fire. Bush's® Chili Magic® Campfire Style brings tender pintos together with smoky chipotle and green bell peppers for quick, unforgettable chili any night of the week. Available in: 15.5 oz.
What does chili secret sauce taste like? ›
This special sauce is a blend of savory, tangy, and slightly sweet flavors that elevate the burger to a whole new level of deliciousness. While the exact ingredients of the secret sauce are closely guarded by Chili's, it's believed to contain a combination of mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, and select spices.
