Instant Pot Wendy’s Chili [Copycat Recipe] lets you make your favorite take out chili at home. Pressure cooking makes it fast!

Instant Pot Wendy’s Chili [Copycat Recipe]

One of the best things about Wendy’s fast food restaurant, is the Wendy’s chili. Closer to a hearty soup than a thick chili, you will get the exact same flavor in this recipe.

Making Wendy’s chili using your Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker is so simple and best of all, you know exactly what it in your chili.

Cast of Ingredients for Instant Pot Wendy’s Chili

Hey, are you making fun of my onions? Those were grown in my garden and picked, just now, for this recipe! Those tomatoes are from our garden too. They are kind of small, so I used three instead of two large. 🙂

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Ingredients to Instant Pot Wendy’s Chili

Ground Beef
Kidney Beans and Pinto Beans
Onions and Tomatoes
Tomato Sauce
Seasonings for the perfect spice

For a competition chili recipe, try my Pressure Cooker Competion Chili con Carne or my Tex Mex Turkey Chili. For a pub style chili, try this Sweet & Spicy Beef, Bison & Beer Chili.

Dice up Onions and Celery

Diced onions and celery soften so quickly when cooked under pressure.

Brown the Beef

Ground beef is first browned in hot oil. Make sure you break a part the meat really well, so that it is in crumbles. I recommend this Meat Chopper/Masher for the job.

Can Ground Turkey Be Used?

Yes, is sure can. While the flavor will be different from Wendy’s chili made with ground beef, there are some things you can do to “beef” up the ground turkey to make it very similar to Wendy’s.
Ground pork or ground chicken can be subbed in too. It’s your meal and you are making it at home, so do as you please.

Pro Tip: Turkey is less flavorful and drier than ground beef. A shot of Worcestershire Sauce and a little extra oil will boost the flavor.

Drain any excess oil. Break up the Beef

If using lean mean, there won’t be much excess oil.

Pro Tip: The super broken up meat is key to this Instant Pot Wendy’s Chili.

Add Diced Onion and Celery

Add in your diced onion and celery and sauté it for a couple of minutes.

Only slightly sauté the onions and celery

You only need a slight sauté on the celery and onions. Just enough were they start to wilt.

Dice up the tomatoes

Dice up the tomatoes. Don’t these look pretty? They were just picked from our garden! Fresh tomatoes are so delicious.

Type of Tomatoes for Instant Pot Wendy’s Chili

Beefsteak tomatoes are what you want to use. Make sure they are perfectly ripe, firm to the touch, but not mushy.
In a bind, you can use tomatoes on the vine or Roma tomatoes.

Pro Tip: Tomatoes should be firm, yet give slightly when squeezed.

Combine the Seasonings

I like to combine the seasonings in a Little Ramekin, so that when I am ready to add them, they are all measured and ready to go.

Seasonings for Instant Pot Wendy’s Chili.

Ground Cumin
Ground Chili
Sea Salt
Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Pro Tip: Once seasonings have been ground and packaged for sale (like in grocery stores), they begin to lose their potency. When buying ground seasonings, it is best to buy in small quantities and replace at least yearly, for optimum flavor.

Add in the rest of the ingredients

Have all the cans and everything ready in advance. After the celery and onions are a bit wilted, add in the rest of the ingredients. Don’t drain the beans, just add them in, liquid and all. Remember, Wendy’s Chili is a very soupy chili.

Did you know that many doctors recommend Wendy’s Chili, when bariatric patients are able to start on soft food? Interesting, huh?

Pro Tip: If you love Wendy’s Chili, but prefer a thicker chili, a few minutes of simmering will thicken up the liquid. You will have the same great flavor as Wendy’s, just a thicker version.

Add in Fresh Water

For a really good everyday chili, try my Pressure Cooker Competition Chili Con Carne. It’s my favorite chili. I know Texans don’t like beans in their chili, but we love this Pressure Cooker Tex-Mex Chili with Beans. I named it so, even though beans are taboo in Texas. I am a rebel, you know.

Looks just like Wendy’s Chili

This looks just like Wendy’s Chili. I did not drain the liquid before taking a picture. I just put my ladle in the pot and scooped up some for the picture. It looks like a Chili Soup and it is yummy!

Again, if you want this less watery, just simmer it. Be careful, as it will cook down fast and thicken as it cools.

Ready for the Freezer in Reditainers Extreme Freezer Containers

This makes a lot and freezes really well. We have enough for several more meals. Labeled and all ready for the freezer. These Reditainer Extreme Freezer Containers are wonderful, BPA free and cheap!

Pressure Cooker Copycat Wendy’s Chili Recipe

Grate up some cheese and top with Homemade Greek Yogurt (in lieu of sour cream).

More Copycat Recipes to Make:

Kitchen Equipment and Essentials

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