Wendy's Chili Copycat Recipe—A Keto Version That Curbs the Craving! (2024)

FAQs

Can you eat Wendy's chili on a keto diet? ›

Sadly there are actually NO sides available for a keto dieter at Wendys. Yes, that even includes the delicious chili. There are just too many beans! They do however have diet co*ke and zero sugar lemonade that make great keto low sugar drink options.

Is chili keto-friendly? Classic bean-based chili is not keto-friendly, as beans are high in carbohydrates. Luckily you can still make a keto-friendly chili without the beans. All of the traditional chili spices, such as chili powder, ground cumin and smoked paprika, are great flavor-boosters for keto foods.

Maybe beans aren't your thing. Or maybe you can't eat them for gastrointestinal reasons. If that's the case, we have good news: Wendy's canned chili now comes in a no beans variety.

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 ...

Okay, so we told you that Wendy's uses its leftover hamburger patties to make its chili, but how does that work, exactly? When a Wendy's chef makes a hamburger patty, it will stay fresh for a little while. However, if they make too many and leave them sitting out for too long, the meat will start to dry out.

The healthiest sides are those in their most natural form, like plain baked potatoes or apple bites. If you want something warm, a small chili offers more nutritional value than fries or a baked potato with higher-calorie toppings.

The original Wendy's hot chili seasoning packets list the following ingredients: water, corn syrup, salt, distilled vinegar, natural flavors, xanthan gum, and paprika extractives.

Almond flour or almond meal can give you the same texture and consistency as cornstarch, without the high carb count or any adverse health effects. Almond flour contains beneficial vitamins and minerals, including vitamin E, iron, manganese, magnesium, potassium, and calcium.

Is arrowroot keto friendly? ›

Arrowroot is a low-carb, keto-friendly cornstarch substitute. In fact, it's a pretty popular ingredient among keto dieters! You can use it in place of higher-carb powders like flour, typically used to create frying batters. People often use arrowroot powder as a thickener for sauces and soups.

This is unfortunately the only side that's keto-friendly at Wendy's. That's right: All fries and baked potatoes are far too high in carbs, as is the famous chili. Frostys and cookies are also a no-go, as well as all the house lemonades, regular sodas and sweetened iced tea.

You can also consider some alternatives to beans for recipes like chili and soup, such as mushrooms, eggplant, squash, or sausage. Whatever you choose, there are ways to enjoy many of your favorite bean recipes on keto while still hitting your macro goals.

Keto-friendly beans

On a strict keto diet, your best bet for beans is to choose either green beans or black soybeans. While green beans are typically prepared more like a vegetable than a bean, black soybeans are a great alternative to other, starchier beans in soups, bean dips, refried beans, or other recipes.

So, if you need some help at your next chili cook-off or a family event, you know where to go (we'll keep it our secret). - With 16g net carbs in a small order and 23g net carbs in a large order, Wendy's chili is a carb-conscious, high protein OG-favorite when eating on the go.

Wendy's chili is packed with protein and fiber from the beans and beef, which can help keep you full and satisfied. It's also relatively low in calories compared to some other fast food options. However, it does have a decent amount of sodium, so if you're watching your salt intake, that's something to consider.