Wendy's Hot Chili Seasoning
Like millions of Americans, I suffer from a 9-5 job. I work in an office building that has little to no kitchen utilities, so it’s almost inmpossible for me to bring my own lunch everyday. Thus I am forced out into the world of Fast food everyday at 12.
For today’s lunch I decided to venture to Wendy’s and try their chili. That’s where the scary part came in. The chili itself tasted fine, a little watery at best. But they also gave me two gold packets of what they have labeled as “Wendy’s hot Chili Seasoning” – This stuff is awful! Has anyone ever read the ingredients?
Ingredients: Water, corn syrup, salt, distilled vinegar, natural flavors, xanthan gum and caramel color.
No what in that list of ingredients makes it Hot? Absolutely nothing, but I found my mouth burning. Why? Because of all the chemicals they put into it. Anyone else have as bad of an experience with these little gold packets of death?
This stuff is great!!! And the heat comes from the “natural flavors”. But they’re not giving out the recipe. I wish they would, that or sell it by the bottle. I’d buy it.
My husband loves their sauce and would like the recipe.
That sauce is awesome and my husband puts it on his pizza rolls. I wish they’d sell it in a bottle too.
I LOVE this stuff !!! I agree with Hotboy, “Natural Flavorings” is probably where all of the magic comes from. Obviously they are not willing to reveal the recipe.
I would buy it if I could too !!!!
Holy crap I’m eating straight outta the packet right now. I love the stuff, I put over amy fries and burgers and then snort it. No really I love the stuff and I am eating out of the packet right this moment.
That is hilarious. Made me laugh hard. The Wendy’s sauce is very, very, good. But this post is funnier than the sauce is good. Thanks for the laugh..
RJS That is too funny!! I like it too!! However, I still want to put it in the chili…LOL.. I’d like to know what’s in it. Possibly the ingredients are listed on the packet? Someone let me know!!!! Thanks
I love their hot sauce. I would also buy it by the bottle if they sold it!!
Funny, I just had a bowl of chilli from Wendy’s. I dumped about 6 packets in the chilli to give it some flavor, then I put two on my burger and finally I poured 4 packets in a ketchup cup to dip my fries in. This sauce is so good, I had to jump online and see if they sell it in bulk. I agree with RJS, this stuff is good enough to eat right out of the packet. I guess on a positive note, if they don’t offer it for sale, I won’t feel guilty for taking 50 packets the next time I go there to eat.
Oh my. I think Taco Bell’s “fire sauce” is kick ass. LOL. (Awaits funny remarks). 🙂
I think it’s great as well. I think that the natural flavors which make it hot must be something that’s addicting… because I cannot get enough of it. I get a bowl and I do ask for 50 packets then I always have a stash at home.
I found this on Recipe.chefs.com
Title: Wendy’S Chili Seasoning
Yield: 1 Servings
Ingredients
1 waldine van geffen
—————————-VGHC42A———————————–
2 tb red pepper flakes
1 tb seasoned salt
1 tb dry minced oinons — hammer very fine
1 ts dry parsley flakes — rubbed into fine dust
1 ts granulated garlic — hammer to bits
1 envelope taco sauce mix
Instructions
Stir all ingredients well together and store in a bottle with tight
cap. Keep at room temp and use within 6 months. Source: Gloria Pitzer.
This recipe is for the seasoning that put in the batch of chili, not what this tread is referencing to that is offered in the little gold (now red) packages. Next time your in Wendy’s as for several packages of the Wendy’s Hot Chili Seasoning. You will have no regrets.
where is the “liquid” like is in the “Wendy’s Chili seasoning” packets??????????not the same thing
I love their sauce too but not about to go trapsing around to keep putting batches together every time I need to taste it . Addicted or not it doesn’t make Any sense with those ingredients.
Can you back this up with, um, I don’t know, proof? That’s funny. This was the first result in Google when typing in “Wendy’s Hot Chili Sauce”. I think some of the Wendy’s people have also spammed the page since then!
“Natural Flavor” is an FDA approved declaration for oleoresin capsicum. Check out kalsec.com for proof
As CaJohn says, there are about a million things the FDA allows you to label under general headings such as ‘natural flavors’ or ‘spices’ that allow manufacturers to maintain at least some semblance of propiety to their recipes *without* it being simply an amalgamation of chemicals. See FDA regs for proof 🙂
kalsec.com is a LOT easier to find things on than fda.gov!!!
Hello John! Good evening.
pmac , got your last e-mail, I am sure we can work it out.
Unbelieveable that I found this board… i just had Wendy’s with my son last night and asked for extra hot sauce for my chili, well she hooked me up with about 15 packets and it is great, especially on fries, i just had some straight out of the packet. Anyhow, it is good to know that i am not the only insane person on the planet.
A very addictive sauce indeed. Someone was selling a case on Ebay but alas, I was too late. Wendy’s won’t even sell me a case.
I thought I was the only one!!!!! THis is GrEAT!!!!!!
I am so relieved to see I am not the only one obsessed with Wendy’s Hot Chili Seasoning!! It’s great on cottage cheese! I just used my last packet and am plotting to bribe a drive thru attendant to FILL a takeout bag and hand it over.
This is clasic chili seasoning. As a child in the 50’s growing up in East LA Hispanic sector this taste was identified as an intrinsic charteristic of chili. Matched sale of identical tasting product would produce great sales. Does any one have a Trade Name for an Identical Product?
You know this seasoning has to be great when you go looking it up on the web. I admit that the Chili that Wendy’s has is good, but not wonderful. Add the chili seasoning and (OMFG) you have one of the greatests inventions since sliced bread.
Now as for the chili itself. Believe it or not Burger King’s chili was great. Problem is, no seasoning. Obvious answer, Stock up on the Wendy’s chili and use it on the BK Chili and you have/had heaven incarnate. I use the past tense, because BK ended their Chili. It just didn’t fly I guess. :(.
*sniff* I finally feel part of a community, less of an outcast. I’m not the only one that asks for extra packets and puts it on EVERYTHING. Ps. if anyone is in Toronto, one of the Managers at the Wendy’s in Scotia Plaza will give you like a hundred if you just ask nicely 🙂
Well maybe not anymore now that the word is out. I might just take a trip up there to stock up. Wendy’s at sportsworld, Kitchener is so stingy with it. When you ask they give you just one each time.
maybe ill hide out back by the dumpter and wait for some pimple-faced wendys employee and offer him 50.00 for a case of chilli sauce!!!
Wow I felt like I was the only freak around that loved this stuff, but boy was I wrong 😉
What I do is…. order a chicken BLT salad and ask them to give me Ceasar dressing vs. the nasty honey mustard crap. I then ask for 3 hot sauce packets and add it to the salad… shake that sucker up.. And you get a nice southwestern salad 😉 whoo whooo and you can add a little chili too.
I too am an addict. I had Wendy’s today and was told by a store manager they were going to stop purchasing the sauce due to the costs. I am not sure (I am hoping not) if he meant that store or Wendy’s in general. Have you tried it with mayo and catsup on fries!!!
Amen to that…Have loved the stuff for years. I have put Wendy’s Chili Seasoning on their burgers for over 10 years. I just moved to where they don’t have a Wendy’s and ran out. I’m so bummed. Now what do I do?
I LOVE YOU ALL.
I really truly love this stuff, and i always have. Im glad i’ve found a community here.
Ironic that we’re all posting about how much we love it when the guy who started it was talking about how awful it is. Let’s see if we can find a way to track this stuff down.
From MSNBC 6-1-07, Miami 5-31-07 A Wendy’s Mgr. was shot in the arm several times at the drive thru window for refusing to give the driver 10 packets of chili sauce. Wendy’s policy is only 3 packets. How sick can we saucees get? They could probably make millions selling those in bottles!
Haha, you didn’t get the response you wanted because almost all the commenters were black…and they LOVE chili sauce!
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This stuff is so good.. I could drink it. I stash packets at home, in my car, and everywhere. It is the best .. and there are no chemicals…what a nerdo…
Perhaps one of the finest liquids on earth!!! I buy canned chili for lunch (Hormel, Nalley, etc.) and then add a packet of Wendy’s Hot Chili Seasoning . . . mmmmmm!! I would buy it by the bottle too!
The people here won’t give me extra packs. I put 5 on my Caesar side salad. It’s awesome. I’ve even paid a buck extra for 10 packs and they didn’t put them in the bag. I was trying to go to the wendy’s website to complain but they make you call a number instead of an email complaint form. Nothing ruins my day like getting 1 or 2 packs when I’ve said give me extra at least five.
Like others, I too am nuts for the Wedny’s chili sauce. I squeeze it all over my fries & burgers and keep spare packets in my fridge at home for everything from eggs to kraft dinner. If I could buy it in a bottle or boxes of packets I would be thrilled.
I ADORE this stuff…and by the way, “Water, corn syrup, salt, distilled vinegar, natural flavors, xanthan gum and caramel color” are all pretty OK ingredients (not too sure about the caramel color, but that’s in my Diet Coke, too, and I love that as well. Hello, “Water, corn syrup, vinegar and natural flavors are all natural…and I buy ‘xanthan gum’ in the bulk section of my whole foods store as an alternate thickener to flour. Cheers…and PLEASE Wendy’s: sell this stuff in the grocery store so we can stop justifying to your food clerks why we need 50 packets for one bowl of chili!
I also am a big fan of the Wendy’s Hot Chili Seasoning! my wife thinks I am nuts cause I have her gets extra and wont through it away, I store it in teh fridge drawer.
Anyway, I got some stocked up, but the last 2 times she stopped by Wendy’s on the way home, she told me that the lady at Wendy’s told her they were not offering the seasoning anymore.
Anyone else herd this? !!!!
If its true, my last few packets might have to go on ebay to the highest buyer!
I have stolen the recipe and will sell it for …. 5000 usd. muhahahahaa!!!
I was doing a search to find a recipe for this sause when I found this page – my husband and I love it too. We put it in their chili, on their cheeseburgers, on our fries, everything. Last week I found a new use for it – I put it in my bowl of Progresso Vegetable Soup. It took it from bland to YUMMY. I’m going to try the recipe that was posted above. My husband swore it had chili powder in it.
I’m pretty sure that the main flavoring ingredient is cumin. If you have a spice rack, go check it out. The heat comes from something else, likely jalapeno. If you like this stuff, you may also like Mrs. Renfro’s green chili.
Oh my god!!!! don’t bash the gold packs!!!! I absolutely love Wendy’s chili sauce and am glad to find out that I am not alone….
I seriously think that there should be a 12 step plan to fight the gold pack addiction….it’s that good.
Does anyone with more than one post like the stuff?
I’m with Nick, I can’t stand wendy’s chili seasoning. I like Wendy’s chili well enough, but when I get it for lunch I drop in my own habanero powder (direct from Jim’s fields btw) and that gives spice plus awesome flavor.
Hah, just noticed this is from 2004 – talk about a thread having legs!
HSB is still #1 on google’s search for wendy’s chili seasoning.
Is there any way to buy Wendy’s Hot Sauce in a bottle? Has anyone tried to make an “imitation” version of it?
I love this stuff and would buy a dozen bottles in a heartbeat!
-Eric
I too, would buy it by the bottle or buy a box of packets from Wendy’s. I think I am going to try the recipe that someone posted. There is also a grocery store in Cincinnati that carries everything like that. I will see if I can find anything close.
Just got done putting some Wendy’s Hot Chilli Seasoning on my fish from Long John Silvers. That was great!
I found this page from Google searching for Wendy’s Hot Sauce. I too love the sauce. I haven’t had the chili in years but I always put it on my burgers from there. Spicy baconator with a couple packs of the hot chili seasoning is heaven! Works well with the spicy chicken, too! I actually used to work at Wendy’s back in 1995. The hot sauce came in relatively large boxes of 500 or something like that. IIRC, they cost about $33. We ordered them, along with the rest of the food stuff, from Sygma foods in Ohio. For one hot sauce lover, that could be a year’s supply. I wouldn’t want to keep it much longer than that since even portion packs do have a shelf life. If you get real friendly with the store’s general manager, you might convince them to order an extra box and ring up $40 in miscellaneous food at a register. That’d keep their P&L in check. Also, Wendy’s doesn’t make the hot sauce, it’s made for them by someone else, probably PPI (Portion Pac Inc) but don’t quote me on that. I doubt they’d sell to anyone but a distributer for Wendy’s but you could try. I’d make a friend there and see if they could fill a jug full of the stuff for you! =)
I’m addicted to this stuff too. I just had some Mac & Cheese and put some in.. NOM NOM NOM!! I stopped by one of my local Wendy’s (in Madison, WI) and brought in $1 to get some packs. The manager gave me about 100 and told me the cases are $8, so rest assured I will be buying it by the case from now on! I guess all your Wendy restaurants either really suck or the manager thought I was cute 🙂
I’m going to ask next time I go in there if they plan to discontinue this. Email me at spades_17@yahoo.com and I’ll let you know the details. Maybe I can sweet talk this guy into supplying me with bulk cases so I can ship them all to you!
Viva la sauce!!
I’ve considered getting a job at Wendy’s, work for a day, grab a couple of cases of chili sauce and run. I’m happy to know I’m not the only person in love with this stuff.
Check this out.
(05-30) 16:03 PDT MIAMI (AP) —
A manager at a fast-food restaurant was shot several times in the arm early Tuesday trying to protect the chili sauce, authorities said.
A man in the Wendy’s drive-through argued with an employee because he wanted more of the condiment, police said. The worker told the customer that restaurant policy prohibited a customer from getting more than three packets.
The man insisted on 10, reports said. The employee complied, but police said the customer wanted even more.
The manager came out to speak to the man, said Miami-Dade police spokesman Mary Walter. The customer then shot the manager, who was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.
The customer fled in his vehicle with a female passenger, authorities said
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Wow, now that is a hardcore condiment bandit
I sent this to Wendys – Enjoy!!
ODE TO WENDY’S HOT CHILI SEASONING
Little gold packet
How I love you so
I tear you open oh so careful
As not to spill a drop
I put you in my soups
And even mac n cheese
But alas there is not much of you
Wendy’s will only give me 3
We need to start a petition
To get you bottled up
So people like me can have their fix
As much as I so please
I beg of you dear Wendy’s
Let me at the sauce!
Yeah this is still the top link here… I had never tried the sauce and asked my co workers if it was any good and they said yes so I read the ingredients and like some of you was like WTF?!?!? There are no peppers in it…. I asked them if it was hot and they said it was spicy so I put it in and it was… so then we decided to try and find out if anyone knew what was REALLY the natural flavors… guess not lol.
Says Packed by Wendy’s Manufacturer #180 Which according to Mike above is “Sygma foods in Ohio” Sygma is a Off Shoot of Sysco http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sysco_Corporation
Might want to try some of these.
http://www.starportfoods.com/Case%20Pack%20List.htm
I bet one of them is similar.
I was doing a search to see if I could get the stuff in bulk. I hoard it when I get an extra pack here or there and would put it in my own chili recipe if I could get enough regularly. I am surprised that they haven’t bottled it, like Arby’s did, since it does seem to be popular among most people who are eating the chili. And I agree with the poster who said this ended up being a funny post, since the Original Poster hated the stuff! We love it!
you’re missing something and I feel sorry for you. I put Wendy’s chili seasoning on lots of things. I always asks for extra packs when I visit.
how long are Wendy’s chili seasoning packs good for ?
Until it hits your taste buds!!!
If you take the ingredients on the package and where it says “natural flavors” put “cayenne pepper” in there once you play with the ratios a bit your gonna get surprised 🙂 (you dont need the Xanthan gum that is just a thickening agent) Keep in mind the fist ingredient is the most amount and the last is the least amount base your ratios that way and it wont take too long to “Deformulate” 🙂
It is great on eggs. Love this stuff and have found several Wendy’s that will sell you a case, but you have to let them order it and then get it.
I worked at Wendy’s when they first opened.When there were unlimited napkins cuz their burgers were so juicy.I put their chili seasoning on my burger and WOW!!!Been hooked ever since.I put it on everything and like others eat it straight from the packet.
I have a case of Wendy’s sauce with 500 packets. I have access to an unlimited supply. $100 a case let me know if interested
Hey John, I see that your email was posted in July of 2013. Do you still have a case of these hot sauce. I’d like to buy a case. (3-6-15)
Maybe your sad job is getting to you because Wendy’s struck gold with their little gold packets. That hot sauce is amazing and I have a fridge stocked full of loosing contenders in my search to finally find its equal. If they sold this stuff it would be my #1 sauce. Sorry man, you are dead wrong.
those “gold packets of death” are fabulous! I LOVE those things. wish I had the recipe on how to make that stuff here at home. I’d use it on my Chernobyl Chili!
I love it on my pizza. It reminds me of the bottles of chili oil they put out at the wood oven pizza places in the French Caribbean. It’s now in red packs, though, at the Wendy’s around here. Same great stuff!
Holy shit, a 10yr long post??? If this doesn’t within of itself prove the unequalled explosive flavor thrill ride each little (now red?) packet contains……… and yes, i’m a sick sick person like the rest. One packet = 5 maybe 6 fries. Sick. I feel so dirty, I need some Wendy’s.
I can clearly taste cumin in it, but what else? I can’t be sure.
I haven’t laughed at something on the web so hard till I found this discussion. I’m so glad I’m not the only one that loves the sauce so much as to post about it. I’m still looking for a recipe but looks like I’ll have to go there to get my fix. I always ask for a bunch of extra packets but normally they give @ 4. It’s crazy how addicting it is. It’s liquid crack!!
Wend’ys hot Chili sauce is best when dipping your fries in!!!! And the natural ingredients are probably peppers
Dude, I just love this sauce, I can’t get enough of it. I wish I could make it at home, I dump this stuff on my chicken wraps, it makes for the perfect meal and a side of fries. They REALLY need to release a recipe for this stuff, I mean, I’ve literally drank it out of the packet before. I would use this on everything!
Have always dumped at least one packet on my burger and mixed another in my ketchup for fries. Really spices up my meal, but I always get strange looks when I ask for it without ordering any chili.
Guys bad news, they’ve changed the recipe. I ordered a chicken sandwich today and asked for some packets. When I got home I noticed 2 were a different shape now, kind of squarer. I decided to read the ingredients just for “fun” and noticed the new packet has added paprika to the end of the list. When I used the sauce it distinctly had a paprika taste and less heat. The color is also different, it use to be a orangy oily color and is now a peach tinted color. I can’t find any news about this online because I think I’m the only one that loves this sauce this much lol. Grab up what packets you can and if you have info for me please share! Reposting because my email got cut off.
Yes so sad I put chili sauce on everything. But they have changed the recipe. It is nasty. Lol so wish they kept it original. I stayed using cumin in my recipes because the original packets had the ingredients on it and it listed cumin as one of the main ingredients. Oh well guess I won’t be eating at Wendy’s.
I think the taste of the new packs is awful. Why did they go and change it? Arrg!
Best Clone recipe I could find…
Wendy’s Chili Seasoning
If you’re like me and you enjoy Wendy’s chili, you’ve probably gotten a packet or 2 of their chili seasoning. I have always loved this stuff and it certainly makes their chili much better. Especially if you can get a few more packets, if you ask. But I have always been a guy that likes my chili to be more full-flavored. So about a year or so ago, I sought out to make my own “Wendy’s chili seasoning.” So after a few experiments, I think I found a close recipe to it. Here’s how it goes:
2 12-oz. bottles regular hot sauce ( I used Crystal hot sauce this last time)
approx. 1.5 oz. ground cumin
approx. 1/2 cup dried chopped garlic
approx. 1/3 cup dried chopped onions
You’ll also need:
one large bottle with a very tight lid…I use an old 1.75 liter bourbon bottle that has a very tight cork in it
(note: I get my cumin, garlic, and onion at Big Lots)
Put all the ingredients together into your bottle and shake it up well to combine it all very well.
Let this steep for at least one week or longer. Shake the bottle whenever you think about it, but the more you shake it, the better your results will be, in my opinion.
You can then either use this as a finishing sauce on your chili after it’s served, or you can use it as an extra seasoning in your chili while it is cooking, which I prefer.
I suppose you could use garlic powder and onion powder, but I have not tried that…I like the bits of garlic and onion in my finished chili.
Enjoy!
Posted by Stew at 9:02 AM
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My favorite recipe? Wendy’s Chili Sauce inside a Grilled Cheese Sandwich. It’s incredible
It’s a shame they don’t sell this stuff anywhere! I came here looking for the same info as everyone else.
I love this sauce but I do NOT like it in my chili. The chili is perfect as is. I always order a crispy Chicken sandwich with no mayo and add the chili sauce on the sandwich. Outstanding! I am looking for the recipe so I can make these at home.
I just discovered the sauce pack last week when ordering the chili and I LOVE IT !
I love love love this sauce. It tastes great in the chili, on the fries, and even on the baked potato. I really wish there was a way to buy it in bulk or in a bottle.
i have a stash of this, some 3 years old ! i just did a comparison gold pack vs red pack …sorry but there exactly the same, here in Ohio at least.
I don’t mind the change in the Wendy’s hot chili sauce. Although, it has been an awful long time since the gold packet was out, so I don’t remember what it tastes like. All I know is I am ADDICTED to this. It has some serious addicting agents in it. I love it. Eat it plain, even. Love it on saltine crackers, fries, burger, anything really. Haven’t tried it on ice cream yet. It would still be good! If Wendy’s was smart, they’d see this thread amongst others, and bottle this stuff and throw it on the shelves!
This conversation has been going on for over 10 years and still no one has access to bottles of Wendy’s Chili Hot Seasoning. Wendy’s you’re doing something wrong!
Wendy’s hot chili sauce is AWESOME. I love it. I worship it. I wish I could bathe in it. I LOVE IT! YUMMY YUMMY YUMMY!
Brothers and sisters all. I love my new family
All this time I thought I was the only WHCS freak. 😉
Well, It’s now Friday October, 28, 2016 and this post/thread started in 2004, lol!! I was just sitting here eating my single and fries with Wendy’s chili sauce all over my fries…I have had a crazy love affair/addiction to this sauce since they introduced the stuff and it first hit my mouth when I was pregnant with my daughter in the 90’s! I eat it right out of the pack as well. Why oh why have you not bottled it Wendy’s? I promise, I will still patronize your restaurant ! I love you too not just your delicious, eyes roll back in my head chili sauce! Please, please, please, I’m begging you….
I put it in all my soups or ramen. Love it
Wendys Chili Seasoning is THE BEST! Its like food crack. Can’t believe they dont sell this stuff in the stores yet. Been addicted to it for almost 30 years.
Just discovered this sauce and thread today. I have never found a more pleasing flavor combination in my 23 years of life. I will continue the search for a replica sauce.
I love this sauce.. its seasons havepeppers in it. I use it on the fries and my spicy chicken sandwich!
super delicious – use 2 packs on each crispy chicken sandwich – where can I buy a full bottle?
This sauce is the best, I go repeatedly and buy an item or 2 just to get a handful of these sauce packs. Put it on everything!jo
This sauce is awesome, I’m constantly begging for more but they give it out so sparingly. I wish they would sell it at the grocery store (like taco bell sauce). I put this stuff on everything or just sip on it out of the pouch (like as I write this); just can’t get enough of it.
I am so upset. I have been getting Wendy’s chili for 15 years. Just TODAY, I went through the drive thru for chili, once i got back to work I noticed this packet in my bag and thought this was something new. I have never been offered or heard of it. ITS AMAZING
Gold packs, Red packs and now black packs.Still the unicorn recipe of sauces!!! One of my Favs. Maybe those little servings/packages are subliminally making you want more!!!