Wendy’s Chili (Small): Price, Calories and Nutrition (2026)

Wendy’s chili is a fast-food original. On the menu since 1969, it is a slow-cooked blend of ground beef, beans, tomatoes, peppers, and onions, served hot with a packet of saltine crackers. A small runs 180 calories with 13 grams of protein, and the price starts from $2.89. It is one of the highest-protein, lowest-calorie items on the entire menu. Here is the 2026 price, the calorie count, and the full nutrition breakdown.

Prices vary by location. The 180 calorie figure covers one small Chili as made.

Last updated: September 27, 2026

Table of contents

• What is in Wendy’s chili
• Chili (Small) nutrition facts
• Chili sizes and options
• Allergens
• Wendy’s chili vs a burger
• Getting the best value on chili
• Frequently asked questions

What is in Wendy’s chili

Wendy’s chili is made with ground beef, red kidney beans and pink beans, diced tomatoes, green peppers, onions, and celery, slow-simmered in a savory, mildly spiced tomato broth. It is the same recipe the chain has served since Dave Thomas opened the first restaurant in 1969. The beef is the same fresh, never-frozen beef used in the burgers, which gives the chili a meaty depth that canned chili cannot match.

It is served with saltine crackers on the side, which most people crumble into the bowl. The chili itself is mildly spiced: warm and savory rather than hot. At 180 calories with 13 grams of protein, the small chili is one of the smartest orders on the menu for anyone watching calories or chasing protein.

Chili (Small) nutrition facts

Full nutrition breakdown for one small Chili, based on Wendy’s official US nutrition data as reported by third-party nutrition databases.

Nutrient	Amount per Small Chili
Calories	180
Total fat	5g
Total carbohydrates	20g
Protein	13g
Sodium	790mg

The protein-to-calorie ratio is outstanding: 13 grams of protein for 180 calories beats almost everything else on the menu. Fat is low at 5 grams, and the 20 grams of carbohydrates come largely from the beans, which also provide fiber. Sodium at 790 mg is the one watch-out; it is high for such a light item. Adding the crackers adds around 25 calories and a little sodium per packet. Some menu guides list the small chili at 280 calories, but the per-gram database figure for a standard small serving is 180.

Chili sizes and options

The chili comes in small and large sizes. The small at 180 calories is the lighter choice and the one most people order as a side. The large is a full meal in a bowl, with roughly double the nutrition across the board. Wendy’s also uses the chili as a topping: chili cheese fries and the chili and cheese baked potato both build on it.

The chili works as a side, a light meal, or a protein add-on. Some regulars order a small chili alongside a Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger for a high-protein, moderate-calorie meal. Others eat two small chilis as a filling lunch for under 400 calories.

Allergens

Wendy’s chili contains milk, soy, and wheat. The wheat comes primarily from the saltine crackers served with the chili, so skipping the crackers removes that allergen. The milk and soy are in the chili recipe itself. Cross-contact is possible in Wendy’s kitchens. Always check with the restaurant if you have a serious allergy.

Wendy’s chili vs a burger

This is the comparison that surprises people. Small chili: 180 calories, 13g protein, 5g fat, 790mg sodium, from $2.89. Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger: 390 calories, 19g protein, 24g fat, 660mg sodium, from $2.89. Dave’s Single: 590 calories, 29g protein, 34g fat, 1090mg sodium, from $5.49.

The chili delivers 72 percent of the JBC’s protein at 46 percent of the calories and a fraction of the fat, for the same starting price. If your goal is protein with the fewest calories, the chili wins outright. The burgers win on satisfaction for people who want a classic fast-food meal. Many regulars split the difference: a small chili plus a JBC is a 570-calorie, 32-gram-protein meal for under six dollars.

Getting the best value on chili

• At from $2.89 for 180 calories and 13g of protein, the small chili is the best protein-per-dollar side on Wendy’s menu.
• Two small chilis make a filling, high-protein lunch for under 400 calories and around six dollars.
• Skip the crackers to cut the wheat allergen and save a few calories, though most people consider them essential.
• The large chili is the better deal if you want a full meal, but the small is the smarter pick as a side or add-on.

Frequently asked questions

ManuBite Team. We track fast food prices and nutrition across the USA so you always know what your meal really costs, in dollars and in calories.