Wendy’s New Canned Baconator Chili: My Brutally Honest Review

Let me start this article off on a positive note. We love Wendy’s original canned chili. We included both the bean-full and bean-free versions in our ranking of the best canned chili. We love that the chili really does taste like it’s made with bits of burger. So, please, do not let the rest of this review stop you from buying those cans of Wendy’s chili.

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Now that we got some positivity out of the way, let’s dive into this review of the new canned Wendy’s Baconator Chili.

New Wendy’s Chili!

Wendy’s Baconator Chili Review

Walmart

Pros: The beans are good. They’re creamy and the skins are too thick. And, actually, the chili “broth” isn’t bad, either. It’s savory and creamy.

Cons: My colleague Gwynedd Stuart did not mince words when she described this chili as tasting like “a tin can full of ashes.” I don’t know if I’d go quite that far, but I understand where she’s coming from. The problem with this chili is the meat. Like the other, good canned Wendy’s chilis, this one does taste like it’s made with repurposed hamburger. However, it tastes like that hamburger was dropped into the ashes of a grill that was started with way too much lighter fluid. And there’s a lot of meat, so it’s hard to get away from those flavors. Plus, I don’t taste any bacon. Isn’t that the whole dang point?!

Verdict: Stick to the regular Wendy’s chili and just add some bacon (you could even buy Wendy’s bacon). Avoid this new one.

Credit: Liv Averett / Total Wine

Rating:

2.5/10

Sporks

About the Author

Hi! I’m the editor-in-chief of Sporked. I will never turn down a fresh-shucked oyster but I’ll also leap at whatever new product Reese’s releases and I love a Tostitos Hint of Lime, even if there is no actual lime in the ingredients. Why you should trust me: I have been writing about food and beverages for well over a decade and am an avid at-home cook and snacker. I began my career writing about fine dining and recipes, moved into cocktails and spirits, and now I talk about groceries. If you can eat it or drink it, I’ve probably written about it. What I buy every week: Trader Joe’s dried okra. Appleton Farms prosciutto from Aldi. Some sort of Trader Joe’s cheese (I’m into the aged gouda at the moment). Frozen waffles (usually the Eggo Cinnamon Toast Minis). Spindrift water (loving the Cosmopolitan right now). Favorite ranking: Smoked salmon. Imagine me as Scrooge McDuck but instead of coins I’m diving into a vault of slippery smoked salmon slices. Pure joy. I also found some real steals in that taste test! Least favorite ranking: Canned oysters. I had such high hopes for this but it quickly became a chore. The kitchen smelled like an uncleaned aquarium.