Name the jingle: “I want my baby back, baby back, baby back …” Chili’s seared the tune into our heads for years while promoting its famed baby back ribs. So what’s a vegan to eat at a restaurant known for barbecue-slathered ribs? Actually, plenty.
Chili’s doesn’t offer a dedicated vegan menu, but it does offer a vegan/vegetarian/allergen menu online that indicates vegan-as-is items and denotes common allergens such as dairy and eggs. Plus, plenty of naturally vegan side options are also available at Chili’s, which makes it easy to cobble together a filling meal if you can’t find a satisfying entrée option.
The next time you’re seated in a plush red booth or high-top with a giant chili anchored on the wall in front of you, pull up this guide to order the best vegan food at Chili’s.
Chili’s
Start your Chili’s vegan meal with everyone’s favorite comfort food: chips and salsa
The Chili’s menu is a bit of a chain restaurant smorgasbord. The eclectic selection brings to mind a taste of Outback Steakhouse, On the Border, and TGI Friday’s. As such, you’ll find Tex-Mex staples such as guacamole and chips and salsa—all of which are vegan.
Chili’s
With a few simple swaps, a vegan salad is easy
Every salad at Chili’s comes with meat, cheese, or a combination of the two, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a vegan green here. For a salad that has a little more to it than just chopped lettuce, opt for the Santa Fe Salad (no cheese, chicken, ranch, or Santa Fe sauce). Request a side of the Citrus Balsamic Vinaigrette and avocado to add even more substance to your bowl of greens.
If you’re looking for something basic to accompany a larger main, the House Salad made with romaine and tomatoes is vegan when ordered without croutons or cheese.
Chili’s
You can always swap in a black bean patty
Chili’s has some work to do in the burger department, but it does now offer a vegan burger bun and one vegan black bean patty, which is good progress. You can also order the Mushroom Swiss Burger, which comes with sautéed onions, mushrooms, lettuce, and tomato—simply replace the beef patty with the black bean patty and request no mayo or Swiss cheese.
Chili’s also used to offer a Black Bean & Veggie Fajita, but this has been removed from the menu. However, for a completely plant-based sizzling skillet, ask to modify the Chicken Fajitas instead. You can swap the chicken for one of the black bean patties, and don’t forget to take off the dairy-based sauces and cheese, too.
With a few hacks, the Chipotle Fresh Mex Bowl is plant-based
In the Bowls & Quesadillas section of the Chili’s menu, you’ll find the Chipotle Fresh Mex Bowl. It’s layered with shredded lettuce, Mexican rice, pico de gallo, corn salsa, cilantro, and tortilla strips—all of which are vegan-friendly. Just request no meat, pesto, cheese, or ranch, and you’ve got yourself a flavorful rice bowl. Add Mango Habanero Sauce for a fruity accent.
Chili’s
The side menu is a vegan’s best friend
Chili’s isn’t a steakhouse, but it does offer steakhouse-adjacent sides. Vegan options include steamed broccoli, roasted asparagus, and fries. Ask for a side of the House BBQ Sauce (which is vegan) for dipping.
On the Tex-Mex side, the corn and flour tortillas, Mexican rice, black beans, guacamole, salsa, and pico de gallo are vegan as well. You could easily build your own tacos from that hearty spread.
For more plant-based stories like this, read:
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Tanya Flink is a VegNews writer and runner living in Orange County, CA.
