Craving Tex-Mex? Here's How to Order Vegan at Chili's

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.

The next time you’re seated in a plush red booth or hightop 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.

Jump to the Guide

How to order vegan at non-vegan restaurants

Before diving into the specifics of Chili’s menu, it helps to know what to look for when seeking out vegan options at non-vegan eateries.

The first tip is to look for a vegan menu—some chains and quite a few independent establishments offer a dedicated menu for plant-based patrons. The second tip is to search for dedicated vegan items. Each company signifies these animal-free options differently—V, VG, Vegan, or a carrot or leaf icon are the most common. Scan the bottom of the menu to look for the key and ensure the icon stands for vegan, not vegetarian (unfortunately, there is no standardized method for categorizing plant-based options, so be sure to watch out for the ambiguous V).

Jessie McCall

RELATED: From Fogo de Chao to Ruth’s Chris, Steakhouses Are Filled With Meatless Options

When a restaurant does not label its vegan-friendly items, that’s when you need to get creative and ask for help. First, look at the sides. These are often vegetable or grain-based and are naturally vegan or can be modified as such. Steamed or roasted vegetables, French fries, side salads, beans, and more are usually fair game.

After scanning the sides, look at the salads, but don’t get your hopes up. Many chain restaurants (like Chili’s) go heavy on the meat and cheese for their entrée salads, and putting a plant-based spin on them may reduce a $20 salad down to just lettuce. Modify to the best of your ability by removing any animal products, choosing a vegan dressing, and omitting croutons (they often contain dairy). 

The best strategy when assessing a restaurant menu is to go back to your food groups: vegetables, fruits, grains, and protein in the form of beans, tofu, or plant-based meats. Find these items, ensure they’re not paired with animal ingredients, and you can hack your way through any menu.

Priscilla Du Preez

A note of importance: once you decide on your order and modifications, tell your server you are vegan and double-check that your request is free from animal products.

Looking at the menu and not seeing a single vegan thing? Ask the chef. Some chefs are more than happy to accommodate a vegan diet. You’re more likely to encounter a flexible chef in an independently owned, table service restaurant as opposed to a fast-casual or a large chain, but it never hurts to ask. Some people may pleasantly surprise you.

Does Chili’s have a vegan menu?

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, for example.

Joel Carillet

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.

But the next time you find yourself at Chili’s, you can also check out our list below to save time.

How to order vegan at Chili’s

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

2 Salads

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. 

3 Big Mouth Burgers

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 great progress. You can also order the Mushroom Swiss Burger, which comes with sautéed onions, mushrooms, lettuce, and tomato—simply replace the beef patty for the black bean patty and request no mayo or Swiss cheese.

Chili’s

4 Fajitas

Chili’s 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 chain’s vegan black bean patties, and don’t forget to take off the dairy-based sauces and cheese, too.

5 Bowl Hacks

You won’t find a menu subsection with this title, but if you look under the Chicken & Seafood section, 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

6 Sides

Chili’s isn’t a steakhouse, but it does offer steakhouse-adjacent sides. Vegan options include steamed broccoli, plain corn on the cob, 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.

Tanya Flink is a Digital Editor at VegNews as well as a writer and runner living in Orange County, CA.