Photo Credit: Eritas Daily
Chili’s Grill & Bar is an American causal restaurant chain with over 1,600 locations worldwide according to Wikipedia. They specialize in burgers and Mexican menu items. While most bar & grills have limited vegan-friendly options, Chili’s actually lists their vegan and vegetarian options on their menu. This article lists the 7 best vegan options at Chili’s restaurants.
Chili’s does not post their ingredients, but they do have a Allergen/Vegetarian/Vegan matrix on their website. All of the items listed in this article are based of the information provided in the matrix. Their matrix was last updated on April 9, 2019 at the time of this writing.
1. Chips & Salsa or Guacamole
Starting off this list of vegan menu items at Chili’s we have their Bottomless Tostada Chips & Salsa or Chips & Fresh Guacamole. The chips, salsa, and guac are all vegan-friendly as listed on the menu so no modifications are need!
As with all fried dishes at Chili’s, the fryer the chips are cooked in is shared with non-vegan foods. If this is of concern for you then you’ll want to refrain from ordering any of the fried products on this list.
2. Caribbean Salad (No Meat and Substitute Dressing)
The first of Chili’s two vegan-friendly salad options is their Caribbean Salad. It comes with pineapple, mandarin oranges, dried cranberries, red bell peppers, green onions, cilantro, with honey-lime dressing. However, the honey-lime dressing is not vegan so make sure to substitute it for the Citrus Balsamic Vinaigrette. All other dressing options at Chili’s are not vegan-friendly.
3. Side House Salad (No Croutons or Cheese)
The other vegan salad option at Chili’s their Side House Salad. It comes with tomatoes, red onions, cucumbers, shredded cheese, garlic croutons with your choice of dressing. Therefore, the cheese and croutons need to be removed to make it vegan-friendly. Once again, the only vegan salad dressing at Chili’s is their Citrus Balsamic Vinaigrette.
4. Fried Pickles (No Ranch Dressing)
The Fried Pickles at Chili’s are vegan! These tangy and crispy bites make a great starter to any meal. They are typically served with non-vegan Ranch Dressing, so make sure to substitute it for one of Chili’s vegan sauces listed below.
As with all fried dishes at Chili’s, the fryer the pickles are cooked in is shared with non-vegan foods. If this is of concern for you then you’ll want to refrain from ordering any of the fried products on this list.
5. Sides
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Unfortunately, Chili’s Black Bean & Veggie Fajitas contain milk and are not vegan-friendly. Luckily you can create a similar dish by combining a variety of side options. The corn and flour tortillas are both vegan, as are the Mexican rice and black beans. Pair these with one of the steamed veggies to create your own vegan Fajitas! All of the vegan side options at Chili’s are as follows:
- Black Beans
- Corn on the Cob (Not Roasted Street Corn)
- Fries
- Grilled Asparagus
- Mexican Rice
- Steamed Broccoli
- Tortilla – Flour
- Tortilla – All-Natural Corn
As with all fried dishes at Chili’s, the fryer the fries are cooked in is shared with non-vegan foods. If this is of concern for you then you’ll want to refrain from ordering any of the fried products on this list.
6. Sauces & Condiments
Chili’s also has a few vegan-friendly sauce and condiment options to add to any meal. These options are as follows:
- Avocado Slices
- BBQ Sauce
- Citrus Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Guacamole
- House BBQ Sauce
- Pickles (Regular or Garlic Dill)
- Salsa
7. Drinks
In addition to their vegan food options, Chili’s also has a variety of drinks to choose from. These include both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage options. Selection varies by store so check with your waiter for the current options.
Summary
If you are a vegan about to eat at Chili’s then you have a good amount of options to choose from. Your best bet is to create a great meal from the plethora of side options available. If you liked this article, take a look at at our other “Eating Out” vegan guides here.
