Chili's Seed Oil Report Card
Based on our menu research, Chili's cooks with: soybean oil (confirmed in Chili's ingredient/allergen disclosures). Across the 117 menu items we analyzed, it averages 12.0g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of F (Extreme Risk).
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Safest Orders at Chili's
Learn this once: a salad with grilled protein and the dressing left off is nearly always the lowest seed oil order anywhere. So the list below sticks to real meals, salads included, never just a water.
Cleanest full order: Cup of Terlingua Chili + Watermelon Lemonade, 2.0g total
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Sweet Chili Zing | 0.0g |
| Seared Shrimp - Full Order | 1.2g |
| Loaded Baked Potato, Bowl | 1.6g |
| Cup of Terlingua Chili | 2.0g |
| Bowl of Terlingua Chili | 3.0g |
What to Avoid at Chili's
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| 8 Count Wings - Nashville Hot | 51.2g |
| 8 Count Boneless Wings - Nashville Hot | 50.2g |
| Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadilla | 49.0g |
| Nashville Hot Chicken Crispers | 43.5g |
| 8 Count Wings - Buffalo | 40.1g |
Every Chili's item, ranked
All 117 items we have for Chili's, safest first. Values are estimated grams of seed-oil PUFA per item.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Steamed Broccoli | 0.0g |
| Mango Iced Tea | 0.0g |
| Blackberry Lemonade | 0.0g |
| Fountain Drink | 0.0g |
| IBC Root Beer | 0.0g |
| Blackberry Iced Tea | 0.0g |
| Dasani Water | 0.0g |
| Watermelon Lemonade | 0.0g |
| Arnold Palmer | 0.0g |
| Marinara Sauce | 0.0g |
| House BBQ Sauce | 0.0g |
| Sweet Chili Zing | 0.0g |
| Seared Shrimp - Full Order | 1.2g |
| Loaded Baked Potato, Bowl | 1.6g |
| Grilled Chicken Bites (Kids) | 1.7g |
| Side Dippable Guacamole | 1.8g |
| Buffalo Sauce | 1.8g |
| House Side Salad without Dressing | 2.0g |
| Cup of Terlingua Chili | 2.0g |
| Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie | 2.6g |
| Mexican Rice | 2.7g |
| Bowl of Terlingua Chili | 3.0g |
| Classic Sirloin (6 oz) | 3.0g |
| 6 oz Sirloin with Grilled Avocado | 3.0g |
| Cheeseburger Bites (Kids) | 3.7g |
| Grilled Cheese Sandwich (Kids) | 4.0g |
| Skillet Toffee Fudge Brownie | 4.0g |
| SW Mac N Cheese (Side) | 4.0g |
| Grilled Chicken Salad | 4.0g |
| Chipotle Steak Fresh Mex Bowl | 4.0g |
| Kraft Macaroni & Cheese (Kids) | 4.1g |
| White Spinach Queso | 5.0g |
| Chipotle Shrimp Fresh Mex Bowl | 5.0g |
| Grilled Fish Tacos | 5.0g |
| Oldtimer (Classic) | 5.0g |
| Chipotle Pork Carnitas Fresh Mex Bowl | 5.0g |
| Mango-Chile Chicken | 5.0g |
| Pepperoni Pizza (Kids) | 5.0g |
| Caribbean Salad with Grilled Chicken | 5.0g |
| Ranchero Chicken Tacos | 5.0g |
| Pork Carnitas Tacos | 5.0g |
| Classic Sirloin (10 oz) | 5.7g |
| Bacon Avocado Chicken Sandwich | 6.0g |
| Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas | 6.0g |
| Spicy Shrimp Tacos | 6.0g |
| Mix & Match Tacos (3 Tacos) | 6.0g |
| Southwestern BLT Toasted Sandwich | 6.0g |
| California Turkey Club Toasted Sandwich | 6.0g |
| Dr Pepper BBQ Baby Back Ribs (Full Rack) | 6.0g |
| Craft Beer BBQ Baby Back Ribs (Full Rack) | 6.0g |
| Caribbean Salad with Seared Shrimp | 6.0g |
| Classic Ribeye | 6.2g |
| Sweet & Smoky Burger | 7.0g |
| Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas | 7.0g |
| Smoked Chicken Quesadilla | 7.0g |
| Beef Enchiladas | 7.0g |
| Guacamole Burger | 7.0g |
| Classic Nachos | 7.0g |
| Cheese Quesadilla (Kids) | 7.2g |
| Margarita Grilled Chicken | 7.5g |
| Fajita Shrimp | 7.6g |
| Fajita Grilled Chicken | 8.0g |
| Classic Bacon Burger | 8.0g |
| Corn Dog (Kids) | 8.0g |
| Southern Smokehouse Burger | 8.0g |
| Classic Nachos with Beef | 8.0g |
| Classic Nachos with Chicken | 8.0g |
| Beef Bacon Ranch Quesadilla | 8.0g |
| Avocado-Ranch | 8.4g |
| Oldtimer Burger with Cheese | 8.6g |
| Classic Cheesecake | 8.7g |
| Chicken Enchilada, Bowl | 9.4g |
| Cheese Pizza (Kids) | 9.5g |
| Crispy Cheddar Bites | 10.0g |
| Ranch | 10.0g |
| Honey Mustard | 10.0g |
| Homestyle Fries | 10.2g |
| Fried Pickles | 11.0g |
| Fajita Trio | 11.5g |
| Fajita Grilled Steak | 11.8g |
| Onion Rings | 12.0g |
| Molten Chocolate Cake | 12.1g |
| Boneless Buffalo Chicken Salad | 14.0g |
| Cajun Pasta with Shrimp | 14.6g |
| Grilled Chicken Sandwich | 15.2g |
| Cajun Pasta with Grilled Chicken | 15.4g |
| Triple Dipper | 16.0g |
| Blue Cheese Dressing | 16.0g |
| Baby Back Ribs (Half Rack) | 16.1g |
| Ancho Salmon | 16.5g |
| Buffalo Big Crispy Chicken Sandwich | 17.4g |
| Bacon Cheeseburger | 17.9g |
| Santa Fe Chicken Salad with Grilled Chicken | 19.3g |
| Chipotle Chicken Fresh Mex Bowl | 19.9g |
| Crispy Chicken Crispers | 19.9g |
| Southwestern Eggrolls | 23.0g |
| Big Mouth Bites | 23.1g |
| Crispy Crispers (Kids) | 24.6g |
| Big Crispy Chicken Sandwich | 26.2g |
| Bottomless Chips & Salsa | 27.0g |
| Texas Cheese Fries - Half Order | 27.7g |
| Skillet Beef Queso & Chips | 29.8g |
| Crispy Honey-Chipotle Chicken Crispers | 30.0g |
| Quesadilla Explosion Salad | 30.9g |
| Baby Back Ribs (Full Rack) | 31.3g |
| Santa Fe Crispers Salad | 31.9g |
| 8 Count Boneless Wings - Honey Chipotle | 35.2g |
| 8 Count Boneless Wings - House BBQ | 35.2g |
| Texas Cheese Fries | 35.6g |
| 8 Count Boneless Wings - Buffalo | 35.8g |
| 8 Count Wings - Honey Chipotle | 37.3g |
| 8 Count Wings - House BBQ | 37.3g |
| 8 Count Wings - Buffalo | 40.1g |
| Nashville Hot Chicken Crispers | 43.5g |
| Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadilla | 49.0g |
| 8 Count Boneless Wings - Nashville Hot | 50.2g |
| 8 Count Wings - Nashville Hot | 51.2g |
Frequently asked
Does Chili's use seed oils?
Based on our menu research, Chili's cooks with: soybean oil (confirmed in Chili's ingredient/allergen disclosures). Across the 117 menu items we analyzed, it averages 12.0g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of F (Extreme Risk).
What oil does Chili's cook with?
Our research indicates: soybean oil (confirmed in Chili's ingredient/allergen disclosures). Preparation can vary by location, so treat PUFA numbers as estimates.
Does Chili's use beef tallow?
No. Our research indicates Chili's cooks with soybean oil (confirmed in Chili's ingredient/allergen disclosures), not beef tallow. For chains that fry in tallow or other real fats, see Tallow Watch.
Is Chili's seed oil free?
No. Our research indicates Chili's cooks with soybean oil (confirmed in Chili's ingredient/allergen disclosures), which includes seed oils. See the lower-PUFA orders above for the cleanest picks.
What is the safest thing to order at Chili's?
Sweet Chili Zing is the lowest-PUFA item we analyzed at Chili's, at an estimated 0.0g PUFA. See the Safest Orders list on this page for more options.
What should I avoid at Chili's?
8 Count Wings - Nashville Hot is the highest-PUFA item we analyzed at Chili's, at an estimated 51.2g PUFA. Fried items and creamy, mayo-based sauces are usually the heaviest.
What are seed oils?
Seed oils — canola, soybean, sunflower, corn, and similar vegetable oils — are extracted from seeds using high heat and chemical solvents. They are very high in polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs), which are unstable at cooking temperatures and can oxidize easily. Many health-conscious eaters choose to minimize seed oils and prefer foods cooked in beef tallow, butter, coconut oil, or olive oil instead. This page shows estimated PUFA grams per menu item to help you make more informed choices. These are estimates — actual values vary by preparation and location. New to the topic? Start with what seed oils are and the complete list, or read the evidence on why people avoid them.
Compare other chains
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See where Chili's lands on the full Seed Oil Index, or check which chains cook in real fats on Tallow Watch. Wondering about a specific dish instead? The Is It Seed Oil food guide answers it for 200+ everyday foods, and the distributor oils page covers what independent restaurants fry in.