12 Chili’s Menu Hacks You Haven’t Heard Before!

These secret Chili’s Menu Hacks and little-known Chili’s restaurant specials will help you save money, all while indulging in your menu favorites at Chili’s!

Then… have fun saving even more money while eating out when you try these genius Applebee’s Menu Hacks!

Chili’s Menu Hacks + Copycat Recipes

I love finding new ways to get deals at my favorite restaurants.  And for me, scoring a deal also makes the food taste a whole lot better!

Who doesn’t love to Eat out Cheap?

Plus, when you save money with Chili’s restaurant specials, it means you can enjoy even more of your favorite foods.

You know the ones… I’m talking about those ridiculously delicious wings and that dreamy queso.  I can almost taste the Skillet Queso even now! YUM!!

So don’t overpay.  There’s no need to.  Now you can enjoy more of your favorite foods at Chili’s for a discount.

Sometimes even free!

Make sure you know the very best Chili’s Menu Hacks before you place that next order!

Here’s what you need to know BEFORE you go…

Related: 30 Eat Out Cheap Ideas

#1. Sign Up For Free Chili’s Chips and Salsa Right Now!

Did you know that you can score a Free Chips & Salsa or Guacamole or Queso at Chili’s when you sign up for My Chili’s Rewards?

Sign up now! Then look for the email offering your freebie after you sign up!

Next, be on the lookout for even more Chili’s restaurant specials and deals.  Deals including deals kids eat free, free desserts, free appetizers and more.

#2: Then Ask For More Free Chili’s Chips & Salsa To Go, So You Have Some to Take Home!

Ordering chips and salsa with your meal?

The Chili’s Chips and Salsa are FREE… with a minimum $5 purchase and if you’re a My Chili’s Rewards Member.

In addition to enjoying the bottomless chips and salsa with your dinner, make sure you ask for extras… to go!

You can either enjoy them later that night, or as a fun free snack the next day!

Dawn writes: “If you get the unlimited chips and salsa, you can ask for a bag of chips (they are a large bag of them) and a container of salsa to go also with your order.”

#3: Don’t Want Chips?  Get a Free Drink With Every Order!

Another perk as a Chili’s Rewards member is you can get a free drink with every order, if you choose to SKIP the chips and salsa.

Just remember… you’ll need to make a minimum $5 purchase to take advantage of this deal.

Then you can choose from a free select drink like Coke, Dr. Pepper, Sprite, Lemonade, or Tea.

Yes, please!

#4. Score a Free Chili’s Birthday Dessert!

You can also score a Free Dessert on your birthday when you sign up for My Chili’s Rewards.

Don’t forget to enter your birthdate. It’s an optional field.

This will ensure you get your Birthday Freebie from Chili’s each year!

Related: 101 Birthday Freebies

#5. Take Advantage of Chili’s Kids Eat Free!

Did you know that Chili’s lets kids 12 and under eat free?

To take advantage of this Chili’s Kids Eat Free loyalty special, get started by signing up for Chili’s Rewards to be eligible to receive Chili’s Kids Eat Free offers.

Then when you receive your offer, simply purchase an adult sized entree for each kids meal.

Cha-Ching!

#6. Order Off the Chili’s Kids Menu to Save BIG!  (Even Adults Can)

Did you know that Chili’s is very generous when it comes to kids meals, too?

According to two different employees I spoke with at two different Chili’s restaurants near me, there are NO age restrictions when it comes to ordering off the kids menu.  They said anyone is allowed to order anything they want off the menu!

So, if you’re not too hungry or just want to save some cash, ask your local restaurant if you can order a delicious meal off the kids menu and save a bundle!

This is one of my favorite Chili’s Restaurant Hacks!

#7. Save Even More with the 10% off Chili’s Senior Discount!

Most Chili’s locations also offer a senior discount.  However not all are required to participate.

So before ordering, just ask your server if your local restaurant offers a senior discount.

The Chili’s restaurant near me gives 10% off anything you order… just for asking!

Related: BIG List of Senior Discounts

#8. Save BIG When You Order Off The Chili’s Lunch Menu!

Did you know that you can save BIG when you go early and order from the Chili’s Lunch Menu before 4pm?

Not only will you save a significant amount on the smaller sized portions, but you’ll also likely miss the crowds!

The lunch menu is typically available Monday through Friday, 11am – 4pm.

#9. Skip The Overpriced Chili’s Drinks, and Order Water

Did you know that Chili’s drinks have some of the highest markup?

You’ll save some of the most money when you skip ordering drinks and simply order water instead.  Just wait until you get home to treat yourself to your favorite drink.

Using this Chili’s Menu Hack to skip the overpriced Chili’s drinks is like putting money in your bank account.

Or at least keeping it there!

#10. Don’t Leave Room For The Chili’s Dessert!

Like Chili’s drinks, the desserts have some of the highest markups on the Chili’s menu.  So skipping the overpriced and super expensive Chili’s desserts is exceptionally savvy.  Trust me, you can do so much better than spending $8.50 for a dwarf sized dessert!

Just wait until you get home to enjoy one of your favorite desserts instead.

Don’t have any dessert at home?  Try stopping by Panera for a gourmet cookie, or head to the back of Whole Foods to the bakery for a delicious gourmet French or Italian style dessert.  Most of these desserts will cost less than half the price of a Chili’s dessert.

So make sure you master the Chili’s menu… and don’t get sucked into the overpriced drinks and desserts!

#11. Don’t Leave Home Without Knowing the Best Current Chili’s Restaurant Specials and Promotions

Before you head to Chili’s, be sure to check the Chili’s website or Facebook page to see what deals and promotions they’re running.

You’ll save more money when you time your visit for when they have a promotion for what you already want to order…. like the popular Mango-Chile Chicken or the Caribbean Salad with Seared Shrimp!!  YUM!

#12. Skip the Uber Eats, and Take Advantage of the FREE Chili’s Curbside Pickup!

Don’t want to go inside your local Chili’s?  Don’t want to pay those hefty Uber Eats fees?  You can also take advantage of FREE curbside pickup at select restaurants!

Call ahead to see if your local Chili’s offers this service.

Then follow the website instructions for how to pickup the items you’ve ordered!

#13. Or Stay Home Tonight, and Make Some Chili’s Copycat Recipes!

If you’re looking for the Chili’s Menu Hacks that will save you the most money, consider making Chili’s style menu items at home using these popular Restaurant Copycat Recipes.

Not only do these Chili’s copycats taste as good or better than the originals… making them is also extra frugal!

Chili’s Skillet Con Queso Recipe Copycat

Fresh Guacamole

Restaurant Style Salsa

Buffalo Wings

BBQ Wings

Sweet Chili Wings

Chicken Fajitas

Slow Cooked BBQ Ribs

Texas Dry Rub for Ribs

Bacon Avocado Grilled Chicken Sandwich

Chili

Chicken Enchilada Soup

Baked Potato Soup

Mexican Rice

Mashed Potatoes

Honey Mustard Sauce

House BBQ Sauce

Honey Sriracha Sauce

Buffalo Ranch Sauce

Ranch Dressing

Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie

Bonus Tip: Get a Free Chili’s Gift Card from Swagbucks!

It’s time to start converting some of your free time into a free night out at Chili’s!  A Free Chili’s Gift Card = More of Your Very Favorite Food!

I can taste the skillet queso even now, yum!

Here’s what you need to do…

Go here to sign up for your Free Swagbucks account.

Then… start earning SB Points!  Learn about all the best ways to earn SB Points with these 16 Ways to Earn More Swagbucks SB Points.  More SB points = More Gift Cards!

More Ways To Save Money At Your Favorite Restaurants

Guess what?!?

I’ve got even more tips to help you score deals at your favorite restaurants.

When you can score this many deals, you can afford to splurge a whole lot more often…

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So do you have any favorite Chili’s Menu Hacks for scoring deals and saving money at Chili’s?

Leave a comment and share…