Chili’s Rewards Program | How It Works, Birthday Rewards

Q: How much does My Chili’s Rewards cost?

Membership is completely free. Customers can create an account and start receiving benefits without paying any membership fees.

Q: What do I get free at Chili’s with rewards?

At participating locations, members who spend at least $5 on qualifying food or drinks can receive free chips and salsa or a non-alcoholic beverage. Members may also receive a birthday dessert once per year and access to Kids Eat Free during active promotional periods.

Q: How do I get free chips and salsa at Chili’s?

Sign up for My Chili’s Rewards and make a qualifying purchase of at least $5 on food or beverages at a participating location. Tell your server that you are a My Chili’s Rewards member before your order is placed.

Q: How do I get my birthday reward at Chili’s?

My Chili’s Rewards members may receive a free dessert during their birthday month. Add your birthday to your profile at least 7 days before your birthday month starts. The page states that the reward requires an entrée purchase to redeem.

Q: Can I use Chili’s Rewards for takeout?

The page states that qualifying rewards can be used for dine-in, online orders through the Chili’s website or mobile app, and To Go orders, subject to participating-location availability.

Q: What is the minimum purchase for Chili’s Rewards?

The page states that a minimum food or beverage purchase of $5.00, excluding taxes, tips and donations, is required for standard benefits such as free chips and salsa.

By RestaurantmenuInsight.com | Last verified: August 27, 2026 | Not affiliated with Brinker International

My Chili’s Rewards is the official loyalty program offered by Chili’s Grill and Bar. It is free to join, requires no credit card, and delivers active benefits on almost every visit. Members earn points automatically and receive offers digitally through the app, email, or SMS. Chili’s offers run year-round free chips and salsa on every qualifying visit, a free birthday dessert every year, Kids Eat Free for rewards members, and a $6 Margarita of the Month available all day every day.This page covers exactly how the program works, how to sign up in under two minutes, every benefit with honest eligibility caveats, the value calculation per visit, the birthday reward step-by-step, the Kids Eat Free connection, and the rewards expiration rules most people miss.

What Are My Chili’s Rewards?

My Chili’s is the official rewards and loyalty program offered by Chili’s Grill and Bar. Membership is free and provides access to member-only perks, personalized offers, birthday rewards, and surprise giveaways.

My Chili’s Rewards is a free loyalty program that provides digital benefits after enrollment. Members receive standard perks like free chips and salsa with a $5 qualifying purchase and a birthday dessert. Additional personalized bonus offers are sent through the app or email.

Benefit	What You Get	Requirement
Free Chips and Salsa	Every qualifying visit	$5+ food or beverage purchase
Welcome Bonus	60 bonus points on sign-up	Free, immediate on enrollment
Birthday Reward	Free dessert during birthday month	Birthday added to profile at least 7 days before birthday month
Kids Eat Free	One free kids meal per adult entrée	Active My Chili’s Rewards membership, promotional periods
Personalized Offers	Targeted discounts via app or email	Opted in during sign-up
One-Tap Reordering	Faster checkout through app	Active membership and app

Is My Chili’s Rewards Free?

Yes, membership is completely free. There is no cost to join the My Chili’s Rewards Program. Customers can create an account and start receiving benefits without paying any membership fees. No credit card required. No subscription. No annual fee. You sign up with an email address and phone number and the benefits activate on your next qualifying visit.

Who Can Join My Chili’s Rewards?

The program is available to U.S. residents who are at least 18 years old and have an active email and phone number.

Full eligibility requirements:

1You must be a legal resident of one of the 50 U.S. states. You must be at least 18 years old at the time of enrollment. You must have a valid U.S. postal address. You must provide an active email address and phone number.

2The 18-year-old age requirement is the one most people miss. The program is not available to minors regardless of parental consent. All benefits including free chips and salsa and birthday rewards are restricted to enrolled adult members.

How to Sign Up for My Chili’s Rewards | Step by Step

Download the Chili’s app on iOS or Android or visit chilis.com/rewards. Sign up with your email address and phone number. Receive 60 bonus points immediately on sign-up enough for your first free chips and salsa. Complete enrollment guide:

1Download the free Chili’s app from the App Store or Google Play, or go directly to chilis.com/rewards on any browser.

2Select “Join Now” and enter your name, email address, and phone number. All three are required for enrollment.

3Create a password and confirm your account through the verification email sent to your inbox.

4Add your birthday to your profile. Adding your birthday during signup ensures you receive the birthday dessert reward during your birthday month. Do this immediately after creating the account, the birthday reward requires the date to be on file at least 7 days before your birthday month starts.

5Enable notifications through the app. Enable notifications to receive special offers. This is optional but the way most personalized offers and promotional surprises get delivered. Members who disable notifications consistently miss the highest-value offers.

6Receive 60 bonus points immediately on sign-up, enough for your first free chips and salsa. The 60 bonus points appear in your account within minutes of completing enrollment.

My Chili’s Rewards Benefits | Every Perk Explained

Free Chips and Salsa | The Core Benefit

1Simply signing up for Chili’s rewards program will earn you a free serving of chips and salsa on every visit where you spend at least $5 on other foods and beverages.

2This is the most consistently valuable benefit in the program and the reason most people sign up. Each time you visit a participating Chili’s location and spend at least $5 on food or drinks, you earn your choice of either free chips and salsa or a non-alcoholic beverage. This offer is available whether you dine in, order online through the Chili’s website or mobile app, or place a To Go order.

The honest caveats:

1The $5 minimum purchase excludes taxes, tips, and donations. The minimum spend requirement applies at participating U.S. locations only. Not every Chili’s franchise participates confirms your specific location supports the rewards program before relying on it.

2To maintain your eligibility for this reward, you may be required to visit a Chili’s location at least once every 45 days. Accounts that go inactive for 45 or more days may lose standard reward eligibility. You also have to order from Chili’s at least once in a 60-day period to maintain membership status.

How to redeem:

Rewards are digital and redeemed via the Chili’s app, tabletop device, or by informing your server before paying. Only one reward can be redeemed per transaction. Tell your server you are a My Chili’s Rewards member before your order is placed. Do not wait until the check arrives.

Annual value calculation:

Chili’s Chips and Salsa costs $7.29 à la carte. If you eat at Chili’s twice per month, the free chips and salsa benefit saves approximately $174.96 per year. Even at one visit per month, the annual savings are $87.48 in free food. That is the clearest value argument for joining the program.

Welcome Bonus | 60 Points on Sign-Up

Receive 60 bonus points immediately on sign-up, enough for your first free chips and salsa. These points appear in your account within minutes of completing enrollment and can be redeemed on your very next qualifying visit. There is no waiting period.

Birthday Reward | Free Dessert

Members receive a birthday dessert reward during their birthday celebration. Whether you prefer Molten Chocolate Cake or brownie sundae, the birthday reward covers one of Chili’s signature desserts.
My Chili’s Rewards members receive a free dessert during their birthday month — no need to dine on your exact birthday. The offer is automatically added to your rewards account and delivered via the app or email. The birthday dessert offer typically covers one of Chili’s signature desserts historically the Molten Chocolate Cake.

Complete birthday reward guide:

The birthday dessert is valid for your entire birthday month, not just your exact birthday date. This means if your birthday falls on a Saturday and you cannot eat at Chili’s that day, you have the full month to redeem it.
Members who provide their birthdate may receive a special birthday reward during their birthday month. Add your birthday to your profile at least 7 days before your birthday month begins. Adding it on the first day of your birthday month is too late for that year.
The birthday dessert offer is valid for dine-in at participating locations and requires an entrée purchase. The birthday dessert is not a standalone free item. You need to order at least one full-priced entrée to redeem it.

Redemption:The reward appears automatically in your app during your birthday month. Show your server the reward in the app before the check is closed. Do not wait until after paying.

Value:The Molten Chocolate Cake costs $10.29 at most locations. The birthday reward delivers $10.29 in free dessert once per year with an entrée purchase. For the cost of joining (zero dollars), that is a 100 percent return on investment on the birthday benefit alone.

Kids Eat Free

Kids Eat Free for rewards members. When the Kids Eat Free promotion is active through My Chili’s Rewards, members receive one free Pepper Pals® meal (including a side and drink) with every qualifying adult entrée purchase.

Full Kids Eat Free guide:

The promotion is not always active year-round. It runs during specific promotional periods determined by Brinker International and individual franchise operators. Check the Chili’s app or sign up for email notifications to know when Kids Eat Free is live at your location.
One free kids meal per adult entrée per visit. Not unlimited kids meals. Not valid on the kids meal alone without an adult entrée purchase.
Available for dine-in and online orders at participating locations. Not all Chili’s franchise locations participate. Call your specific restaurant to confirm participation before making a trip specifically for this promotion.

Age cutoff: 12 and under, matching the Pepper Pals® menu age eligibility.:

Value calculation:The Pepper Pals® meals run $6.49 to $6.99 with a side and drink included. Families with one child who eat at Chili’s monthly during an active Kids Eat Free promotion save approximately $77.88 to $83.88 per year on kids meals alone.

Personalized Offers

Additional personalized bonus offers may be sent through email, SMS, or the Chili’s mobile app. These are targeted promotions based on your dining history and preferences. Common personalized offers include discounted Triple Dipper® orders, bonus points on specific items, early access to new menu items, and limited-time free item promotions. Chili’s sometimes sends targeted promotions based on dining habits. Offers are typically delivered through email or app notifications. Members who enable notifications through the app receive significantly more personalized offers than members who rely only on email. The honest note: personalized offers vary widely by individual dining history and are not guaranteed. Two members who joined on the same day may receive completely different offers based on what they have ordered in the past.

One-Tap Reordering

You will have access to one-tap reordering through Chili’s mobile app, which makes ordering your favorite meals faster and more convenient. The app saves your previous orders and allows reordering with a single tap. The most underrated practical benefit of the program for people who order the same Chili’s items regularly.

How My Chili’s Rewards Points Work

Every $1 spent on eligible menu items earns reward points that go straight to the customer’s online account, which accumulates for use on future purchases. The standard earning rate: $1 spent on eligible food and beverage equals 1 reward point. Points accumulate in your account and can be redeemed for rewards from the Chili’s rewards catalog through the app. What counts as eligible spending: food and beverage purchases at participating US Chili’s locations. Taxes, tips, alcohol (at some locations), and donations do not count toward points earned.

Where to check your points balance:

The Chili’s app also made it easier for loyalty members to keep track of points and redeem rewards, making Chili’s the first restaurant of its caliber to hand control of account management to the customer. Open the Chili’s app and navigate to the rewards section. Your current points balance and available rewards are displayed on the main account screen.

Rewards Expiration | What You Need to Know

Most rewards have expiration dates, typically within 30 days of issuance. Some rewards and promotional offers may expire if not redeemed within the specified timeframe.

The expiration rules that most people miss:

1Individual reward offers (personalized offers, bonus point promotions, special event rewards) typically expire within 30 days of being issued. The expiration date is listed in the specific offer details inside the app.

2The birthday reward expires at the end of your birthday month. If your birthday is in October, the reward expires October 31. No extension is available after the month ends.

3Account inactivity: To maintain your eligibility for this reward, you may be required to visit a Chili’s location at least once every 45 days. You have to order from Chili’s at least once in a 60-day period. Accounts that go inactive for 45 to 60 days may lose standard benefit eligibility.

4Standard program perks (free chips and salsa on qualifying visits) remain active as long as the membership is in good standing and the minimum spend conditions are met.

The practical advice:Check the Chili’s app at least once per month to review available rewards and their expiration dates. Rewards sitting unused and expiring in your account are the most common complaint from members who get less value from the program than they expected.

How to Redeem Chili’s Rewards

Rewards are digital and redeemed via the Chili’s app, tabletop device, or by informing your server before paying. Only one reward can be redeemed per transaction.

Three redemption methods:

Method 1 – Chili’s App:Open the app at your table. Navigate to the rewards section. Select the reward you want to use. Show the screen to your server or scan at the tabletop device before your check is finalized.

Method 2 – Tabletop Device:Many Chili’s dining rooms have tabletop devices (Ziosk or similar). Log into your My Chili’s Rewards account through the device and select your reward before paying.

Method 3 – Tell Your Server:You can provide your phone number or account when dining. Tell your server you are a My Chili’s Rewards member before ordering and they can apply your reward through the POS system. This method works but requires you to know your account phone number or member ID.

The one reward per transaction rule is the most practically important limitation. You cannot stack a free chips and salsa reward with a birthday dessert reward in the same transaction. Plan accordingly.

My Chili’s Rewards | Value Calculation

Here is the honest math on what the program is worth per year for different dining frequencies:

1One visit per month: Free Chips and Salsa savings: $7.29 x 12 = $87.48 per year Birthday Dessert savings: $10.29 once per year Total annual value: approximately $97.77 at zero cost

2Two visits per month: Free Chips and Salsa savings: $7.29 x 24 = $174.96 per year Birthday Dessert savings: $10.29 once per year Total annual value: approximately $185.25 at zero cost

3Weekly visits: Free Chips and Salsa savings: $7.29 x 52 = $379.08 per year Birthday Dessert savings: $10.29 once per year Total annual value: approximately $389.37 at zero cost

Every calculation assumes the free chips and salsa benefit applies on every qualifying visit (minimum $5 food and beverage purchase). The program pays for itself in saved money on the very first visit.

My Chili’s Rewards vs Competitor Loyalty Programs

Factor	My Chili’s Rewards	Applebee’s Rewards	Denny’s Rewards
Cost to join	Free	Free	Free
Free item every visit	Yes, chips and salsa	No	No
Birthday reward	Free dessert	Varies	Varies
Minimum spend for reward	$5 food or beverage	Higher minimum	Varies
App required	Yes (or website)	Yes	Yes
Points per dollar	Yes	Yes	Yes
Kids Eat Free integration	Yes	Limited	No
Chain health 2026	Thriving – 31% sales growth	Struggling	Mixed

The most important line:My Chili’s Rewards is one of the very few restaurant loyalty programs that delivers a tangible free item on every qualifying visit rather than requiring a long accumulation period before any reward materializes. The free chips and salsa benefit activates starting on your first qualifying visit after sign-up. Most loyalty programs require weeks or months of spending before the first redemption. Chili’s delivers on visit one.

Common My Chili’s Rewards Issues & How to Fix Them

These are the most frequently reported problems and their solutions:

1Problem: Free chips and salsa not showing up

Most likely cause:Account is past the 45 to 60 day inactivity window, or the minimum $5 qualifying purchase threshold was not met. Solution: Check the app to confirm your account is active and that your purchase qualifies (excludes taxes, tips, and donations).

2Problem: Birthday reward not in the app

Most likely cause:Birthday was not added to the profile at least 7 days before the birthday month started, or the birthday field was left blank during sign-up. Solution: Add your birthday now for next year. There is no way to retroactively receive a missed birthday reward.

3Problem: Reward expired before redemption

Most likely cause:The 30-day expiration window on individual offers was missed, or the birthday month ended. Solution: Enable app notifications so expiring rewards trigger alerts. Check the app weekly rather than monthly.

4Problem: Location not accepting rewards

Most likely cause:Individual franchise locations have the option not to participate in the rewards program. Solution: Call ahead to confirm your specific location is a participating rewards location before making a visit specifically for a reward

5Problem: Cannot stack two rewards This is not a problem, it is the program rule. Only one reward can be redeemed per transaction. Plan which reward to use before ordering rather than trying to apply multiple rewards at checkout.

Stacking My Chili’s Rewards With Other Deals

The maximum value strategy for a single Chili’s visit using rewards plus existing deals:

1The 3 For Me® deal at $10.99 base tier is available alongside the My Chili’s Rewards program. A member who orders the 3 For Me® at $10.99 (which includes Chips and Salsa as the starter option) and applies the My Chili’s Rewards free chips and salsa benefit is effectively getting the Chips and Salsa both as part of the deal and as the reward redemption but only one redemption applies per transaction.

2The smarter stack: Order the 3 For Me® with Side House Salad as the starter (the lighter option), then separately redeem the free chips and salsa reward as an add-on to the table. The 3 For Me® covers the entrée value and the free chips and salsa reward adds the starter without using up the included 3 For Me® starter slot on chips. This gives you the Side House Salad starter plus free chips and salsa as a table appetizer in one visit.

3During the Kids Eat Free promotion: a family of two adults and one child gets one 3 For Me® deal at $10.99, one regular entrée at whatever price, free chips and salsa through the rewards program, and one free kids meal through the Kids Eat Free promotion. The combined value of free items in one visit exceeds $20 on a table bill of approximately $25 to $30 before drinks.

My Chili’s Rewards FAQs

What are My Chili’s Rewards?

How much does My Chili’s Rewards cost?

Yes, membership is completely free. Customers can create an account and start receiving benefits without paying any membership fees.

How do I sign up for My Chili’s Rewards?

Download the Chili’s app on iOS or Android or visit chilis.com/rewards. Sign up with your email address and phone number. Receive 60 bonus points immediately on sign-up.

What do I get free at Chili’s with rewards?

Each time you visit a participating Chili’s location and spend at least $5 on food or drinks, you earn your choice of either free chips and salsa or a non-alcoholic beverage. Plus a free birthday dessert once per year and access to Kids Eat Free during active promotional periods.

How do I get free chips and salsa at Chili’s?

Simply sign up for Chili’s rewards program to earn a free serving of chips and salsa on every visit where you spend at least $5 on other foods and beverages. Tell your server you are a My Chili’s Rewards member before your order is placed.

How do I get my birthday reward at Chili’s?

My Chili’s Rewards members receive a free dessert during their birthday month. The offer is automatically added to your rewards account and delivered via the app or email. Add your birthday to your profile at least 7 days before your birthday month starts. The reward requires an entrée purchase to redeem.

Do Chili’s Rewards expire?

Most rewards have expiration dates, typically within 30 days of issuance. The birthday reward expires at the end of your birthday month. Enable app notifications to catch expiring rewards before they lapse.

Can I use Chili’s Rewards for takeout?

This offer is available whether you dine in, order online through the Chili’s website or mobile app, or place a To Go order. The free chips and salsa benefit applies to qualifying online and takeout orders placed through the Chili’s app and website.

How do I check my Chili’s Rewards points balance?

Open the Chili’s app and navigate to the rewards section. Your current points balance and available rewards are displayed on the main account screen. The Chili’s app made it easier for loyalty members to keep track of points and redeem rewards.

What is the minimum purchase for Chili’s Rewards?

A minimum food or beverage purchase of $5.00 excluding taxes, tips, and donations is required to redeem standard benefits such as free chips and salsa.

About This Page

RestaurantmenuInsight.com is an independent guide and not affiliated with Brinker International or Chili’s Grill & Bar. Menu options, prices & availability may varies by location, so please check with your local restaurant before ordering.