Description
Wendy’s chili recipe brings hearty comfort to home kitchens with its classic blend of ground beef, beans, and signature spices. Simmered to perfection, this copycat dish delivers restaurant-style satisfaction that you can easily recreate in your own kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (907 g) ground beef (fresh)
- 29 oz (822 g) tomato purée
- 1 quart (946 ml) tomato juice
- 15 oz (425 g) red kidney beans (drained)
- 15 oz (425 g) pinto beans (drained)
- 1 ½ cups (225 g) onion (chopped (medium-large onion))
- ¼ cup (30 g) chili powder (use less for milder chili)
- ½ cup (75 g) celery (diced)
- ¼ cup (40 g) green bell pepper (diced)
- 1 ½ tsps garlic powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin (use more for real flavor)
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp sugar
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Meat Preparation: Sizzle ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat, methodically breaking it into fine, consistent crumbles. Meticulously drain excess grease to ensure a rich, non-greasy texture.
- Flavor Fusion: Combine cooked beef in a large pot with tomato juice, tomato purée, kidney beans, pinto beans, diced onion, chopped celery, diced bell pepper, and a robust spice medley including chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, oregano, sugar, and cayenne pepper. Thoroughly blend ingredients to create a harmonious flavor profile.
- Slow Simmering: For stovetop method, cover and let chili gently simmer on low heat for 90 minutes, stirring intermittently to prevent scorching and allow flavors to meld. Alternatively, use a slow cooker on low setting for 3-4 hours, occasionally stirring to maintain optimal consistency.
- Finishing Touch: Adjust seasoning to taste. Elevate the dish with optional garnishes like shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped green onions, or crunchy tortilla chips. Serve steaming hot and relish the deep, complex flavors.
Notes
- Meat Selection Matters: Choose lean ground beef (85/15 or 90/10) to reduce excess grease and enhance overall chili texture.
- Precise Crumbling Technique: Break beef into small, uniform pieces while cooking to ensure even flavor distribution and consistent mouthfeel.
- Slow Cooking Secrets: Longer simmering time allows spices to develop deeper, more complex flavors and helps tenderize meat thoroughly.
- Bean Balance Boost: Drain and rinse canned beans to control sodium levels and prevent unwanted liquid dilution in your chili.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg