Description
Wendy’s chili recipe brings hearty comfort straight from fast-food kitchens to home cooking. Home chefs can recreate this classic American comfort dish with ground beef, beans, and signature spices that deliver warm, satisfying flavors you’ll crave.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 1 lb ground chuck
Vegetables:
- 1 large onion
- 2 green bell peppers
- 3 celery stalks
- 2 cloves garlic
Liquid and Seasoning:
- 1 can (15 oz/425 g) kidney beans
- 1 can (15 oz/425 g) pinto beans
- 1 can (14.5 oz/411 g) diced tomatoes
- 2 cups (480 ml) tomato sauce
- 1 cup (240 ml) water
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef and ground chuck in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking the meat into small crumbles until no pink remains, approximately 8-10 minutes.
- Drain excess fat from the meat and transfer to a large cooking pot.
- Finely dice the onion, green bell peppers, and celery, then mince the garlic cloves.
- Sauté the chopped vegetables in the same skillet used for the meat, allowing them to soften and release their aromatic flavors for about 5 minutes.
- Add the sautéed vegetables to the pot with the browned meat.
- Pour in the kidney beans, pinto beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and water, stirring to combine all ingredients thoroughly.
- Sprinkle chili powder, ground cumin, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper over the mixture, mixing well to distribute the seasonings evenly.
- Bring the chili to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and allow flavors to meld together.
- Taste and adjust seasonings if needed, ensuring a rich and balanced flavor profile.
- Serve hot, optionally garnishing with shredded cheese, sour cream, or chopped green onions.
Notes
- Opt for lean ground beef to reduce excess fat and create a healthier chili version.
- Toast spices briefly in the skillet before adding to enhance their deep, complex flavors and aromatic intensity.
- Let the chili rest overnight in the refrigerator for even more developed and concentrated taste profiles.
- Customize heat levels by adjusting cayenne pepper or adding diced jalapeños for those who enjoy spicier dishes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2-3 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg