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Delicious home-cooked Wendy's chili recipe served in a bowl with toppings.

Wendy's Chili

A hearty and comforting chili inspired by Wendy's famous recipe, featuring two types of beans and a rich blend of spices for a perfect weeknight meal.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 350
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 2 pounds ground beef Can also use 1 pound for a smaller batch.
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 1 green bell pepper, diced (optional) Optional but recommended.
  • 2 cans diced tomatoes
  • 1 can tomato sauce
  • 1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
Spice Blend
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • garlic powder A few shakes.
  • onion powder A few shakes.
  • salt To taste.
  • pepper To taste.
  • a pinch sugar Optional, to balance acidity.
  • cayenne pepper Optional for more kick.

Method
 

Cooking
  1. Brown the beef in a large pot. Break it up and let it cook until it gets a nice color. Drain excess grease if needed.
  2. Add the diced onion and bell pepper to the pot. Cook for about 5 minutes until the vegetables soften.
  3. Stir in the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, kidney beans, and pinto beans. Mix well.
  4. Season the chili with the spice blend. Start with the recommended amounts and adjust to taste.
  5. Let the chili simmer on low heat for at least 30 minutes, but ideally for 60 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.

Notes

This chili tastes even better the next day. It's perfect for meal prep, and you can add toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream, and green onions for a delicious finish.