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Wendy's Copycat Chili

A hearty and satisfying chili recipe that captures the flavors of Wendy's famous chili without the drive-thru.
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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: 300
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 lb ground beef Regular ground beef is recommended.
  • 1 can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can diced tomatoes
  • 1 can tomato sauce
  • 1 cup chopped onions
  • 1 cup bell peppers, chopped
  • 1 cup celery, chopped
Seasonings
  • 2 tblsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • 1 tblsp sugar Balances the acidity of tomatoes.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. In a large pot, brown the ground beef over medium heat until fully cooked. Drain off excess fat.
  2. Add the chopped onions, bell peppers, and celery to the pot. Sauté until softened.
  3. Stir in the pinto beans, kidney beans, diced tomatoes, and tomato sauce.
Cooking
  1. Add chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper, and sugar to the pot. Stir well to combine.
  2. Bring the mixture to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and let it cook for at least an hour, stirring occasionally.
  3. Adjust thickness with water or broth if necessary.

Notes

Feel free to modify by adding other vegetables or swapping out beans. It freezes well for later meals.