Description
Wendy’s signature chili recipe brings hearty comfort straight from American kitchens to dinner tables nationwide. Rich ground beef, tender beans, and a perfectly balanced spice blend create a soul-warming meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 2 pounds (907 grams) ground beef
Vegetables:
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Canned Goods and Seasonings:
- 2 (14.5 ounces / 411 grams) cans diced tomatoes
- 1 (16 ounces / 454 grams) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (16 ounces / 454 grams) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15 ounces / 425 grams) can tomato sauce
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) beef broth
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Brown ground beef in a large pot over medium heat, meticulously crumbling the meat while cooking to ensure even texture.
- Incorporate chopped onions, green bell peppers, and minced garlic into the meat, sautéing until vegetables become translucent and tender, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Pour diced tomatoes, kidney beans, pinto beans, tomato sauce, and beef broth into the pot, stirring thoroughly to create a uniform mixture.
- Sprinkle chili powder, cumin, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper across the surface, gently folding spices into the chili to distribute evenly.
- Reduce heat to low, allowing chili to simmer uncovered for 60-90 minutes, periodically stirring to prevent bottom scorching and enable flavor melding.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if needed, ensuring balanced spice profile and rich depth of flavor.
- Remove from heat and let rest for 10 minutes to allow flavors to further integrate and sauce to slightly thicken.
- Ladle into warm bowls, optionally garnishing with shredded cheese or chopped green onions for additional texture and visual appeal.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef to reduce excess grease and create a healthier version of the classic chili.
- For a vegetarian twist, replace ground beef with plant-based meat alternatives or extra beans for protein.
- Slow cooker method works perfectly – transfer ingredients after browning beef and let simmer on low for 6-8 hours for deeper flavor infusion.
- Enhance texture by roughly chopping tomatoes instead of using pre-diced for a more rustic, homemade feel.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 289 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 438 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg