Wendy’s Style Chili Recipe

This Wendy’s Style Chili is a hearty homemade chili made with ground beef, tomatoes, kidney beans, pinto beans, vegetables, and mild chili seasonings. Simmered on the stove until rich and flavorful for a comforting dinner.

Prep Time20

Cook Time1 10

Total Time1 30

Course: Dinner, Soup

Cuisine: American

Keyword: chili recipes, ground beef

Servings:

Author: Sandy Clifton

Equipment

Ingredients

2 pounds Ground Beef
1 medium Yellow Onion diced
½ cup Green Bell Pepper diced
½ cup Celery diced
2 14.5-ounce cans Diced Tomatoes undrained
1 15-ounce can Crushed Tomatoes
1 15-ounce can Tomato Sauce
1 15-ounce can Kidney Beans drained and rinsed
1 15-ounce can Pinto Beans drained and rinsed
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
4 Tablespoons Chili Powder (not the hot variety)
2 teaspoons Ground Cumin
2 teaspoons Onion Powder
2 teaspoons Garlic Powder
1 ½ teaspoons Salt
½ teaspoon Black Pepper
2 teaspoons Granulated Sugar

Garnish

Chopped Cilantro
Cheese

Instructions

Brown the Meat

Heat a large Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it into small crumbles, until browned and cooked through.
Drain off all but 2 Tablespoons of the excess grease.

Cook the Vegetables

Add the onion, green bell pepper, and celery. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften.
Add the chili powder, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and sugar. Stir well.
Add the diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, kidney beans, pinto beans, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir well to combine.

Simmer

Bring the chili to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low or medium-low.
Partially cover the pot and simmer for 60 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and the chili has thickened.

Serve

Stir well and taste. Add additional salt if needed. Serve hot with your favorite chili toppings.

Notes

This chili is intentionally mild. Add cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper if you prefer a spicier chili.
Shortcut: Use 2 packets McCormick Chili Seasoning Mix in place of the chili powder, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
For smaller beef crumbles similar to restaurant-style chili, break the ground beef up well while browning it.
Suggested toppings include chopped cilantro, shredded Cheddar cheese, sour cream, diced onion, green onions, avocado, and tortilla chips.

Slow Cooker Option: Brown and drain the ground beef, then add it to a 6-quart or larger slow cooker with the remaining ingredients. Cook on Low for 6 hours or High for 3 hours, or until the vegetables are tender.

Nutrition