Description
Wendy’s chili recreates comfort in a bowl with hearty ground beef and robust beans. Home cooks can easily master this classic recipe, bringing restaurant-style warmth to their kitchen with simple ingredients and straightforward preparation.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 2 pounds (907 grams) fresh ground beef
Beans and Tomato Base:
- 1 quart (946 milliliters) tomato juice
- 1 (29-ounce/822 grams) can tomato puree
- 1 (15-ounce/425 grams) can red kidney beans, drained
- 1 (15-ounce/425 grams) can pinto beans, drained
Spices and Vegetables:
- 1 medium-large onion, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups/225 grams)
- 1/2 cup (75 grams) diced celery
- 1/4 cup (38 grams) diced green bell pepper
- 1/4 cup (30 grams) chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Thoroughly brown ground beef in a large skillet, ensuring complete separation of meat particles and releasing optimal flavor.
- Carefully drain excess fat from the browned meat using a colander or strainer to reduce unnecessary greasiness.
- Transfer browned beef into a substantial 6-quart cooking pot, incorporating all remaining ingredients with precision.
- Blend ingredients thoroughly, ensuring even distribution of spices and vegetables throughout the mixture.
- Cover the pot and allow chili to gently simmer at low heat for approximately 1 to 1½ hours, periodically stirring every 15 minutes to prevent bottom scorching.
- For slow cooker method, set temperature to low and allow chili to develop rich flavors over 3 to 4 hours, occasionally stirring to maintain consistent texture.
- Taste and adjust seasoning as needed before serving, ensuring balanced and robust flavor profile.
Notes
- Trim excess fat from ground beef before browning to reduce greasiness and enhance flavor concentration.
- Use fresh beans and tomatoes for a more vibrant and robust chili taste, avoiding canned ingredients when possible.
- Adjust spice levels by gradually adding chili powder and red pepper flakes, tasting as you go to control heat intensity.
- For a leaner version, substitute ground turkey or plant-based meat alternatives without compromising the classic chili texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 240 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 430 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg