Description
Wendy’s chili brings comfort and warmth to classic American comfort cuisine. Hearty beef, tender beans, and signature spices create a satisfying meal perfect for chilly days and casual dining enjoyment you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 2 lbs (900 g) ground beef
- 1 (15 oz / 425 g) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15 oz / 425 g) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
Vegetables and Tomato Base:
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 1 (28 oz / 800 g) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 (14 oz / 400 g) can tomato sauce
- 1 (10 oz / 280 g) can diced tomatoes with green chilies (e.g., Rotel)
Seasonings and Liquid:
- 1 cup (240 ml) water
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef in a spacious pot over medium flame, crumbling it thoroughly while cooking. Eliminate excess grease through careful draining.
- Introduce diced onions, green bell peppers, and celery into the beef-filled pot. Sauté the vegetables until they transform into a soft, translucent mixture, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Pour in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, fire-roasted tomatoes with green chilies, and water. Stir the liquid components to create a harmonious base.
- Integrate kidney and pinto beans into the simmering mixture. Sprinkle chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper across the surface. Mix thoroughly to distribute seasonings evenly.
- Escalate the temperature momentarily to trigger boiling, then immediately reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Cover the pot and allow the chili to develop deep, rich flavors for approximately 1-1.5 hours. Occasionally stir to prevent ingredient settlement.
- Transfer the aromatic chili into serving bowls. Enhance the presentation with optional garnishes like shredded cheese, dollops of sour cream, freshly chopped green onions, or crisp oyster crackers.
Notes
- Optimize browning by using high-quality ground beef with moderate fat content for deeper flavor development.
- Drain excess fat thoroughly to prevent greasy chili, using a colander or paper towels to remove unwanted oil.
- Enhance vegetable preparation by finely dicing onions, peppers, and celery to ensure even cooking and better texture integration.
- Experiment with bean variations like black beans or cannellini for unique taste profiles and added nutritional diversity.
- Control spice levels by adjusting cayenne pepper and chili powder amounts, allowing customization for different heat tolerances.
- Maximize flavor depth by allowing chili to rest overnight, which helps ingredients meld and intensify taste complexities.
- Consider using a slow cooker for more convenient, hands-off cooking method with consistent temperature and minimal stirring required.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 153
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 477 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 42 mg