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Wendy's-Inspired Chili: A Home Cook's Copycat

This hearty chili recipe captures the bold flavors of Wendy's classic, perfect for a comforting meal at home.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 450
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Meat
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20 blend recommended)
  • 0.5 pound ground Italian sausage (optional, for extra flavour depth)
Vegetables
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 1 green green bell pepper, finely chopped
  • 1 red red bell pepper, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
Canned Goods
  • 2 14.5 ounce diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 15 ounce tomato sauce
  • 1 6 ounce tomato paste
  • 1 15 ounce dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 15 ounce pinto beans, drained and rinsed
Spices & Seasonings
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 0.5 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 0.25 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or more, to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
Liquids
  • 2 cups beef broth (low sodium preferred)
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 0.25 cup dehydrated onion flakes (optional)

Method
 

  1. Brown ground beef and sausage in a Dutch oven; drain excess grease.
  2. Add chopped onion and peppers; sauté until softened. Add garlic and cook 1 minute.
  3. Stir in tomatoes, tomato sauce, paste, beans, spices, broth, vinegar, and onion flakes. Simmer for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
  4. Adjust seasoning as needed. Serve hot with toppings of choice.

Notes

For extra flavor, add a dash of hot sauce or your favorite toppings.