Wendy’s Copycat Chili

Wendy’s Copycat Chili is super flavorful, hearty, and truly a copycat of the infamous Wendy’s Chili. 

First off, chili is one of the most eaten recipes during the fall and winter months.  Generally, it is also a pretty simple meal to make. You just take all of your ingredients, add them into your dutch oven or crock pot, and let them simmer together until your kitchen is full of an aromatic smell from the ingredients. 

Second, we only have three steps for you to follow. Can you imagine anything easier? 

We start off with ground beef, tomato sauce, beans, and seasoning. 

What makes this recipe Wendy’s Chili?

It took us a bunch of trial and error runs to get this recipe right. But after that, we finally found the secret.  Use deseeded jalapenos for an extra kick (just be careful on how many you add if you don’t like too much heat, we want a good balance of sweet and spicy and not to be overpowered by the jalapenos.) We added the traditional seasonings you are used to; paprika ( use smoked paprika if you want more of a BBQ-style flavor), chili powder, cumin, oregano, and aromatic fresh garlic chopped into small minced pieces. 

Can I use a crock pot for this?

If you don’t have a large enough pot, usually a dutch oven works best; then a crock pot is the best runner-up! A crock pot is also a safer way for you to make your Wendy’s Copycat Chili while at work. Either add everything into the crockpot or brown your meat first (like we are going to list in the instructions below). Cook on low and by the time you get home, dinner is ready!

What goes best with this chili?

The best and truly only way to enjoy chili is by dipping some hearty toasted bread or garlic bread to soak up those extra juices. 

Ingredients for your chili

2 lbs. Ground beef

1 Bell pepper chopped

1 Onion chopped

⅓ C. Celery chopped

1-2 Jalapeno deseeded and finely chopped

1 Large can Tomato sauce

1 Small can diced tomatoes

2 Cans Pinto beans not drained

2 Cans Kidney beans not drained

3 Tbsp. Chili powder

3 tsp. Cumin

1 tsp. Oregano

2 tsp. Minced garlic

Salt and pepper to taste

Step-by-step instructions

Brown the meat in a large pot over medium-high heat on the stove. Continue to cook until the meat is completely done.

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Add the rest of the ingredients to the pot, and stir to combine well.

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Bring the mixture to a low boil, and then reduce the heat to a simmer covered for at least 2 hours before serving.

ENJOY!