Wendy's-Style Beef and Bean Chili
Get ready to indulge in the heartwarming nostalgia of "Just Like Wendy's Chili" with this exceptional homemade recipe. This delightful dish is crafted with a combination of robust ground beef, tender beans, flavorful tomatoes, and a spice blend that infuses each bite with aromatic goodness. It's the ultimate comfort food, perfectly designed to satisfy your cravings. Now you can recreate the iconic flavor of Wendy's famous chili right in the comfort of your own kitchen!
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
1 hour hr 20 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 35 minutes mins
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 2 stalks celery chopped
- 1 onion chopped
- 1 green bell pepper chopped
- 3 14 ounce cans stewed tomatoes
- 1 14 ounce can tomato sauce
- 1 10 ounce can diced tomatoes with green chiles (such as RO*TEL)
- 1 cup water
- 2 1.25 ounce packages chili seasoning (such as McCormick® Mild Chili Seasoning Mix)
- 1 14 ounce can kidney beans, undrained
- 1 14 ounce can pinto beans, undrained
- salt and ground black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar or more to taste
In a large pot, heat up the olive oil over medium-high heat. Gently shape the ground beef into a single large patty and carefully place it in the hot oil. Allow the bottom side to develop a rich, golden brown color for approximately 8 to 10 minutes.
The beef should be stirred and broken into crumbles, ensuring it is evenly browned. Continue cooking until the pink color disappears, which typically takes around 5 minutes.
The beef is combined with celery, onion, and bell pepper and cooked until the onion becomes translucent, typically taking around 5 minutes.
Incorporating a medley of flavors, begin by pouring in a combination of stewed tomatoes, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes with green chiles, and water. Take care to break apart any large chunks of the stewed tomatoes. Next, gently stir in the chili seasoning, ensuring it is evenly distributed throughout. Finally, add in the kidney and pinto beans, stirring them into the mixture. To enhance the taste, season with a touch of salt and pepper.
The mixture should be brought to a boil initially, and then the heat should be reduced to low, allowing it to simmer gently for an hour.
Before serving the chili, it is recommended to incorporate vinegar for added flavor.
Keyword cozy autumn delight, crowd-pleasing potluck dish, game day favorite, holiday gathering hit, tailgate party essential