Wendy’s Chili copycat made with kidney beans, onions, chilis, bell peppers and tomatoes with a spicy chili powder and cumin spices. The perfect copycat!
Wendy’s Chili is a no brainer now that the weather is cooling down in a hurry. This copycat recipe is actually so spot on that when I tested it on an unsuspecting family member who loves it she replied, “If you got Wendy’s where is my FROSTY!!”
Sadly, I had not made a Wendy’s Frosty for her, but the chili is in fact a very spot-on copycat. Plus I love serving it with my Jalapeno Popper Cornbread Muffins.
Wendy’s Chili seems like it would be a tough recipe to make, but honestly the most difficult part is waiting for it to cook low and slow. In fact here are some tips and tricks for making this the PERFECT chili recipe.
Add in a tablespoon of butter at the end of cooking. It helps mellow flavors and provide the best texture. It adds a richness with minimal calories (it is only 1 tablespoon for the whole pot!).
Cook on a “simmer” which is lower than “low” usually. Cooking on a simmer is just the smallest of bubbles.
If you find your chili doesn’t look the same as below you may have the heat on too high so too much water has evaporated or on too low and too much water is remaining.
If you’re nervous about cooking it uncovered just stir more frequently. You’ll be able to feel if any of the chili is sticking to the pot.
Ingredients:
1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (14.5 ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1 cup water
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions:
In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the ground beef until it is browned, stirring occasionally to break it up.
Add the onion, bell pepper, and garlic to the pot and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 5-7 minutes.
Stir in the diced tomatoes, kidney beans, tomato paste, water, chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper, paprika, and cinnamon. Bring the mixture to a boil.
Reduce the heat to low and simmer the chili for at least 30 minutes, or until the flavors have melded together.
Serve the chili hot, garnished with your choice of toppings such as cheese, sour cream, or chopped onions. Enjoy!