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Wendy's Chili Sauce

Wendy’s Chili Sauce

Wendy’s Chili Sauce is the flavorful backbone of the iconic chili, blending ground beef, beans, and spices into a rich, hearty sauce. This recipe guides you through making it from scratch, capturing the signature taste of Wendy’s Chili at home, perfect for satisfying comfort food cravings.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 290 kcal

Equipment

  • Large pot or Dutch oven
  • Wooden spoon or spatula
  • Cutting board
  • Sharp knife
  • Measuring spoons
  • Measuring cups
  • Can opener

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 medium onion finely chopped
  • 2 stalks celery chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper finely chopped
  • 1 can 14.5 oz diced tomatoes (with juice)
  • 1 can 15 oz kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can 15 oz black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1/4 cup tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper adjust to taste
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • Salt to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar or more to taste

Instructions
 

  • Start by heating the vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook it until it's browned, breaking it up into small pieces as it cooks. This should take about 5-7 minutes.
  • Once the beef is browned, add the chopped onion, celery, and green bell pepper. Sauté them with the beef for about 5 minutes, until the onions become translucent.
  • Stir in the diced tomatoes (with juice), kidney beans, and black beans. Mix everything to ensure the ingredients are evenly distributed.
  • Pour in the beef broth and add the tomato paste. Stir the mixture until the tomato paste is fully dissolved, giving the chili a rich, thick consistency.
  • Add the chili powder, ground cumin, paprika, cayenne pepper, dried oregano, sugar, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to ensure the spices are evenly incorporated.
  • Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let the chili simmer for about 30-40 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and to allow the flavors to meld together.
  • After simmering, taste the chili and adjust the seasoning as needed. You can add more salt, cayenne pepper, or vinegar to suit your taste.
  • Once the chili is ready, serve it hot. You can enjoy it on its own or top it with shredded cheese, sour cream, or chopped green onions.

Notes

✤ If you don’t have pinto beans on hand, black beans or even cannellini beans can be used as substitutes without compromising the overall flavor.
✤ You can use water instead of beef broth.
Keyword Wendy’s Chili Sauce