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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.
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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