Wendy’s Copycat Chili
Updated on November 23, 2024 by Rodney • This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. • 1 Comment • Jump to Recipe
This Wendy’s Copycat Chili recipe is one of the easiest to make chili recipes you will find on this site. A great copycat recipe.
The wife and I do not eat fast food very often. Sure when we were teenagers we ate fast food from all the big restaurant chains but not so much now. So why Wendy’s Copycat Chili?
Well for two reasons. The first is that I love making copycat recipes. And secondly, I love a good chili. And the chili from Wendy’s is pretty dang good. Almost as good as some of my Gourmet Chili Recipes.
This Chili recipe is a little different than my other Chili recipes in that it has no onions or any fresh peppers with the exception of the canned Green Chili Peppers. I’m trying to remember the last time I had a chili without onions in it?
When I was making this recipe, my wife immediately asked what that unique “smell” was. It was either the roasted diced tomatoes or the smoked paprika.
If you’ve never tasted smoked paprika before, you might be in for a surprise. Very different than regular paprika. Don’t worry though, if you don’t have smoked paprika on hand, don’t fret, just use regular paprika. It won’t change the overall flavor that much.
Oh and if you don’t have any Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes available, just use the regular kind. I will change the flavor just a bit but it will still be delicious.
If you’ve never been to Wendy’s or if you have never tried their delicious Chili, check this Picture of Wendy’s Chili out. It kind of looks just like this one doesn’t it?
Copycat Rating
Since the goal of a Copycat Recipe is for it to taste exactly like the original, it’s only natural to rate this recipe against the original. This Copycat recipe rates a solid 8 out of 10 in my opinion.
How to Handle Raw Beef
- Thaw frozen ground beef on a plate on the lowest shelf of the refrigerator, to avoid dripping onto other foods.
- Keep raw and ready-to-eat meats separate.
- Wash hands thoroughly before and after handling raw ground beef. Wash cutting boards, bowls, and utensils used to prepare raw ground beef with hot soapy water and rinse well.
- Use separate plates to carry raw ground beef patties to the cooking area and cooked patties to the serving area.
- Use a Thermometer to ensure Ground Beef Reaches the Safely Cooked Internal Temperature of 160°F.
Equipment Needed
Using the right equipment can make a big difference. Here are my some of the Kitchen tools used in this recipe. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases to keep these recipes free. Simply click on an image below to see the most recent price on Amazon!
Gather your Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients to make this copycat chili recipe from Wendy’s (see recipe card for quantities): Lean Ground Beef, Kosher Salt, Ground Black Pepper, Tomato Paste, Pinto Beans, Red Kidney Beans, Diced Tomatoes, Green Chilies, Onion Powder, Ground Cumin, Chili Powder, Smoked Paprika, Red Pepper Flakes and Water.
How to Make Wendy’s Copycat Chili
- In a large pot over medium-high heat add ground beef, 1 tsp salt and pepper. Cook until browned.
- Drain drippings if necessary. Add remaining ingredients.
- Bring to a boil, and reduce to simmer for 15 minutes.
Printable Recipe Card
Wendy’s Copycat Chili
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Ingredients
- 1 lb Lean Ground Beef
- 1 Tsp Kosher Salt, divided
- 1 Tsp Ground Black Pepper
- 12 oz Tomato Paste
- 15 oz Pinto Beans, rinsed and drained
- 15 oz Red Kidney Beans, rinsed and drained
- 15 oz Diced Tomatoes, fire-roasted with garlic
- 8 oz Green Chilies, diced
- 1 Tsp Onion Powder
- 1 Tsp Ground Cumin
- 1 Tbsp Chili Powder
- ½ Tsp Smoked Paprika
- 1 Tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- 1 Cup Water
Instructions
- In a large pot over medium-high heat add ground beef, 1 tsp salt and pepper. Cook until browned.
- Drain drippings if necessary. Add remaining ingredients.
- Bring to a boil, and reduce to simmer for 15 minutes.
Equipment Needed
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Nutrition
Nutritional information provided for this recipe is based on 1 serving. This information is an estimate and may vary based on several factors. If nutritional information is important to you and your diet, please verify this recipe with a Registered Dietitian.
Love this chili. I made it one night for my family when it was a snowy day and they just loved it. A good comfort food. A keeper for me.