Cold weather is coming so I thought a pot of Wendy’s chili would warm us. If you like what Wendy’s calls chili you will love this.

This batch is made with 1.5 pounds of coarse ground beef, 1 pound of coarse ground pork and 1.5 pounds of cubed Axis stew meat. The meat is browned in bacon drippings.

Wendy’s Chili

Wendy’s Chili made with lean ground beef/venison, kidney beans and pinto beans, onions, garlic, jalapeño chilis, celery, bell pepper and tomato seasoned with a mild chili powder and cumin.

This recipe makes a LOT of chili! It fills my large Dutch Oven to the brim. Adjust accordingly to fit your needs. It freezes very well for enjoying later.

This is NOT Texas chili! It is a really good facsimile of Wendy’s Chili, which is, by Texas standards, a delicious beefy, mild chili tomato soup with beans. It is safe to serve to crowds, perfect for pot luck dinners.

Prep Time 30 minutes (longer w dried beans)
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes (longer w dried beans)
Servings 24 servings (+\-)

Ingredients
* 2 lbs lean ground beef/venison
* 28 ounce can of tomato sauce
* 28 ounce can of kidney beans not drained (1/2 lb of dried beans simmered until almost done w juice)
* 28 ounce can of pinto beans not drained (1/2 lb of dried beans simmered until almost done w juice)
* 28 ounce can of whole tomatoes (hand squashed w juice)
* 1 large yellow onion diced
* 1 tablespoon minced garlic (8-10 cloves)
* 2 diced jalapeños (no seeds or veins)
* 2-3 stalks celery chopped
* 1 green bell pepper chopped
* 1 tablespoon cumin powder
* 1/4 cup mild chili powder
* 1 teaspoon black pepper
* 2 teaspoons salt
* 1 cup water

Instructions
1. In a heavy bottomed stockpot brown the ground meat and onions in bacon fat. Add garlic when almost done.
2. Add in the rest of the ingredients and bring to a slow boil.
3. Lower to a simmer and cook uncovered for 2 hours stirring occasionally.
4. Serve with Asian Hot Chili Oil (same as Wendy’s Hot Sauce), coarse shredded cheddar cheese, chopped onion, and jalapeño. Saltine crackers and/or Fritos optional.

Wendy's chili is not that bad when your traveling.

Got some in New Braunfels about 35 yrs. ago, was nasty, last time I been to a Wendy,s. Never tried anything else from there.

James Coney Island has better chili.

I like Wendy's chili. One of my favorite fast foods on the road.

Not sure how close your recipe is, but I used to work at Wendy's and made it many times. The real recipe is very simple - boiled left over patties (to remove the fat) then chop them up. Diced tomatoes. Drained kidney beans. And a packet of seasoning which was mostly salt, dried cayenne peppers, and dried diced onions. Looking at your recipe, it's probably better.

yep. worked there too. that's the way we made it.

On a cold day their chili with a sour cream and chives baked potato is a good combo.

After making one chili recipe for 40+ yrs of marriage me and my wife decided to try your recipe tonight. I must say it will now be the only chili we make. It was like getting it at a Wendy’s. I added an extra pound of plain Kroger brand breakfast sausage and used tortilla chips. Nothing like a good bowl of chili on a cold rainy night. Thanks Cast.
Papa Stan

This. Worked there as a kid.

Yes it is.

Ditto Campbell's chile in a can is better!