Wendy's Chili

JustaQT's Note:

originally from Top Secret Recipes by Todd Wilbur http://www.topsecretrecipes.com

• Total Time: 3 hrs 5 mins
• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Cook Time: 3 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 2 lbs ground beef
• 1 (12 ounce) can tomato paste
• 2 (29 ounce) cans tomato sauce
• 1 (29 ounce) can kidney beans , with liquid
• 1 (29 ounce) can pinto beans , with liquid
• 1 cup diced onion
• ½ cup diced green chilies
• ¼ cup diced celery
• 3 medium tomatoes , chopped
• 2 teaspoons cumin powder
• 3 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons black pepper
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 cups water

Directions:

1. Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat; drain off the fat.
2. Using a fork, crumble the cooked beef into pea-size pieces.
3. In a large pot, combine the beef plus all the remaining ingredients, and bring to a simmer over low heat.
4. Cook, stirring every 15 minutes, for 2 to 3 hours.

Reviews

[Tonda]

This has turned out to be my favorite chili recipe. Thank you, Shae, for sharing this "top secret" recipe.

[Shae]

This is a tasty, hearty chili that is just about as close to the original that you can get. I opted to put only black beans in it which are our favorite beans. This makes a great freezer recipe for those nights when you just want to heat something real quick and have no fuss! Thanks for this great recipe:)

[StampinCatMom]

Perhaps Wendy's has changed their recipe since this "copy cat recipe" was created, as this is really not even close; however, it is a pretty good chili recipe. I have to admit that I am a Wendy's Chili connoisseur and I am able to pick their chili out from others...blindfolded! LOL Real Wendy's Chili does not have chilis in it at all...and has green (Bell) peppers instead. Wendy's also contains celery and the cumin in this version is a little too much, so I have cut it back quite a bit. There are a few other "Wendy's Chili" recipies out there that are closer than this one. Again, though, this recipe will do in a pinch...just don't expect it to be Wendy's 2010/2011 chili, or you will be sadly disappointed.