Ann's Close to Wendy's Style Chili Recipe

Submitted by Candle Lover

"I really enjoy Wendy's Chili So I have been playing around trying to make a clone for a long time. I have read other clones on the internet for the recipe and here is where I stand with the recipe. I think it is pretty close to the taste Wendy's chili has. I would love any comments or suggestions to improve this chili enjoy =)"

 

• Ready In: 2hrs 10mins
• Ingredients: 15
• Yields: 1 pot
• Serves: 4-6

ingredients

• 1 lb hamburger (I use lean)
• 1 (15 ounce) can dark red kidney beans
• 1 (15 ounce) can medium flavored chili beans
• 1 (10 ounce) can rotel mild diced tomatoes and green chilies
• 1 (15 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 (14 ounce) bag frozen vegetables, i use kroger mirepoix cajun style blend (frozen chopped onion, celery, green peppers, if you can't find this mix then use 4 oz chop onion, 5 )
• 2 cups water
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 bay leaf
• 1⁄2 teaspoon sugar

directions

1. Brown the hamburger and drain the grease.
2. Add seasonings and frozen vegetables when frozen vegetables start to heat up
3. add the rest of the ingredients.
4. Simmer the longer the better I like to simmer at least a couple of hours.
5. Remove the bay leaf before serving.

Reviews

[Tinkerbell]

I'm really impressed with this recipe! I've been making Gloria Pitzer's clone since 1993 and have tried many others since, but this one is the closest to what Wendy's tastes like. We have Fred Meyer here so I figured I'd be able to get the Kroger brand veggies, but I didn't see the right mix. I did find one that had green & red peppers as well as the onion. I was skeptical about using the frozen veggies but they were great in the final product. I let it simmer for 3 hours, then we served it on a bed of shredded purple cabbage (all the salad option I had on hand) with tortilla chips, Mexican 4-cheese blend and sour cream. It's fabulous! Thanks so much for posting, Candle Lover! Made & enjoyed for Spring 2010 PAC-O.

 

[camaro Bill]

I made this recipe for the first time today. My mother-in-law gave me her chili recipe when I first got married, and being that she was from Texas, and my husband loved hers , I have been making that recipe for many years. But when homemade isn't available we both love Wendy's chili, so when I found Candle Lovers recipe I couldn't wait to try it. I surely was not disappointed. I love the choice of veggies she has, and it is so easy to prepare. Usually I have most of the ingredients on hand. I use the frozen three pepper and onion mix from Kroger which I use quite often, especially in my stir frys.<br/>The only additions I made was to add to taste, worchestersire sauce and cooking sherry. This recipe is a real keeper and i surely will be making it again and again Top it off with sour cream and fritos which is my way of keeping some of my mother-in laws recipe included and you will have one yummy meal. Thank you Candle Lover for your recipe..

 

[hedgiehog]

This is by far the best chili recipe I have ever tried! Whenever I've made chili before it was either too "chili-ey", too tomato-ey or just not quite right. I feel like Goldilocks! I've finally found the right one.<br/>I didn't have frozen Kroger veggies so I used onion, garlic, celery, red and green peppers. I made a few changes and used one tin of great northern beans because that's all I had and I also added one poblano chili as well as 1/2 teaspoon of smoked paprika. I served it with cornbread muffins and shredded cheddar cheese. My family really enjoyed it and I was lucky to have some leftovers for lunch tomorrow. Thanks for posting and congratulations on a wonderful recipe. I shall definitely make this again!