I’m a Wendy’s chili super fan.

I grew up eating it with my Dad after schoolwe’ve probably had hundreds of bowls.

Bright and just spicy enough, it’s delicious and comforting.

Bowl of copycat Wendy’s chili at a table setting with a bowl of saltines on a brown and white kitchen towel, a bottle of tabasco, a drink, and a white table napkin

Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Hannah Greenwood

It was a powerful trip down memory lane and I loved every moment.

This recipe tastes and looks like how Wendys chili should: a three-bean soup meets a hamburger tortilla soup.

I can’t wait to see him in person so that he can taste my version.

Two bowls of Wendy’s chili

Simply Recipes / Jen Causey

And of course, a Diet Coke.

Simply Recipes / Jen Causey

The 3 Keys to the Best Homemade Wendy’s Chili

1.

For this recipe, the key is to use three types of beans and a lot of liquid too.

Browning ground beef in a pot for copycat Wendy’s chili recipe

Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Hannah Greenwood

Most three-bean medleys in stores include black beans and/or green beans, which Wendy’s chili does not have.

One small can of Ro-Tel yields just enough green chili flavor and bright spice.

I find that I don’t need to add much salt to the soup.3.

Browned beef broken into smaller pieces using a spoon (in a pot) for copycat Wendy’s chili recipe

Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Hannah Greenwood

Keep the ground beef in larger chunks:About 1 1/4 pounds of meat strikes the right meat-to-bean ratio.

As the meat cooks, try not to break it up into small piecesleave some in larger chunks.

I’m convinced that Wendy’s breaks up old patties to add to their chili.

Ground beef and vegetables sauteed the pot for copycat Wendy’s chili recipe

Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Hannah Greenwood

Stir in the ground cumin and chili powder until darkened and fragrant, about 30 seconds.

Stir in the sugar and remove the pot from the heat.

Serve warm with crumbled saltines and a dash of hot sauce.

Beans and the liquid ingredients added to the pot (some of the ingredients slightly lifted using a wooden spoon) for copycat Wendy’s chili recipe

Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Hannah Greenwood

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Wooden spoon stirring copycat Wendy’s chili in a pot

Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Hannah Greenwood

Bowl of copycat Wendy’s chili

Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Hannah Greenwood