The Best Classic Chili is a traditional chili recipe just like mom used to make with ground beef, beans, and a simple homemade blend of chili seasonings.
This classic chili is perfect for a weeknight meal because it can be made in minutes. The only thing to chop is an onion.
I’ve been playing around with this recipe for the past few months, making it many times. My family didn’t mind the repetition at all because I really do believe that I ended up with the best chili ever!
How To Make Homemade Chili
Note: This is a summary. The full printable recipe and step by step video are located at the bottom of this post.
- Heat olive in a large soup pot.
- Add chopped onion and cook for 5 minutes.
- Add ground beef and break it apart with a wooden spoon.
- Cook for 6-7 minutes.
- Add chili powder, cumin, sugar, tomato paste, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and optional cayenne.
- Stir until well combined.
- Add diced tomatoes, kidney beans, beef broth, and tomato sauce.
- Stir well.
- Simmer for 20-25 minutes.
- Let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
What do you top chili with?
In addition to the chili ingredients listed in this recipe, you may also want to have these things as toppings.
- shredded cheddar cheese
- sour cream
- sliced green onions
- saltine crackers or oyster crackers
- diced avocado
How To Store
Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to five days. Or, store in the freezer for up to three months. Transfer the container to the refrigerator to thaw the day before you want to reheat it.
Pro Tip – Is It Too Spicy?
The brand of chili powder you use will have a huge difference in how spicy your chili will be. Different brands of chili powder have VERY different levels of spiciness.
I always use McCormick Chili Powder (No affiliation) because it is flavorful without being spicy.
More Great Chili Recipes
Find more of my recipes on TikTok
The Best Classic Chili Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion -diced
- 1 pound 90% lean ground beef
- 2 1/2 tablespoons chili powder*
- 2 tablespoons ground cumin
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper** -optional
- 1 1/2 cups beef broth
- 1 (15 oz.) can petite diced tomatoes
- 1 (16 oz.) can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
Instructions
- Add the olive oil to a large soup pot and place it over medium-high heat for two minutes. Add the onion. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the ground beef to the pot. Break it apart with a wooden spoon. Cook for 6-7 minutes, until the beef is browned, stirring occasionally.
- Add the chili powder, cumin, sugar, tomato paste, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and optional cayenne. Stir until well combined.
- Add the broth, diced tomatoes (with their juice), drained beans, and tomato sauce. Stir well.
- Bring the liquid to a low boil. Then, reduce the heat (low to medium-low) to gently simmer the chili, uncovered, for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove the pot from the heat. Let the chili rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Check out all of my great ground beef recipes.
Kelly, good question and I was thinking the same thing. I browned the meat separate so I could drain it then mixed it with the browned onions/garlic later. Turned out great!
Love this recipe. I leave out the sugar, use a serrano pepper chopped and cooked with the onion for extra heat. We always double it because it’s so good!
Was planning to make this today but wanted to double check on the instructions. Am I not supposed to drain after cooking the ground beef?
I drained all but a tbsp from ground beef drippings as mine was 80/20-I added green bell pepper, rotel tomatoes with habanero, tsp of cocoa, 1/2 cup of beer and omitted the cayenne (plenty of heat already) and this was amazing…new favorite chili recipe!!!
Awesome!!! Funny, we made it the same time! I had justtttttt replied to you! 😃
I used 2lbs and it was perfect
Did u double the spices too
is 1 lb of meat enough ?? Want leftovers
I doubled the hamburger and used 2 cans of mixed beans. The best chili I have ever made.
I always like to add more meat because I just like more meat in mine. I do this with other ground beef dishes as well.
I doubled the recipe and my family gobbled it up! Still no left overs ;(
Yup! I always use 1 lb and make less or more using broth
I dbl recipe, adding two pounds plus a bit extra.
My family love it! I just lessened the cumin and chili and still came out great! Thanks for sharing!
Just tried this recipe for the first time! It was a HIT with my family!! Thank you for whomever placed this recipe. Looking forward to making this chili again!! Thanks
So glad this recipe was posted. And so grateful someone took the time to share such a wonderful and awesome recipe. Thank you <3
Amazing! Perfect! I followed the recipe exactly and it turned out so delicious
I just made this recipe for the third time, but this time I doubled the recipe because my husband wanted more leftovers because it is so good. I follow the recipe exactly except I add more beef broth on the double batch (a box of beef broth is 4 cups and it does not change the taste by adding a bit more). I am 68 and have been making chili for 50 years… And this is the best!!
This is my second time making this recipe and it is still good I leave out the cayenne pepper because I also have little ones once they get their both filled. My husband and I sneak a little cayenne pepper in the pot our kids don’t eat that much and they usually don’t like leftovers😁
Excellent! I left out the sugar and cayenne pepper and it was wonderful. Best recipe I’ve found.
Amazing recipe!! I modify it a little. I add a can of corn and black beans and extra ground beef . Even better!!!
Good but way too sweet. I think half the sugar would have been ok
Great recipe, although I didn’t add the extra sugar, I did sneak in a green pepper! Gotta get the veggies in. I also made the cornbread to complete the meal although I found it a little too sweet. Grandson loved it though. All around, great recipes. Thanks
Tried this tonight and my family loved it!! Just had to leave out the beans, but not my choice!! Lol. Will definitely be making this again.
So good, I always do two different type of beans and add a little more cumin and chili powder. Love it made twice this week, had to double the recipe this time.
Excellent but easy and quick. We are “spice wimps” so I cut back the chili powder by 1/2 tsp and deleted the cayenne pepper. Served it with shredded cheddar, sour cream, and corn bread. Great Sunday night dinner with enough left for tomorrow!
Delicious! I added some chopped green and red pepper! So yummy! Thanks for sharing!
This chili is delicious!!! I enjoy making it so much. Such a comfort dish.
Wow. I haven’t even sat down to eat it for dinner yet and it’s already delicious. I think next time I’ll omit the salt since all the ingredients contain plenty of sodium. And based on the comments, I only did 1 tablespoon of cumin.
Too much garlic and sugar for my own taste, and perhaps too much cumin. I used crushed tomatoes instead of petite because that’s what i had already. If i cut the garlic in half and eliminated the sugar, perhaps entirely, then i think my family would love it.