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.
I forgot to rate it! It was great!
I just made this and really like it. I added less Cumin after reading the comments and it turned out perfect! Thanks
Delicious recipe. I tweaked some things. Added green bell pepper and fresh garlic. Also, used half of the amount of cumin and used Bush’s chili beans instead. Added a little onion powder too. So good and really quick
This is terrific! Finally have a goto chili that is delicious, easy, and quick. Thank you!!
Don’t usually comment on sites but I followed this recipe and made literally the most delicious Chili I’ve ever tasted.
Slight change was I used 1 can of chopped tomatoes instead of 1 can of sauce and 1 can of diced.
Me too RG, I used a couple of cans of Rotel instead of tomatoe sauce.
Best chili I’ve had in a longtime
Too much cumin. Other wise great.
No such thing! 😀 All of you send me your cumin: I’ll give it a good home!
I agree. Too much cumin. And I am a fan of cumin.
I agree, to much cumin.
I am not a fan of cumin. Next time I make it I am not adding cumin. Otherwise a really good chili. It has a chili con carne taste.
Very little or no cumin for me next time either! It was very overpowering!
Great recipe but I always put in a red pepper and green pepper diced.. give it a bit more colour.
I have only made chili one time before. I made this recipe for a chili cookoff (I omitted the onion and Cayenne). I won first place. I was so shocked. It was the first time I had made this recipe. Everyone loved it. Thanks for the winner recipe.
That’s is so AWESOME!!! Congrats! I’m making some of this tonight and also omitting onion bc I’m out. Hope my family likes it . …. we shall see.
I also won a chili cook off with this recipe! Yum! I used about half the cumin and chili powder. I think the beef broth adds a lot of flavor.
This is an excellent chili recipe. Everyone seems to be a fan. The only thing I would critique is that the recipe doesn’t say “pour off grease” after cooking the meat. I know most people would know that you do that, but some new cooks may not! This needs to be added I think!
Also, I tweak it a little; it’s an awful lot of tomato with the paste, diced tomatoes, and the tomato sauce. Although I triple the recipe, I just use two cans of diced tomatoes.
No need to drain the ‘grease’ after cooking the meat, the fat in it gives tons of flavour.
i agree with not having to drain the grease. it tastes great with or without.
I made this AWESOME recipe and did NOT drain grease. I live in greater Cincinnati area where our chili ” Norm” is Cincinnati Chili ( skyline). Very different spices and no onions/ tomatoes etc. One thing I prefer about Cincinnati Chili though that I do when making CLASSIC chili is the really fine small texture of the ground beef. To get this, I was taught to place the ground beef in about a cup of water then cook and break apart while it cooks not draining fat. I n this case I cooked onions as directed then added beef broth instant of water to cook ground beef then added rest of ingredients plus an extra can of diced tomatoes that had green chilies in it as well. It was awesome not to fatty. It didn’t even develop a fatty layer on top after refrigerating left over. Great recipe!!! 5 stars
I noticed this as well. I drain the grease because I couldn’t imagine it sitting in your stomach but make it feel sick. Otherwise I love this recipe it’s amazing normally last us 2 to 3 days.
Pretty good, however maybe a little too much cumin. I did about 1.5 of everything for a bigger batch…needs tweaked but not sure what to add…
I just made this and yummm. I didn’t had diced canned tomatoes, but had 2 very over ripe tomatoes and a jar of chunky salsa. I also used less garlic powder because I added fresh garlic instead.
but if you actually use 90% low fat beef as suggested, you won’t have enough grease for anything!
I never drain my meat .I use 90% lean and not draining adds to the flavor in my opinion.
Very true.I always use the better chuck.
I usually use 96% ground beef in all my cooking. I made this recipe before and loved it, I am making it again at my sister-in-laws request. She gave it rave reviews! The only thing that I would change is that I found it a tad too sweet so this time I am only going to use one tablespoon of sugar…..and yes I am going to use the 90% ground beef this time. Why? Because I think others are correct. It will add flavor! I’ll let you all know!
I totally agree!
I love the grease 😀
Yes I definitely did not know I was supposed to pour the grease lol ! This was my first time making chill however and it actually turned out really well I had to add a little corn starch, but I know that was because I didn’t dump the grease lol!
It’s actually up to you if you want to drain it or not. It’s obviously more healthy to drain it, but the grease adds lots of flavor. I personally drain but I’m also watching my waist lol. There’s nothing inherently wrong with not draining it though
The corn starch is way more damaging than the “grease”
The amount of beef fat in a pound of ground beef is negligible and is definitely where the flavour lives. Most of the liquid you’re draining off isn’t even fat at all… if you’re really concerned, make the chili, refrigerate it, then scoop the fat off the top.
Using 90% lean ground beef (as the recipe states) eliminates the need to drain any fat. Follow the recipe for optimal flavor. I use two cans of beans for a sturdier texture.
The type of ground meat I use doesn’t have grease left over.
Yes I agree. I didn’t drain the Grease and it did not come out good. Now I drain and comes out perfect!
I used the 93% lean beef and it was perfect!
I also added chopped mild banana peppers and minced garlic and chopped scallion whites. Perfecto
Tip : I know ppl love using ground beef but ground turkey makes a great substitute and there is a lot less grease . Also adding brown sugar takes away from the acidity of all the tomatoes . I use a small spoon of tomato paste . A small can of tomato sauce and 2 small diced tomatoes
I also DO NOT USE CUMIN
This recipe is fantastic!! I make it pretty much once every week and everyone loves it! Sometimes I’ll use turkey, or add bacon, or corn, spinach whatever you want! This is such a great universal chili recipe, I can’t recommend it enough!
I used fresh garlic and omitted the tomato sauce & paste using just diced tomatoes. Did add a small amount of the liquid from the beans. Flavor & texture were fine.
My regular chili recipe uses 4 lbs of cubed chuck and takes hours. I wanted something that was quick and easy, a small batch size and gave me chili coziness on this cold winter solstice night. This nailed it. I added chopped red bell pepper for color and texture, omitted the optional cayenne, but opted for a half can of chipotle in adobo for some heat and smokiness. It’s terrific! Will definitely make again.
This dish is absolutely delicious and my favorite! My definite go to chili recipe!
OMGOODNESS! I’ve never written a recipe review. This chili recipe, however, was so good and easy I thought I just had to chime in w/the other reviewers! My husband has made his version for yrs, which our family thought was pretty darned good. Somehow I stumbled on this particular recipe, though and after reading the exiting reviews thought I’d just try it. I’m delighted to tell you it’s become our “go-to” recipe. Excellent! Thank you!
Made this recipe and it was a hit!! Only extra ingredient I added was bell pepper. Chopped it up and added it to the onion and beef mixture before adding everything else. Oh and I also added pinto beans along with the kidney beans. This is my go to recipe for chili now!
Love it! Came out just perfet.
Simply delicious. I didn’t have beef broth, so I used vegetable broth. I followed the recipe exactly otherwise.
I used venison burger instead
Thank you so much for the recipe. It’s delicious.
The recipe was very easy to follow.
My grandson loved this he ate 5 bowls through out the evening
So easy, so good, and only one pot necessary
Easy to follow and delicious