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.
Excellent chili! I have always made crappy chili until I found this recipe! Everyone compliments my chili now! I do agree with other comments, I only used 1 TBLS of surgar which seemed just right to me! Overall though, this is an EXCELLENT recipe! Thank you for sharing!
We use ground turkey in my home for an even healthier addition, but we absolutely love this recipe!
I’ve been looking for the right chilli recipe for awhile. This is exactly what I’ve been looking for! Only thing I did different was added chili beans and pork n beans with the kidney beans. Absolutely delicious!
I followed the recipe exactly, and we thought it was delicious.
Simply delicious and so easy. Everyone loved and had seconds.
Perfectly seasoned and well balanced. Highly recommend this one. It’s especially great with corn bread.
It really is a great recipe! I use this recipe as my base now and make adaptations as I want, like adding peppers, mushrooms, etc, or not adding beans, but it’s great every time. I think what I’ve been previously missing in my chili was the cumin. Thanks so much!
I was never a chili fan; until now! I’ve made this recipe three times now, and every time I’m so impressed with it! I crave it all the time!
First time making chili and I ended up eating three bowls >_< Definitely going into the recipe book. I followed suit on the cummin, did half. Thank you so much!
This was delicious- very rich in flavor, quite spicey with the cayenne. I think I’d add more meat next time, maybe a half pound more.
Love this recipe! But I used fresh ground chicken breast from Rastelli Specialty store and little celery and fresh diced carrots and sweet corn. It is delicious!!!!! Will make it again. Thank you so much for the great recipe
I think this recipe is AWESOME! The depth of flavor makes this a very unique recipe. I have made a lot of beef and bean chilis, and my husband and I think this is the best we’ve ever had. I used beef with some fat, so I drained it before adding the other ingredients. I also used WAY less sugar. I used about a tablespoon, and I think next time I will use even less, and may use brown sugar instead. I loved how flavorful this chili is, and like all chili, gets better the next day!
Thank you very much for sharing this recipe. ♥ It is delicious ♥. The only change I made was the cumin. I added only 1 tablespoon.
Can you make this with already cooked brisket instead of ground beef?
Best chili is right. Everything is perfect. This is so easy and tastes amazing. Not too watery just perfect.
Literally the best and most simple recipe
I cut the cumin to 1 tsp cause my hubby is picky
Also skipped chili for a couple taps of smoked paprika
Only 1 tsp if sugar and I honestly could go for 1/2 the amount
And 2 cans of kidney beans instead of 1. You can add 3 if you wanna stretch it even more. 1 is simply not enough and leaves it a bit on the soupier side
I also added a little extra salt in the form of seasoning salt
And added some fresh chopped garlic to the recipe
I served it in a bunt of cornbread
Topped with shredded cheese, sour cream, chives
So delicious, even my picky mother wants to take some to work for her lunch
This recipe was extremely tasty. I used chicken broth and ground turkey but still awesome!
Absolutely love this recipe. The only thing I have cut back on is the sugar, but only by 1/2 tbsp. Instead of beef broth, I use chicken stock, and use either chicken or turkey. I also use 2 cans of kidney beans. Very flavorful!
Cut the cumin in half and it will taste much better
This was AMAZING and yes AMAZING in all caps lol . Never made chili but glad I could use this recipe and forever wil!!!