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 bumped up the spices as well, including cumin which we love, and it was definitely worth the 5 star rating! Making it again now & finishing it off in the slow cooker as did another reviewer. Best chili recipe I’ve ever made. Next time I’ll have cornbread with it.
This was really good and easy. I omitted the cumin because we aren’t fans. This is such an easy recipe with very good results. Thank you!
I followed this recipe last night at my girlfriend’s house. It was super simple to prepare. My girlfriend and I were amazed at how good it was. I will Definitely try it again soon!
A coworker of mine made this and it was fantastic!!! I will be making this for my friends and family!
Great recipe! Easy to follow and easy to make. Delicious!
This is definitely the best chili ever !!! My 17 year old actually asks me to make it at least a couple times a month. She is so hard to please since u never know from one time to the next she hates whatever I make. I’m sure everyone knows what teenagers are like. My husband asks me to make a double batch. Needless to say I give this recipe 5 stars !!
The Best Chili ever! I love chili. Followed the recipe on the most part but I added minced garlic. My husband loved it also. He usually not a great fan of my Chili, but this one changed his mind.
I’m a total amateur – – – Amanda make me look like a pro!!
I cut back on the Chili Pepper to 2 T
I added a Yellow and Red Pepper
I added some chopped Celery
I even phoned a friend about subbing Chicken stock for beef stock. (Which I did)
I got RAVE REVIEWS from my wife!!
Yes!!!
Maybe I should stick closer to what AMANDA recommends but why argue with success?
Too much cumin!!
I’d suggest using only 1 tbs of cumin. Other than that turned out delicious.
Best chili. Pinch of cayenne only.
I tried this did double of everything to make more. But I only added 1 table spoon of cumin for the entire thing. Overall it tastes pretty good.
nice simple but tasty meal for a cold winter night here in Maine.
This chili is perfect.
Made this tonight, first time making homemade chili. I just don’t like any of the stuff that’s already canned. Are used half ground beef and half little chunks of steak.Followed the recipe except I didn’t have any beef broth and learned something very useful: 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce to a cup of water.
A huge fan of tomatoes in soups, and I was afraid three different types of tomato additions would be way too much. But the flavor was outstanding. One of the best chili I’ve ever had. And surprisingly I have enough left for a couple more meals.
Wish I could simply edit my comment after it’s posted but that’s not possible here, so I’ll just make the corrections in this reply. It should’ve said I am NOT a fan of tomatoes in soups. With all that tomato this somehow tasted incredible!
Great consistency! I doubled the cayenne and pepper. Too much cumin for my tastes. Next time I plan to cut it in half. Otherwise, it was great!
This is now my go to Chili recipe. I never have left overs on chili night. Thank you for the recipe.
Loved the recipe! It was my first time making this dish ever and let me tell you it was a SUCCESS. All the flavoring combineded so well. I’m keeping this one for the books lol. My son whose 10 rated this a 10/10 whoohoo!!!. Thank you
Excellent! Easy to prepare, all ingredients that I had on-hand, and even the kiddos liked it. I, too, skipped the cayenne. We substituted a can of diced tomatoes with green chiles, added a bit more broth (just our taste), and used turkey for a leaner option. Glad to have found this and will use it again!
Due to haters of spice, I left out the cayenne. Best non-spicy chili I have ever had. 5-stars!