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.
Didn’t care for the sugar in it. It was a little to sweet for my tast.
WOW 👌 THAT IS REALLY GREAT!!!
At age 79 this was my first try at chili, and I got 5 stars! This is really good.
Amazing! The only extra I added was mushrooms 🙂 mine and my fiances favorite !!!
Made this several times, excellent. I use 1 TBS of sugar instead of 2 TBS. That’s the only change I made. Comes out great every time. Leftovers, if any, usually gone by 5he next day.
Great recipe. The only thing i did was add garlic and green pepper with the onion. Dont pass this one up!
Hands down best chili EVER!!! You won’t be disappointed! Amazing!!
Really good and easy… I will make it again soon but will cut the sugar, this was too sweet for me! Thanks.
Never liked making chili till now excellent recipe and can be tweaked to specific flavor liking. Can’t go wrong with this one. No complaints from family and guests and I appreciate the simple affordable ingredients. Seems like a lot of seasoning but don’t hold back …. This is a keeper
My wife and I love this recipe and plan on making it for a party of 50 people. How would the cooking times change for the added quantity?
I made your chili recipe once before and it was delicious.
I don’t want to sound ignorant but I’m wondering if you drain the fat/grease from the ground beef?
I love this recipe! Made on my dinner break and it was very easy to make!! Portion size was just enough for two people. Made it with a salad and My boyfriend loves it. Thank you
I use this chili recipe and always use low sodium chicken broth and it is fine. I would suggest skipping the cayenne unless you like it very spicy.
It’s perfect!! The spices & ingredients are wonderful! I added a little celery & green peppers to the pot cause I needed to use them. It’s so good & perfect for dinner. Thanks.
My secret ingredient (until now) is chipotle peppers in adobe sauce, Smoky and spice works as well as cayenne. And since a can of these is more than you can ever use, the rest goes into a ziplock freezer bag. My frozen chipotle block can then be pulled from the freezer and a cut off a “chunk” when I need it.
Made this chili for hubby and I and served with chili dogs. Delicious! 😋
Topped w/ sour cream, green onions and mexican style cheese…
Very easy recipe to follow…Thank you for sharing with us…😁
Love this recipe! So easy and delicious. I add canned green chilies simply because I like them. Thank you for sharing.
I was never a Chili eater until my sister made this recipe.
Well I love Chili now!! It’s delicious and my family loves it too.
I use this recipe as the basis for my chilli but I tweek it a little every time. I add all the extras. 2 and a half tablespoons of chilli powder can be a bit much depending on the powder your using. Today I’m adding olives, mushrooms and jalapeños. It’s a great recipe it impresses every time.
I made this recipe for chili once and my kids loved it. It is the only recipe I will use.