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.
It was delicious! I added ketchup instead of tomato paste as I was out so it had a nice sweet /spicy tang.
OMG, delicious! I used the recipe with no changes and its a winner in our house. I will make a double batch next time so that some can be frozen for another meal. I have been making chili for over 40 years and this is the 1st time I have written a review, so it must be good! Thanks for sharing this recipe with us, its a keeper!
I make this at least once a month, but I tweaked it by adding lots more beans–an extra can of black beans, garbanzo beans, and pinto beans each, as I am trying to reduce my meat intake. Everyone who I have try it loves it. Thank you for sharing it.
can you do in crockpot
Just made this and it’s so delicious
The seasoning is perfect! I was short on regular chili powder and used Aleppo instead. Easy and delicious! I will make this again!
I love this chili recipe. I use the optional cayenne and I add corn to mine, and it is delicious. I love how fast and easy it is, too. Thank you for sharing.
Super glad I found this recipe. It was easy to follow and it turned out great. Amazingly enough we had just about every ingredient necessary. The only missing ingredients were the ground cumin and tomato sauce. I used ground comino instead and that worked perfectly. I also used an extra tablespoon of tomato paste to make up for the lack of tomato sauce. And we used a sugar substitute, but hey it turned out waaaay better than I could have hoped! I’m actually inclined to curse with how good this turned out. 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ worthy!
I would have to say this is a pretty good chili.It is also easy to make. I was a little skeptical about the sugar but everything blended perfectly. The family loved it. Thanks for sharing.
This has become my only chili recipe – I’ve made it at least a dozen times. Only addition I make is a some chopped up celery, just because my Grandma always did. But this recipe far superior to any others I’ve ever tried (including Grandma’s). This turns out fabulous every time! Thank you so much for sharing with us all!!
I love celery. I never thought to add it to chili…thanks for the idea!
Amazing. Had to stop myself from a second helping. I’m dairy allergic so this was a treat. Made homemade cornbread to have with the chilli. Perfect meal for a cold and rainy May day.
So delicious!
First time making chili and I have to say this recipe is delicious!!! I used 8oz of tomato paste instead of the tomato sauce and added 1 cup of water. I also added 2 extra cans of beans because we love beans in this house!
Definitely my go to recipe for chili. I may tweak a little. Just because. :). I use brown sugar and add a little Worcestershire. Chop up peppers and onions , use a mix of beans, ( cannoli kidney and black) to make it my own. PT
I’ve made a lot of different chili recipes but this is my favorite. And it’s so easy. Here’s what I did differently. I was out of tomato paste so omitted, my husband dislikes cumin so I only used 1 Tbsp instead of 2, and I added one can of drained pinto beans in addition to kidney beans. Fantastic and easy!
Excellent as is. I used the cayenne and it has just enough bite. Just adults so heat is no concern. Best chili I’ve ever made, according to my two grown grandsons.
This was Fantastic! The Best Chili I have ever made & easy to fix. Thank you for sharing the recipe!
This IS the best chili I’ve ever made! I made it exactly as the recipe called for except for the cayenne pepper. I will be making this again.
Awesome chili, I won a chili cook off contest in my category with this recipe.
Delicious!! I added a few celery sticks with the onion, perfect chilli recipe.