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 & definitely my fave! Made vegetarian with a bag of frozen veggie crumbles and veggie broth instead of beef. Added 1/4 cup more veggie broth to make up for not having beef drippings and to allow longer simmer time (1 hr) to develop flavors. Also added a can of pinto beans. Mixed in spaghetti mac noodles, cheese, & sour cream to serve. A real winner to economically have great food all winter!
I’m no cook and almost skipped over this recipe for one with fewer ingredients. I’m glad I trusted all the great reviews and made this one. Don’t be intimidated if you rarely enter the kitchen like me. It really was easy and cleanup wasn’t terrible. I like that several ingredients just take 1 can: cuts down on prep time and dirty measuring cups/spoons.
This is the best chili recipe ever
Discovered it about a month ago. Made it twice so far. My daughter even asked for the recipe. I used black beans as I had on hand and small can of garbanzo. So many spices and they all blend.
I thought this was delicious and so easy. The only thing that I did differently was to add one chopped jalapeño. I would make it again
Best Chili Recipe by Far!
Very tasty and easy THANKS. I left out Cheyenne pepper Can’t do heat
Excellent recipe! I doubled it and it came out perfect! Thanks
Excellent and easy chili recipe!
I really enjoyed this recipe! I mixed and matched a few ingredients but the base is outstanding. Thank you
This is my favorite beef chili recipe. It’s has a great taste and I would highly recommend this recipe to anyone who enjoys a tasty bowl of chili.
very good very one loved it
This is the best chili recipe I have tried! My family raved over it! Definitely will make it again and again!
!!! FANTASTIC !!!!
This chili recipe was absolute PERFECTION! I am planning to make it again for a huge tailgate party. How can I prepare this in a huge crockpot vs. on the stove?
Cook the onions and beef in a frying pan. Once cooked, add to the crockpot with the rest of the remaining ingredients. I would turn the temperature to high until it starts to bubble then switch to low and simmer for a few hours to let the flavors come through. I hope this helps.
I made this tonight and tripled it, we’re a huge family, very yummy! I’ll be honest I cooked my beef and then dumped all the other ingredients in, then hard simmered it for 30 min. Next time I’ll try to give myself more time to actually follow the instructions 😂 but it was excellent and everyone liked it. I used about 1/2 t of cayenne (I don’t really measure just eyeball) and it had nice warm heat, 4 yo littlest loved it.
I made this recipe exactly as it is written (including the cayanne) and I am so thankful I did. It is delicious and my new go to recipe for chili. Thank you for sharing it.
This is a very good recipe but I thought that there was too much salt in it even after cutting the salt to 3/4 of a teaspoon and using beef broth with 50% less salt. That is why I gave it 4 stars. Other than that, it’s a great recipe.
Great recipe for all ages I am a younger seasoned cook I loved it it was a great recipe spices were right on if you follow the recipe how it’s written my mother is 70 and her husband is 87 and they both enjoyed it it was perfect for everybody
This is a great, easy to make crowd-pleaser. I love chili but could never just “throw together” a batch. This recipe is delicious with just the right amount of seasoning to be super-flavorable but not over-the-top for any sensitive palates. Hint: cut the optional amount of cayenne in half and it’s just enough to give a hint of heat, and still mild enough that my 8 year old daughter loves it!
I trippled this recipe can I cook it on low in crock pot?