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.
Delicious thank you for sharing
Have made this several times, but still dubious when I measure out TABLE-spoons of cumin, chili, garlic, sugar, thinking this is going to be too strongly flavored. And then, after all’s said and done, we find it perfectly flavored. Def a keeper recipe! Out of habit, whenever chopping onions, I always mince fresh garlic and add to whatever I’m sauteing. I forget the recipe already has 1T garlic powder. I also use two cans kidney beans instead of one. Love having some leftovers!
I must be an outlier because I followed the recipe exactly, and it was fantastic! Sometime, if I feel like I need more spice, I will add a can of diced tomatoes with chilies.
Been a while since I’ve used that much cumin with a mere pound of lean burger, but the flavor combination was heavenly. Decided to mess with a few ingredients (fresh diced tomatoes instead of canned, two different bean types, etc.)…
Next time I’ll block a little more time and try out the Bacon Cheddar Jalapeno Cornbread recipe too!
Highly recommended! Thanks!
This recipe has made my chili-fan husband very happy. It’s also a very forgiving recipe because I never do it exactly the same but it still comes out well.
I tripled the recipe and used ground turkey! Great recipe!
This chili is a hit!! I didn’t have enough garlic powder so I added garlic salt and didn’t put regular salt in it. I also forgot to get tomato sauce at the store, so I Substitute Newman’s Own Roasted Garlic sauce. It came out great!
(My family and I are HUGE garlic lovers) I made corn bread to serve with it.
The family is already asking when I will make it again!
Mm I bet the corn bread tasted good with it. 🙂
Made it exactly as described using low sodium diced tomatoes still a little salty. Next time added 1/2 salt and perfect! Never going to try another recipe for chili.
Been looking for a new chili recipe for awhile now, tried many but wasn’t happy. This however is so… So.. Good. My search is over, thank you very much for sharing.
Loved it! Fav Chile recipe!
I agree with others, the sugar in the recipe is to balance out the acidity of the tomatoes. But you shouldn’t be able to taste it.
This is my favorite chili recipe. The only thing I add is an extra can of kidney beans and black beans. It’s perfect!
I used Indian store brought chili powder and it turned out pretty spicy. I will use mild chili power next time. We all loved it even though it was too spicy.
This recipe is amazing! I don’t think I can ever try a new one now. Made it for my friends and family and was a fan favorite!
Best chili ever! Whole family LOVES this meal! If you don’t like sweetness with your chili, cut the sugar to 1 tblspn or none at all.
Excellent chili! Easy to make after work – after you get it simmering. you can do other things. It is just the right mix of spice and sweetness. We add a little hot sauce because we like spicy chili, and serve with corn bread. I’ve made this several times and it always turns out perfectly. Thank you for the recipe
Really excellent recipe. From my cooking experience (novice) I swapped the regular sugar for brown sugar. makes a small difference.
I don’t eat chili but I work for MLB so during baseball season I make a week’s worth of meals for my family on a day off. This was quick and easy and I doubled the recipe so I could freeze some. I got rave reviews from everyone.
This is my favorite chili recipe on the net. You must have made it incorrect. The point is not to taste the sugar. No one even knew I used it when I made it.
I’m not so sure you did exactly what the recipe says. Granted if you did. Be aware of how much sugar or salt to add to your recipes. Its all up to personal taste.
I only make this chilli recipe. The greatest. When I bring some to my office, everyone goes nuts. Love it!