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 for a quick chili recipe. We loved it. My family likes spicy so we used hot Rotel kept the Cheyenne and used a little less sugar. ❤️❤️Will make this again. Thanks for the recipe
Amazing! I omitted the onion so kids didnt complain and used chili ready beans and tomatoes. I also reduced the beef broth to one cup for a thicker consistency. This will be a staple in our rotation.
Too much spice- family did not like
Made it as stated in recipe-
4 TABLESPOONS of cumin and
5 TABLESPOONS of chili powder
And
3 TABLESPOONS of garlic powder??!!
Is this correct?
PLEASE RESPOND
Sounds like you doubled the spices. I actually cut the spices in half since I don’t like too spicy. I added 3 or 4 TB of sugar since I like mine a little sweeter. Also add 1 teaspoon of cocoa powder for richness—a secret my mom taught me.
SO tasty
Absolutely the classic Chili we ate growing up!! Insert a PBJ and I’m back in Grams kitchen!! Thank you!!
This is really good. Will cut back on the broth next time, came out a little watery tasting.
We’ve been craving chili and this didn’t disappoint! Recommend adding the cayenne pepper that is optional. It really elevated the flavor of the chili. Will make this again and again. 10 stars if I could. Thanks for a great recipe.
The best chili that I have ever made and delicious,thank you for this recipe.
Made this for a party with other chili recipes to taste and received lots of compliments.
This is fantastic! Made with Impossible ground beef, diced tomatoes/chilies and added some beer. Will definitely put on the rotation, so easy and good!
Great tasting chili and easy to make.
Great basic chili recipe. I never add sugar to my chili. The 1 1/2 cups of broth seemed like too much. I used just 1 cup and it was plenty. It was simple to make and delicious.
Seriously so delicious! A simple classic chili my whole family loved!!
Making this for at least the fifth time tonight, this is the BEST chili recipe.
Delicious, very easy recipe!!
My family and I loved this recipe!
Super easy recipe and has good flavor! By far the best chili recipe I’ve made
Great!!!!
Amazing recipe and soooo easy. I’ve gotten so many compliments. Everyone says it’s the best. I don’t usually have cayenne pepper so I leave it out. I usually double it and swap a can of tomatoes for diced tomatoes with green chilies (mild). Easy recipe to adjust to your own taste.
My husband and my family said it was the best chili they have tasted. I added an extra can of kidney beans and I used one less tablespoon of cumin and sugar because I had never used it before and I wanted to make sure we liked it but it turned out excellent. I also have never used a can of beef broth in my chili before but that added to it very well done
FIRST TME MAKING ITS DELICIOUS…MADE A LILSCRATCH CORNBREAD…OMG…🥰❤🥰
Great chili recipe with one exception. Way too much cumin in the recipe. It overpowers everything. Next time I will reduce cumin to 2 teaspoons and see if that helps.
I agree completely. Very good, but definitely next time will go easy on the cumin.
I’ve been using this recipe for at least the last four years, it’s truly the best recipe I’ve come across! So delicious!
I had a group of eight over and everybody raved about the chili. They said it was so good. It was very delicious. I’ve never put sugar in chili before. It brought the flavor of the spices out.