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.
One of the best chili recipes I’ve had! We love it!
Made this tonight. Turned out great.
Great recipe!
Excellent chili! I’ve completely changed over to this recipe from my longtime favorite.
It’s good, but too much sugar! I used less than half and it was still too sweet. I should’ve listened to my intuition. I’ve never followed a recipe for chili and it’s always been really good. I wanted to try something new so I gave this a shot. It’s a great recipe, but just be warned that you might want to adjust the sugar to your liking.
This recipe was excellent!
I’ve been making this Chili for a couple of years now, and it is the best flavored and so easy to make. Thank you
Whole family wowed over this chili!! It’s a keeper not making anything else, thanks!
This is a delicious and easy to make chili! Time saving meal and my family loves it!
This IS the best chili I have ever made!
I tried this Chili recipe because my kids like chili. I’m not the biggest fan of it, but this recipe is sooo good! I think this may be the only chili I like!
Very very good! I added Tabasco
Delicious! Maybe a little less cumin. Loved that you listed double and triple quantities.
Delicious and has become a standard recipe in my kitchen! Thx so much 😋
I added( 1 link) of chopped andouille sausage- delish
Not the best at this, not the best at that…but overall an excellent and easy preparation of everyday chili.
Can’t miss with this. From now on my quick go-to chili recipe for a cold winter day.
Just made this recipe and added a whole diced jalapeno with about 1/2 its seeds while cooking the meat and onions and some smoked hot paprika to taste in combination with all the other spices. This is really good. A little kick but not hot. Definitely the best chili recipe I have found so far.
Great recipe! Easy and delicious.
I used your chili recipe and I gotta say that it was the absolute best chili I’ve ever had… My fiance and guest said the same…
Thank you for sharing this recipe… 🙂
Quick cheap an easy to make. Omg this was so easy to make and really delicious. My 9year old had never had chilli and now she loves chilli. We ate ours with saltine crackers and shredded cheese great Friday night meal for the family.
I’ve been cooking chili for 60 years, but I saw this recipe and decided to try it. I really think it’s the best I’ve had in years. I tweaked the chili and cumin a bit, but otherwise I followed it to a T. I would recommend it to anyone.
This was fabulous! I made it for a group of men on game night. One plans on having it for breakfast.
My only substitutions were fresh garlic instead of powdered. I also cut back on the salt. That’s a personal preference.
The best chili I ever made! Husband raved about it. Fly EAGLES fly!🤞🤞Will make it again for the Super Bowl🤗🤗🤗
You’ll never try another chili recipe again.
My husband said this is the best chili I’ve ever made. Next time I’ll leave out the cayenne pepper though. The only thing I did different was I substituted turkey broth for the beef broth. It’s what I had on hand.
This recipe made making my own chili approachable for me. Next time, I’ll use more garlic and less cumin. There is definitely going to be a next time!
Chilli was yummy. Vegetarian here, added carrots and bell peppers.
Its been pouring rain for 2 weeks. Time to cook something cozy and warm. Stumbled across this simple recipe and was blown away by the flavor. Comes together easily. I was out of kidney beans so substituted pinto, but still delicious. Was perfect with shredded cheese, sour cream toppings. Thanks! My first homemade chili!
This was the best chili recipe ever! I will definitely make it again. However I did reduce the chili powder. I only used 2 tablespoons and that was plenty.
It was very easy ! My family loved this chili
This was a hit. The family wants me to make another batch for tomorrow. We topped with sour cream and crushed Fritos (or cornbread) .
Best chili recipe I’ve ever make! Easy and delicious. My family loved it specially my kids, they’re asking me to make it again. Thank you!
So simple so good.
Last minute dinner! I came across this recipe, had all the ingredients and even added some jalapenos. It was great! Simple, quick and planning to make again.
This was the best chili I’ve ever made!!! I forgot tomato sauce, so I used the rest of the paste with the rest of the broth & it was delicious!!!
It truly is the best chili!
OMG!!! I tried this recipe over the weekend and it was soooo Gooood!!! This recipe did not disappoint. This will be my go to recipe from now on.
Easy, quick, & absolutely delicious. I make this all the time.
Delicious! I added two cans of kidney beans because we like more beans. I think you could use any type of bean. I also used half mild and half hot ground chili because that’s all I had and it came out perfect. I printed it off because I’m not going bother to make any other chili recipe.
Very consistent! We do add a little smoked paprika and garlic but Love the ease of this recipe! Always topped with cheese, an sour cream! Delicious
It was really flavorful. My family liked it as well. I doubled the recipe.
I’ve tried many different chili recipes, but this one SO good. The perfect blend of spices! This was just what our family needed on a chilly winter night! 😉
Very, very good! Pantry staples and easy instructions made this perfect!
Absolutely loved this chili. So good and very easy to make. The whole family loves it also. I used 2 hienz mixed chilli beans in a can. Came out perfect
So how much broth did you end up using? I forgot the tomato sauce too! 😂
Very good! Will make again!!
This is such a flavorful chili! Best recipe I have tried! Very good!
This turned out great!! We all loved it.
This is a very good chili recipe. I loved it.
I have made so many fancy chilis–Cincinnati Skyline, white, West Texas (no beans! yikes). This is the one my family likes best, by far! And so easy: adios, cinnamon and chocolate… I do sometimes sub out the kidney beans for black or small red, depending on what I have on hand. All works out great! Thanks
Great recipe thank you! My new go to!
Very flavorful. Will make this again. Thanks
Excellent (if a little hot for some!)
Added to my recipe file😀
Absolutely delicious!! I swapped the diced tomatoes for Rotel and used bacon grease I read of olive oil. Will definitely make this one again!
Loved it. Was delicious – we can’t wait to eat the left overs tomorrow! ( I also added a couple crushed cloves of garlic to it).
This is the BEST chili recipe that I have used. My family loved it and my son’s fiancé asked for the recipe.
I did consider saying it was a secret family recipe but I did the right thing and shared the recipe with her. 😊
My husband said it was the best chili he has ever had; and our son won 1st place several times, 2nd place, and people’s choice in chili cook-offs. Hats off to you on this recipe!!
The only change I am going to make is the amount of cumin, not my favorite taste!
Thanks for sharing.
I topped it off with taco-flavored cheese and sour cream.
Deb
Delicious. Best chili I’ve ever made.
We really like this recipe!! Easy and delicious!
I make this all the time. Love the base recipe and make variations frequently.
Love this recipe!! My personal tweek is to reduce sugar to 1 tablespoon and I use a heaping 1/4 teaspoon of Cayenne since I like it hot!! Awesome!!!
Very good tasting chili. Everyone that tried it really liked it. Will be my go to recipe.
This is a really good Chili! I only use 1 TBSP of Cumin, and it didn’t need anything spicy to have the perfect spice for this family!
Great recipe! I always make a double batch. Wouldn’t change a thing and so easy!
Some seriously good chili!
My go to chili. Always delicious!
Absolutely the best chile I have made. Made it twice now and tripled the recipe. Freezes good. It don’t last long. Only thing different is I halved the sugar and also added in some thin ribeye for additional meat and texture .
Awesome chili! Highly recommend this recipe!
One of the best chili recipes I’ve made… I used turkey ground meat and ground turkey sausage meat as a substitute to the 2lbs beef and chicken stock… everyone in my household thought it was very good!
Can you make this is the crockpot?
Great
I’ve used this recipe over 20 times because my family just loves this chili. I do not alter the recipe at all. Absolutely delicious with saltine crackers, cheddar cheese, and sour cream.
The best recipe I’ve every made. Made it for work a Chile contest and won 1st place.
Love all the ingredients. Wonderful receipe. Made it this morning & can’t wait to try it later.
I really liked this recipe. They best part for me was the combination of seasonings. I used ground chicken and chicken seasoning and it turned out to be one of my best chili’s yet.
Made earlier today .. having it for dinner tonight.. I didn’t have paste but I added extra diced tomatoes and sauces little chocolate and a cup of black coffee… fresh chopped garlic and extra cayenne pepper… it smells so good I had to try it and it is delicious!!! THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR RECIPE!!! It’s great alone but also a great starter to change up a little. You killed it girl!!!
I use 1.5 the spices roughly and add diced green chiles mild- use real garlic also- little bit of paprika and parsley- great chili- thanks for recipe! Made it many times for the family- perfect for chilly weather-
Best chili I’ve made so far! I added 1C each frozen spinach, corn, and bell pepper strips!
Best chili recipe I’ve tried yet. Brought me back to childhood growing up in Texas. I substituted ground turkey for 1/2 of the ground beef and no one can tell the difference. Used all high quality spices the first time (they come in glass containers) and it turned out better than the second batch I made with lower quality spices (cheap plastic containers). Really good recipe! Will be a staple from now on.
This was a great, straight forward chili recipe. We did double everything except the chili powder and sugar. For the chili powder, we used a tablespoon each of ancho and paseilla chili powders and a half tablespoon of chipotle chili powder. I’m the future, we will cut back the chipotle even more. It pushed by spice limit. Overall, great!
Don’t have beef broth can I use water instead
Delicious chili! I doubled the recipe, added green bell pepper with the onion, another 2 tbsp of tomato paste, and another cup of broth to finish the carton. It was the best I’ve ever made!
That sounds good but I have some questions. Did you thaw them first? Did you cook them with the onion and ground beef? Or did you toss them in as the chili was cooking? Sorry for all the questions, I’m not a very experienced cook.
Try yellow squash and zucchini! Great!
Delicious
Made the recipe just like it’s written with the Cayenne pepper and it was amazing! Best Chili I’ve ever had! Friends and family loved it!!
This is my family’s new favorite chili recipe! We sub crushed tomatoes for the diced tomatoes and it’s delicious!
Any hints for using the Crock-Pot with this recipe?
love this recipe! i always add bell and poblano peppers in it. along with ex beef chunks and garlic to the spice mix.
This chili is AMAZING! Tonight was my second time to make it and I doubled the recipe, thinking now I should have tripled for plenty of leftovers! So easy and delicious! Thank you, this will be my go to from now on.
Best and easy recipe. I use diced shredded carrot, instead of sugar for sweetness and saute it with red onion.
I never made chili before. I picked this recipie it looked easy enough. It is absolutely delicious. Tonight was my third time making it in a week. I brought it to a few family members now everyone wants me to keep making it. Thank you so much for the recipe.