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.
Loved it! Think i’ll cut back a bit on the sugar next time. Added a bell pepper. Forgot the tomato paste – doh! Didn’t miss it. Will make this again!!! And will definitely check out other Wholesome Dish recipes! Thanks!
This is my go-to chili recipe. I follow the recipe as is, minus the salt. My family loves it.
Love this recipe! It’s my go to for chili now.
I’ve made this twice so far. Boyfriend has said both times it is best chili he’s ever had. 🙂
Perfect!💫💫💫💫💫
Easy and great flavor. Not spicy(hot) so add something for heat if you like it that way
Great recipe, cooked this last night and believe it or not had a bowl to warm up this morning for breakfast and it was better than last nights.
Thank you for sharing this recipe.
I added 1 cup of beer, 1/4 tsp of chilli flakes and 1/4 tsp of paprika. It’s now a hit whenever anyone visits my house!!
Very flavorful! I made a double batch, and was short a 1 of the 2 cans of diced tomatoes, so I substituted about 8 oz of ketchup and a fresh 🍅. I may keep it that way, it os delicious.
This was the best Chile Bean’s I made in a long time and it was all done in thirty minute.
My husband and I agreed this was the best chili I had ever made! I did change one thing – I happened to have ingredients that were close, not exact; diced tomatoes “chili ready” and Bush “chili beans” (with sauce). I didn’t add the cayenne pepper because the tomatoes added extra spice. I left it out until we tried it and we thought it was perfect! If you have never made chili – this is the recipe to use. If you’ve made all kinds of varieties and want to get back to basic Sunday football chili – this is the one!
Made the chili recipe, added green pepper and celery it was very good. I would love the recipe for the chocolate chip cookies that are shown on the sign up page!
Ever since I tried this it has been my go to Chili recipe. My son used to say he didn’t like Chili, now he requests it often. It’s easy and the leftovers are great. It never goes to waste.
My go to recipe for chili! My family loves it!
TL,DR: Excellent chili recipe, flavorful and easy to make with staples you usually have on hand! Borderline too salty and slightly to sweet for my family’s taste as written, but still delicious.
Longer review: I’ve made this recipe 4 times now, the first 2 times I followed the recipe as written except for using a 15 oz can of tomato sauce, as I couldn’t find an 8 oz. (Still turns out nice and thick). We found the recipe wonderful, flavorful, and it comes together fast and easy, which is a huge plus. For our taste buds though, we found it to be a bit salty and slightly too sweet. The third time I made it, I decreased the salt from 1.5 to 1 teaspoon, and the sugar from 2 tablespoons to 1 tablespoon. Near perfection! The fourth time, I kept it at 1 tsp of salt and 1 TBSP of sugar, but also added 2 TBSP of worcestershire sauce. Bingo, we have perfection! The recipe didn’t feel like it was really “missing” anything, but the extra umami provided by the worcestershire gives it a little something extra that has you licking the bowl. I’ve pre-measured a few containers worth of the spice mix to keep on hand, because this has become a family favorite. We serve it with shredded cheddar cheese, and sometimes corn bread.
Very good…
The best chili I have ever made
Good, but personally I would have cut down on the sugar. It is too sweet for my liking.
Excellent flavors!
This is my first critique of a recipe, ever. That’s how good this recipe is!! It’s an all American chili recipe. Love the seasoning as is. As for the thickness, while a little loose first day (which I personally love), leftovers thicken up. Thanks for posting this recipe. I’m so glad I found it!!