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.
The best homemade chili recipe and it’s so full of flavor!
Best chili recipe ever!!! Me and the kids love it and my 11 year old son who is very picky btw said that it’s the only chili I’m allowed to make now lol!
I followed the recipe exactly. It was so simple and so good!
This was an easy recipe to make. I followed it to a T as far as the ingredients go, and I found it a little salty, If you add a little bit more water that should take care of it and it’s really good. I made a double batch of this and it was gone and within 24 hours.
I love this recipe for making chili and I can understand how it gets 5 stars. I have printed it out and made it many times. What I love about it is that I do not use many pans and the spice mix is spot on! However, I have made a couple of tweaks that I want to share that work for me. In no way am I saying there is anything wrong with this delicious recipe!
1. I changed this to a crock pot recipe so I can have it cook all day long. I add the beans to the cock pot and add the mixture of all the other ingredients after it has been cooked. I can then cook it on low for 8 hours (I maybe stir it once an hour).
2. I added a can of garbanzo bean (drained), and a can of chili bean in chili sauce (whole can). (I like more beans.)
3. I got rid of adding the tomato sauce and just added a whole 6 oz can of tomato paste. (The small cans are much easier to find and store than tubes of tomato paste and it costs less. Also, I do not like having half used cans of tomato paste in my fridge.)
4. I will sometimes use ground turkey instead of ground beef and I do not stick steadfast to the 1 pound. (I will sometimes use a whole package of Costco ground turkey which is 1.7 lbs.). I have found that the spice mixture of this recipe compensates A LOT for the quality of meat as I even use a 1 lbs tube of frozen turkey meat from Aldi’s and the chili is still awesome.
Thank you SO much for this chili recipe. I really appreciate it!
If doubling the recipe, do you double the spices? Thank you
Wow! So much flavor! Followed your recipe just added 1/2 cup of corona beer! This recipe is easy and delicious it’s a keeper! Thank you!
Yummy!!! This was quick to throw together. It’s perfect for a cold day!!
Good basic recipe
The only chili I now make. My family loved it! I added an extra can of red beans as we like a lot of beans. So much flavor.
I tried your chili. I didn’t change a thing.. It was amazing👍.
Easy, simple and full of flavor
Will definitely be my go to chili,
I give you 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you for sharing.
Wow! This is the best chili I have ever made. Thank for a new go to recipe. The ingredients sounded perfect and although I usually make changes, I did not here and it is perfect! A hit with my man, as well.
Hello (fellow Hoosier),
Second time I’ve used this recipe. All said, the best and easiest chili recipe I’ve ever cooked. Thank you.
I add frozen corn for the simmer/at the end of recipe and a generous pat of unsalted butter (to take a little edge off the acidity of the tomato ingredients) and round out the taste with a subtle richness.
Very good !,,
Great chilli recipe! Delicious
I make this quite frequently and it’s really a hit in the neighborhood and with friends and relatives as they all want the recipe! I add an ingredient that really adds a lot of flavor. I browned up 12 Italian sweet sausage and slice them up and add them to the chili……try it. Unbelievable!
Tasty indeed. Working primarily with items on hand, I had no cayenne, but added red pepper flakes and a small can of whole kernel corn, and topped with shredded cheddar. Two thumbs up from everyone 👍 👌
Great Recipe. easy to make..thx
The chili recipe is GREAT!!! Most recipes are under seasoned, this one was perfect. I cut the beef broth and added a can of beer. Thanks for sharing your recipe
Sue Florida
Just made this and it’s the basic, delicious chili I was looking for on a 23 degree Vermont night. Quick, economical, easy and customizable for different tastes. I did not add the cayenne.