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, good flavor, will make again!
Everyone loved it!! It’s now my go-to chili.
This is the best Chili recipe ever! My husband and I love it I’m glad I made a big pot I just doubled all the ingredients. We like spicy food do I did add red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper and hot sauce and wow sooooo good I will be making this chili again.
This was the most delicious chili I’ve ever eaten. 10/10 recommend
I always love your recipes but this one was very disappointing. Too spicy.
I’m not a big chili fan , but my husband is. He would eat it daily, if he could. He thought that this was a perfect batch of chili!
I’m saving this recipe.
I have tried a lot of Chili Recipes, but this one is not only easy, it taste great. I added some red pepper flakes, we like it with a little more heat. GREAT!!
Absolutely brilliant recipe mince is difficult to get right.just the flavors the mince tends to
Come out with the strongest taste even though I always buy steak mince 👍
Excellent and truly classic tasting chili recipe! I only strayed from the recipe as written just a tiny bit. I browned the beef in a separate pan so that I could control the heat level and get it good and crusty brown, and drained it before adding to the onions. And I used great northern beans rather than kidney because I prefer the texture. But other than that I made it as written and it’s fast to make and tasted amazing.
Love your recipe. I now know it by heart. I use much more cayenne than you called for. We like the chili a bit Spicer. And cayenne adds flavor besides the heat.
First time ever making chili and everyone loved it.
I did this but doubled the recipe. I did 1 lb lean ground beef, 1 lb ground pork, 1 lb of chopped andouille sausage. Also added a can of drained corn. Turned out great!
This IS the best classic chili recipe and it is very forgiving. I’ve been looking for a recipe like this for years.
My son suggested we make chili on a cold afternoon after school. He found this recipe online. We doubled the recipe but only had 1 lb meat so added 2 cans (pinto and aduki) of beans. Then I was nervous to add so much chili and cumin seasoning and lessened both by 1 Tbsp. I also skipped the tomato paste and halved the salt to be easier on my stomach.
The result: our favorite Chili recipe.
Thank you Amanda Finks!!!
I have made numerous homemade chili recipes but this one has topped them all. I am from Texas and I can tell you that this recipe is definitely worth making!!!
This is our favorite! When we plan on making it we call it “bomb-ass chili night”. I love that this recipe makes it so easy to make it your own. I enjoy making it a sort of Tex style by adding 1/4th teaspoon chipotle powder, white corn, and a small can of those Ortega green chilis. We like it hot hot. So I also add a Serrano and jalapeño after all the seasonings. Instead of regular diced tomatoes, we use fire roasted garlic.
I’m not a huge chili fan, but my hubby loves it so I decided to try to make him some. This was so easy to make and tastes fantastic! Since I’m not a fan of spicy foods, the sugar gave it a subtle sweetness which toned down the spice and made it absolutely amazing… and actually made me a chili lover!! This recipe will definitely a keeper….
DO NOT ADD THE SUGAR
I’ve tried numerous recipes for an easy chili and this is the one I will always make! So good! I used the whole small can of tomato paste (skipped tomato sauce) and added an additional 1/2 c of beef broth. I also added a can of drained black beans. We love thick chili. Thank you so much.
NGL best chili recipe easy to make and already had all the ingredients at home
Delicious!!! And so easy to make! Keeping this recipe for sure.