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.
I have won 3 chili cook offs with your recipe! It is so easy and so good.
Lisa
Love this recipe
Great tasting chili. Made it twice but reduced amount of sugar second time. Thanks for allowing me to test your recipe! I husband absolutely loves chili and this recipe was a hit with him.
Are the beans canned or bagged beans
I’m not the author, but generally chili recipes call for canned beans. If you had beans leftover you wanted to use, it’d be about 2 cups. Just be sure to give em a rinse.
The ingredient list calls for canned red kidney beans, drained and rinsed.
Do you drain the grease from the meat?
Excellent chili! I added 1/2 green bell pepper because I had it on hand. Easy recipe . Perfect for a cool winter day in California 😎
This is my 4th time making this recipe. I reduced the sugar to to 1 table spoon as I found it a little sweet. I have also substituted chicken for the beef, jarred tomato sauce and added sweet potatoes.
Great dish!
Very pleased with this recipe! I made it on a Sunday as meal-prep for the busy week, along with some Jiffy cornbread muffins. I like some spice so I added in dried chili peppers and extra cayenne. May add a little more beans next time, but I agree with the comment below that this produces a surprisingly large amount of chilli! Will definitely make it again 🙂
We love this recipe! I’ve made it many times. My grown son moved in with me and he really enjoys it! In fact i wasnt making it because we are headed into summer season and he ask me to please make it cause he just l8ves it no matter what the time of the year it is. Also, I may vary it a little depending on ingredients on hand or the mood I am in. One of the other reviewers said they vary it a little but keep to the main recipe. So do I!
Tried this recipe today and Hubby loved it, no more packages for me. Added bell peppers, my only addition. This is a keeper for sure.
I made the chilli today exactly what the recipe called for ….
and it’s perfect ,super yummy!
Thank you !
This was just the most perfect chili. Really flavorful and the consistency was excellent. I did add a couple more tablespoons of tomato paste, as I like my chili thick not runny.
Just made chili for the first time ever using this recipe and it came out amazing. Thank you!!
This has become my new go-to Chili recipe! I add black beans, that’s the only change I make 👍😋
The best chili recipe ever!! It’s been awhile since I’ve made it, so I’m making it tonight. But I don’t have any tomato paste. Will the chili be okay without it?
Excellent recipe, went a little lighter on seasonings but could of added all. Thank you #wholesomedish
Followed the recipe almost to a T. Only changed this (first time making) by adding one 15 oz can of garbanzo beans. And draining meat before adding spices, etc. Delicious. Will make again. Next time might slightly reduce cumin and slightly increase chili powder. But still, delicious.
I love this recipe it’s my go to chilli 😋
This is my go to recipe for Chili
I made it exactly like this + a dab of liquid smoke & ½ mini can of green chili peppers diced, with & poultry seasoning & OMG IT’S DELICIOUS! Ty
Great recipe. I would suggest draining the tomatoes and I would also suggest using beef stock.
My whole family loved it,it’s delicious 😋