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.
Awesome recipe! My fussy 11 year old loved it and she’s my toughest critic. I doubled the recipe so I could freeze some for a busy week night that I know will come now that we’re back to school & evening activities.
As a novice cook, I can’t believe that I could ever make anything this delicious. Thank you!!!
The best beef chili ever!
Looks great, will try it!
Have made this chili recipe for the last year and my brother says it is the Best!
I add celery, green peppers, mushrooms and a little airplane size bottle of Jack Daniels to it! Very taste!
First time making chili using your recipe. My husband loved it. It’s perfect. Thank you!!
Yummy.
Very good cooking
Great!
Love this chili! I add a little less chili powder and it’s perfect..
This chil was awesome, easy to make as well. Will be adding it to my recipe book for sure.
Love this recipe. It’s soon good.👍👍
This is my absolute favorite Recipe!
I just added less Sugar!
I made it many times!
Best chili recipe and so easy to make. It’s a family favorite.
I simmer with a couple of bay leaves a a splash of red wine. Love this simple recipe as is, too.
I saved this recipe because this had become my family’s goto chili recipe. We tweak it a little by adding a small can of roasted green chilis, a can of black beans and I use half beef broth and half Guinness. The spice combination you have is perfect!
I will never wing it with chili again. Sticking to this recipe. The whole family loves it.
5 ⭐️
I tried this recipe, having never made chili in my life. My husband thought homemade chili sounded good, so I got online for ‘best chili recipe’, and this recipe came up. This is the best chili we have ever eaten. My husband still raves about how this chili is better than any chili he has ever tasted. Thank you very much for sharing.
Note: I cooked 8 oz. pinto beans and 8 oz. red kidney beans in a slow cooker in place of the canned beans. I replaced garlic powder with two cloves fresh minced garlic, and added 1/2 diced green bell pepper to chili. I combined all ingredients in the slow cooker, and simmered on low heat for 5 hours.
Should I cook and drain the fat from the beef before putting it in the crockpot? Or just throw everything in crockpot using a lean beef?
Alyssa, since the recipe uses 90% ground beef, it will not have much fat after the beef is browned. I suggest not draining.
My kids loved it! I just added 1 can of spicy chili beans, 1 can of kidney beans and 1 can of black beans with some celery, and red and green peppers.
It was perfect!!