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 made this recipe a few times and it is amazing. My family loves it. Thank you for sharing.
This is the first chili recipe I’ve found online that even comes close to my mother’s!! I wasn’t quite sure what to expect but it was absolutely delicious. The only addition I made was adding green peppers, and if you like spicy I’d go with 1/2 a tsp or more of Cayenne instead of 1/4 tsp because I didn’t find 1/4 spicy at all. Other than that, I absolutely recommend this recipe!!
You can make this delicious chili low carb. Double the meat and omit the beans. I added roasted poblanos to mine as well. Great flavor!
Yummy and super easy!
amazing!! very explained!!
Excellent! I doubled the recipe, used vegetable broth, doubled the tomato paste and added a can of chipotle diced tomatoes for just a bit of heat and I think it was perfect!
Amazing chili. Made it last night and my husband had 3 bowls!!!
My family LOVED this!
I added:
1 green bell pepper – chopped
2 cans of kidney beans – drained
2 cans tomato sauce
– 2 cans water
2 tbsp Medium chili powder
1 tbsp hot chili powder
2 c beef broth
1 lg zucchini finely chopped (gotta get their veggies!)
3 whole roma tomatoes chopped
Sour cream & shredded cheese
Grilled cheese sandwiches for the starving teens!
So this made top 2 of husbands favorite foods 🙂 thanks so much for posting!! It was a little spicy but I also may have added a tiny bit too much of the cayenne, however he loved it and it was gone in less than 2 minutes ! Lol
I kind of added my own flavors here and there but this recipe is beyond the best
2 tbs of Cumin? Anyone else not a big fan of Cumin, but happy with the results? I’m hesitant…
Cumin makes the dish.
First time making chili and was it delicious! I’m not too fond of Cumni and 2 tablespoons seemed quite a lot for my taste. Next time I’ll do 1 TBSP. 😉 Overall, easy and yummy recipe. Thanks for the great recipe Amanda. 🙂
I have made this twice! The first time, I knew it was a keeper. My husband and neighbors devoured it. The 2nd time was for a chili cook off for work…I won!!! My husband was sure to get 3 servings worth before I took it into work. It is SO good.
This is such a great classic. I’m serving it as a Chili Bar at my daughter’s birthday present…thanks so much for sharing!
My family loved this recipe! I also added halo a packet of dry ranch mix. Amazing! Thank you for sharing!
Do you drain the groundbeef?
idont think so thats all the flavor
I found this to be a good chili recipe, the next time I make it I will add one more can of beans and 1 TBLS less of sugar.
Best chili recipe I have made
I really enjoyed this chili recipe, I wanted to try something different from the box chili, and I am glad I did.
Simple and easy
Being from Cincinnati I’ve eaten a Bunch of chili in my life and I’ve made chili hundreds of times, and I thought my recipe was good. I was wrong. This was the best chili I’ve ever eaten! This will be my forever recipe!