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’m not much of a cook and I made this and it was great and people said it was the bomb.
THIS CHILI IS TERRIFIC
So good……perfect for cold weather……
Excellent! The entire family enjoyed it. We will make it again.
I love this. I’ve made it several times only I add a can of beer . You can always spice it up if you want it spicy. But we love it as is
This is one of my absolute favorite recipes!! I leave out the cayenne pepper as I don’t like hot. I make this Edie silly now in fall season with done corn bread!! Oh yummy!!!
This is the best chili I have ever made
A little too sweet for me but other than that it was great! I’ll just do less sugar next time.
Can I make this In a Dutch oven
Really good chili, it’s kinda sweet and spicy but i love it! paired it with some homemade cornbread, and it made the best dinner ever. huge hit!!
I want to make this but it seems like a ton of cumin. Is this amount correct?
I make this all the time ! Definitely my favorite chili recipe 😋
The amount of cumin is correct.
I’ll cut back on the sugar next time. Good chili (it’s on the stove).
I’ve been making this for a couple years now, and it is one of only a handful of meals that my picky 7- and 9-year-old kids happily scarf down! I greatly reduce the sugar and use ground turkey; I serve topped with cheese and sometimes poured over hunks of cornbread! YUMMMM!
This recipe came out well and was so easy! My variations were that I used ground beef & ground pork as well as red and dark red kidney beans and added finely diced jalapeños and poblanos for a little kick. I’m not a big fan of chili but made if for football Sunday. It was a hit! I personally couldn’t stop eating it and can’t wait to make it again and again!!
Very, very good but a little spicy for me. I’m a while with spicy food though. Next time I’ll make it with half the chili powder. Thankfully I didn’t add any of the cayenne. This will definitely be my chili base for future recipes.
This has been in our regular rotation for a while now. Best chili ever-hands down!!! I double up the beans because that’s my preference. Thank you for sharing!
I’ve made this recipe at least 10x. Always a crowd favorite.
Everyone loved it and had seconds – old and young! The kiddos ask to make if again!
Greatest chili recipe, I added 3 kind of beans, black, kidney and red for a twist and it was really great!
Great and easy!
Tasty, but wayyy too much sugar for my liking. Next time I’ll do a half tablespoon of brown sugar
I lowered the salt and added chicken broth. It was very nice and quite flavorful.
My family said we should do this one again. But my brother thought that it needed to be more spicely.
Good taste overall.