The Best Classic Chili

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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.

The Best Classic Chili recipe in a red bowl topped with cheese and sour cream

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.
onions and ground beef sautรฉing in a soup pot
  • Add chili powder, cumin, sugar, tomato paste, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and optional cayenne. 
  • Stir until well combined.
chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, sugar, salt, and pepper over browned beef and onions in a pot
  • Add diced tomatoes, kidney beans, beef broth, and tomato sauce. 
  • Stir well.
diced tomatoes over chili seasoned ground beef and onions in a soup pot
  • Simmer for 20-25 minutes.
  • Let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
beans, beef broth, and tomato sauce added to chili seasoned beef, onions, and tomatoes in a pot

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.

Find more of my recipes on TikTok

The best classic chili recipe in a red bowl topped with cheddar cheese and sour cream

The Best Classic Chili Recipe

4.96 from 3740 votes
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.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Video

Servings 6 servings
Calories 334 kcal

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

*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.
**I typically skip the cayenne pepper because I have a young kiddo. ย Then, I put out some hot sauce for those adults that want to add some spiciness to their chili.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/6th of the recipe | Calories: 334kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 1249mg | Potassium: 1110mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1445IU | Vitamin C: 12.8mg | Calcium: 99mg | Iron: 7.5mg
Course Dinner, Entree, Main Course
Keyword best chili, chili recipe, classic chili, homemade chili
Cuisine American
Author Amanda Finks

Check out all of my great ground beef recipes.

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Excellent, rich flavor. I made as directed and added about a 1/4 cup of soy chorizo to the ground beef, then added a tiny pinch of cinnamon and about a teaspoon of smoked paprika to the seasonings. I think this may be the best chili recipe Iโ€™ve tried!

  2. 5 stars
    Iโ€™ve made chili for years and itโ€™s always been tasty but this recipe kicked it up a notch. Fantastic flavour. Itโ€™s a new family favourite.

  3. 5 stars
    I read the comments of this recipe and wasnโ€™t sure. Everyone claims to have the best this best that and everyoneโ€™s taste pallet is different (me being very picky) BUT THIS RECIPE followed properly is by far the best chili you will ever taste in your life. I put my word on that.

    1. 5 stars
      This was excellent as written! We love โ€œheatโ€ so I added more cayenne and a chopped jalapeno. It was sweeter than most chilis Iโ€™ve had (used brown sugar instead of white) but everyone LOVED it!! Zero leftovers and I doubled recipe for 8 people. Making this again tonight – I may cut the sugar back by one TBL. Nevertheless this will be my go to chili recipe from now on. Great with corn bread!!! GREAT RECIPE- thanks for sharing!

    2. 5 stars
      Great recipe. Easy to heat up๐Ÿ”ฅ or tone down according to taste. I use this recipe now instead of just wingin it. I still add fresh bell peppers and hot peppers to it but the seasonings are spot on. Thanks for a great recipe ๐Ÿ˜‹

  4. 5 stars
    This is a huge favorite for my family. I’m told it’s the best chili they’ve ever eaten. They’re having me make it at least once a week. ๐Ÿ™‚ I enjoy cooking, but I’m also glad this recipe is so easy to make.

    1. 5 stars
      This is a good recipe! I didn’t have all the ingredients so had to sub real garlic and homemade hot sauce, the rest was as written. I might let it simmer more next time as it was a bit runny, but the flavor was a hit! I served it with homemade beer bread – yum ๐Ÿ˜‹. Thanks for your recipe!!

  5. I have never made homemade chili without using Williams Chili seasoning. Well no more. I loved this recipe. My husband also loved this recipe. It was just what I was looking for. I did not use the cayenne as I do not like a lot of spice, It was still fabulous.

    1. 5 stars
      Easy, wonderful taste. Added my love of red pepper and mushrooms, mmmmmmmm to all ingredients in it. No more pre-made chili spice envelopes !

  6. 5 stars
    Great recipe! I add chopped Serrano and chopped Jalapeรฑo peppers, but this recipe is the base for my favorite chili. Some of my family are sensitive to spicy foods too, so I add my own habanero hot sauce to mine, but itโ€™s so good!

    1. 5 stars
      I’m always the picky one in the group I despise bell peppers and I don’t like spicy foods but it seems that most chilis have one or both of these. Now I’ve found my forever chili with this recipe! Plus everybody likes mine better than chili with all of that “stuff” in it ๐Ÿ˜‰ Thank you for introducing me to the world of yummy chili!

  7. 5 stars
    Iโ€™m 90 years old. Iโ€™m not a great cook. I read recipes for instant pot that my son gave me. I felt inadequate. So I looked on line and found this easy to read and follow Chilie. It REALLY worked! It tasted perfect.
    THANKS!

  8. 5 stars
    This is a super versatile recipe and I make it all the time. Once in a while I add a can of refined beans as my daughter likes the texture like that. And, one shake of liquid smoke and a diced jalapeรฑo instead of cayenne. Works wonderful with beef, ground pork, ground turkey or ground venison. Thank you!

  9. 5 stars
    Recipe was so good! I left the cayenne out and added diced orange bell pepper and diced celery. Paired it with Red Lobster biscuits. Great chilly weather meal!

  10. 5 stars
    This was REALLY delicious. I made a double batch. Aside from minor tweaking of seasoning (less cumin and cutting the sugar way back), I followed this recipe except that I reversed the order of the cooking of the ground beef and onion because I wanted to get a good sear of the ground beef. This recipe will be saved.

  11. 5 stars
    I love this one! It’s perfect chili!

    Eat this amazing chili with some delicious cinnamon rolls! (Shout-out to my school lunch program for introducing this perfect combo.) You won’t be sorry!

About Amanda Finks

Iโ€™m a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist living in Zionsville, IN. Iโ€™m an avid cook, travel nerd, & lover of good food! Iโ€™m trained in Food Science & recipe development. Itโ€™s my mission to bring you the BEST recipes your whole family will love!

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