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 added Green chiles to this recipe and won a chili cook off today! Out of 16 chili’s! lol this is a great recipe! My family loves it!
Quick and easy. Great flavor!
Excellent my go to every time. My family loves this recipe.
Love this recipe! I always add a can of kernel corn, and a couple squares of Lindt 70% cacao dark chocolate. It adds a little richness to it. I also add red and white kidney beans for colour rather than just the red. Bon apetite 👩🍳
Been making your chili for 2 years, I use the 2lb. recipe. I am 66 retired and single. So I take quarts at a time to the bar when I go and all my friends love it. Including the bartenders.
Thankyou for your recipe
Sincerely, Chip Brubaker Toledo, Ohio.
My family loves this recipe. It is the only chili recipe I use!
I add diced red and yellow peppers, and jalapeno. I do not care for kidney beans, so I substitute them with garbanzo beans,
So easy and SO GOOD! I used half the suggested cayenne, which was perfect for us. Served with corn bread!
Amazing
I could tell right away this was going to be a winner. Honestly, I was looking for a recipe that I could make as KETO as possible from SCRATCH – I pretty much doubled the recipe. I switched to 80/20 beef, only added 1 can of black beans and added sautéed mushrooms in place the rest of the beans. 4 cups of my beef bone broth, replaced gran. sugar with gran. xylitol and I added a bit of mild organic salsa. My husband cannot tolerate spicy and this came out perfect for him without the optional cayenne. I really think that most chili is lacking the broth which gives it a deeper flavor so thank you for listing it. Great recipe Amanda – I’m sure it is even better non-keto tweaks. When I make your original recipe I won’t change a thing. Thank you – it’s a keeper!!
I have been looking for a new chili recipe for awhile. They were not what I was looking for. I love love love this chili. This will be at the top of my list. I made it with the cayenne pepper and I love the different spices. Thank you.
This was so simple and delicious!!!
I made this chili for our 2nd chili cook off at my church and won! Its that good.
So easy and yummy!
This is the best chili recipe ever! I cut down the Cumin to 1/2 Tablespoon as someone else suggested and it was better that way. Also added:
-1/2 tsp of Cocoa Powder
-few drops of Worcestershire
-Replaced Tomato Sauce with 14 oz can of crushed tomatoes
Amazing. So flavorful. Great with nachos on the side. Will definitely make this again.
This was delicious! Can’t wait to make it again.
The best. Love this recipe
made this chili and it was delicious! so easy to make
I made this chili, my only change was I used 1/8 tsp of cayenne. After years of searching for the best Chile recipe, THIS IS IT! It’s simplicity does NOT hinder the taste 😊
Lots of flavor! Easy to make, great dinner for the cold weather