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 made your recipe for the first time last week. Well, let me tell you…it’ll be my “go to” from here on in!! Deliciousness!!! ❤️
Just as good as Wendy’s or even better.
Excellent! My family loves this chili!
Worked like a charm! Making it for the 2nd time today!
I made this chili for supper tonight with grilled cheese sandwiches. It was delicious and perfect for a cold winters evening.
Best regular chili recipe I have tried. I love it, simple and easy; can not go wrong with this one!
Absolutely the BEST chili! My two boys love it! Thank you! Served it on top of a baked potato
Perfect recipe! I also added chocolate powder that I saw in another recipe. This recipe produces a delicious pot of chili! Try it!
I made this recipe last night and it was so awesome!! I highly recommend as you won’t be disappointed.
Oh my goodness! I am a fairly good cook but I have NEVER been able to produce a decent batch of chili. Until today. This recipe is easy and fabulous! I had almost everything in my pantry (I would have been a bit happier if I would have had a package of cornbread mix though). I cannot say enough about how easy and how GOOD this chili is and you don’t have to cook it all day in some extra special cooker. The recipe called for 2 TBLS of sugar and I will cut that down to 1 TBLS the next time I make it.
Also, for diced tomatoes, I only had a 10 oz. can of Rotel tomatoes and they tasted great in this recipe! I cannot thank the people at “The Wholesome Dish” for helping me FINALLY make a tasty batch of chili. I plan to make this again and again and I won’t buy canned chili again.
Very good! Cumin flavor was a little strong. I’d recommend starting with 1-1.5 tablespoons and add more to taste.
I lam be this recipe! 5 stRs
Made this today and it’s AMAZING! My son took one bite and said “That’s really good chili.” He’s mentioned it decreasing more times and hasn’t even had a bowl yet, busy a few small tastes!
I added a small red bell pepper diced and a jalapeño with the seeds removed and diced.
Made this chili many times. I reduce amount of tomato sauce and add can of enchilada sauce. It seems to round out all the flavors.
Today I’m adding package of hot Italian sausage to recipe to give it a kick.
So good. This has been my staple Chilli recipe for over a year!
Very good, just made this today , delicious recipe
This has been my “go to” traditional chili recipe for several years now. If you want a straight up classic chili recipe this is the one for you!! A few alterations I’ve made: I split the beans used, by using Bush’s Mild Chili Red Kidney Beans and Bush’s Black Beans Seasoned in my recipe. I also add minced fresh garlic and reduce the powder in half. I add a bit of dried oregano. We serve with diced white onion, shredded cheese, sour cream and Frito’s Corn Chips (mixed into the chili). They add a nice crunch.
This recipe was exactly what I needed. I just needed the basic ingredients and this sure did the job. I added ground turkey for the meat, added some green peppers and elbow macaroni noodles. Perfection! When served I add more onions, sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese for the toppings. My fiance is in love 😍😍Thank you for sharing this goodness🥰
Loved it!!
I love this recipe and my kids do too! I always double up on the ingredients and sometimes use ground turkey or chicken and sometimes I use both beef and ground chicken or turkey and it always comes out perfect. Great recipe