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’ve made this chili mamy times. Add 1/2.tsp cinnamon….you will not regret it. Also, I usually use cannelloni beans because my family like them better. Excellent!
Best
Good recipe. If you don’t like it spicy, I would not recommend putting in the extra Cayenne pepper.
I love this recipe, I double it for leftovers. I also omit the diced tomato’s because my kids are picky but it’s a wonderful recipe.
The Best chili in our household.. perfection 💯
Absolute the best chili recipe. With or without beans it is delicious! Especially the next day!
I made this for a big family gathering for Christmas time, everyone loved it. I was told it’s the best Chili they’ve ever had. It’s basic, it’s easy, it’s a great Chili recipe!
I love this chili recipe! I’ve never been into cooking, but I’ve always wanted a good chili recipe that had a lot of flavor and is easy to make. This recipe is perfect for me.
Family favorite chili recipe!!!
I tripled this so my son could take some back to college and the amount of seasonings made me nervous. But other than doing one less tablespoon of sugar a bit less salt and a little more cayenne, I trusted the recipe. I think I’ve finally found the chili recipe I’ve been searching for, for years! It was absolutely perfect and we needed no other adjustment!
Great recipe except the sugar. The two tablespoons made it sooo sickly sweet it ruined the dish. Next time I would omit the sugar or add teaspoons NOT tablespoons
Do you drain the grease off of your browned hamburger?
I like this recipe. In fact it is almost exactly what I was looking for although I did use pinto beans which is a personal preference and thicken it with a tablespoon of masa harina.
👍
Very good and so easy and fast! My husband wants this in our dinner rotation!! Thank you.
Was very happy with this recipe. Perfect for a weeknight dinner. I used 2lbs ground beef and 3 cans kidney beans.
This is my go to chili recipe! The only recipe I have used and my family loves it. I will be making this for a girls weekend! The sugar and the cayenne are perfect for balancing each other out and give it great kick.
My go to recipe for chili ever since I found it. Love it!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Best I’ve ever made.
This recipe is the best! Never steers me wrong.
This is fantastic! Been making this for years. I always add a variety of chili seasoned beans too
I’ve been using this recipe as a base recipe for years. I like the tomatoes and sugar added, and it’s difficult to find a good recipe with both. That being said, I swap stevia for sugar due to diet restrictions, dial back the chili powder about ¼ Tablespoon (kiddo), double the meat and tomatoes, add bush’s chili beans with seasoning then skim the top with beef broth. Crowd pleaser!
The BEST chili recipe! I use a little less sugar than it calls for and no pepper flakes because I have young kids! My kids also don’t like super chunky tomatoes so I sub the diced tomatoes out with crushed tomatoes for a smoother consistency! Even won best traditional chili at our work chili cookoff 🙂
Pairs amazing with Krusteaz Gluten Free Cornbread too!
Cummin over powering taste Next time will use half what is called for. Texture was excellent
10/10!! So easy and ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! 🔥
So delicious and flavorful! I didn’t have tomato sauce so I used an equal amount of mild Pace picante sauce and reduced the chili powder to 2 T and cumin to 4 t This one is a definite winner!