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.
This is the most amazing chili recipe!!!!! I’m so thankful you shared this- it’s exactly how I cook!!! Lots of seasonings and flavors:)
This recipe was a huge hit! I doubled the recipe to accommodate more people. I used ground pork (because it’s easier to find in Thailand) and in place of tomato sauce I used tomato paste (it’s what I had). I also added two tbsp of cacao. I didn’t have any Cayenne around so it wasn’t spicy which worked out for this crew. You could probably add a cup of water if you use tomato paste like I did, but I didn’t and it turned out thick and delicious! Thanks so much for this recipe!
Way way to much seasoning we wouldnt eat it and i used 2lb of meat no stars for me and my family
Do you think I could do this in my slow cooker?
Yummy!
Great added some extra spices I like and pureed some of my last tomatoes instead of the paste. Thanks Randy
This chili recipe is excellent. I made it two days ago. The only changes I made were to drain the fat from the ground beef after cooking and to put about two tablespoons of brown sugar in the chili. My grandmother always did this. She also added a little Hershey’s unsweetened cocoa. These ingredients just add a little magic to the flavor. Whatever…it was so good that I have to make another pot already. The family went crazy for it and are begging for more!
Couldn’t find some ingredients or exact recipe for my sister’s chili, so I found this one to use as a base recipe. I added finely chopped bell peppers and celery to the onions in the beginning. We love beans in my family so I used extra and used a mixture of kidney, black, and pinto beans.
AND added a small bar of chocolate toward the end.
👍 It’s very tasty.
So I was a little skeptical when I saw 2 T of sugar and 2 T of cumin but I took a chance and made this exactly as the instructions say. Wow, Amanda this is the best chili ever. I am so glad I tried it. My family couldn’t get enough.
Thank you for sharing!
I doubled the recipe and added a can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. It’s so good! My go to recipe from now on!
The best! Better the second day.
Hi, do you think it will turn out okay if I use pinto beans instead of the kidney beans?
Yes! I used canellini beans, because I’m not a fan of kidney, and they were great. Any beans should be good.
Yes I did. It was delicious!
Do you drain the ground beef when it’s cooked or just leave it in the pot? This recipe is amazing. Everyone loved it. I drained the excess from the meat and am wondering if you did the same.
I used 80/20 instead of 90/10 so I did drain the meat
Depends on how lean of meat you use. I just used 80/20 (ground chuck) and strained all i could off it.
First time making chili, and this receipe amazing!!!
Oh my, yum! I don’t usually rate recipes but this one is exceptional!
This an amazing chili recipe. Doubled it and it was a hit! Thank you.
First time making chilli beans and use this recipe and my family enjoyed every bit of it. Thanks.
A+ fantastic!!! Both my boyfriend and I thought it was fabulous flavor and texture!!
Awesome recipe!!! Mine came out a little spicy, so I added a scoop of Nutella and it calmed it down a notch :
This recipe is fantastic. I’ve made it twice in two weeks. My kids love it too! We add some shredded cheese, sour cream, and corn chips on top. Also some corn bread on the side. Thanks for this easy and delicous recipe!!