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 had never made chilli before and wanted an easy recipe, as I’m no chef by any means. Holy moly did you knock it out of the park with this one! So simple, the spices were perfect and the consistency was exactly what I hoped for. Not too thick, not too thin – perfect with some oyster crackers. I’m earmarking this one and won’t change a single thing! No more canned chilli for me again. Thanks so much. .
My daughter had never made chili before, and with exception of using brown sugar instead of regular granulated sugar, she followed this recipe and it was fantastic.
its the best chili ever
its so good, very easy too
This recipe has great flavor. It will probably be my go-to chili recipe from now on, however, I will add 1 if not 2 extra cans of beans to it next time.
I love my chili to cook in my crock pot so it’s ready when I get home from work. Anyone try this recipe that way?
Great!
Very tasty. I used venison chili meat and it was terrific. I wish I could have added the cayenne for a little spice because I think it would have offset the sugar. My husband can’t handle spicy but he absolutely loved the chili.
Awesome Recipe!
This is so good but never enough. Could you tell us how you would go about doubling this recipe. Do we simply double all ingredients?
Yes just double the recipe
So so good!! Followed the recipe and didn’t need to make any adjustments! Will use again and again. Thank you!
A good recipe but too much cumin for my taste. I’d make it again but cut the cumin in half. I always add a can of baked beans to my chili so the addition of sugar made it a little sweet. That’s my fault though. I should have adjusted for that! Next time.
Way too much cumin. Taste like crap!!! The cumin is over powering and too sweet! 🤮
Don’t put sugar in, that’s where most of sweetness is coming from.
Bert tell us how you really feel 😉 I personally think this is delicious and followed the recipe exactly. Taste buds are different for everyone, so hopefully you find a chili recipe you like.
amazing!
This is such a simple yet delicious recipe.
Excellent base—added 1 small jalapeño and mixed ground beef and sausage….. thanks for sharing!!!!
This recipie is fantastic! I did swap monk fruit for the sugar and added jalapenos from our garden. The perfect blend of spices led to an incredible flavor. Thank you so much for sharing this!
I know seems silly question..but if you triple the recipe..do you really triple all those spices?
my mom and i both through very very good for chili but we didn’t put any broth in it
What did you use to replace the beef broth? Or did you just omit? I was thinking of replacing w a chocolate or bark beer
So amazing, everyone that I cooked this recipe for loves it! The only thing I do different is I add a bit more chili powder and skip the beef broth.
Question? Does it taste sweet with the sugar added?
No it doesn’t. The sugar balances the acidity from the tomatoes, etc. Don’t leave it out!
Hands down the Best chilli receipe I had so far!!
The whole family rated all 5 stars !! Which is at too easy to do with all of us .. thanks so much for sharing
Love this! I used ground venison and sausage & added pinto beans. This recipe is good how it is, but also so easy to adjust to your own liking 🙂
OH MY GOODNESS…absolutely delicious! I doubled it and it was a crowd pleaser. Served with shredded cheddar and sour cream on top. My new go to!!!!