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.
easy and chili-ish.
Simple ingredients made a quick and tasty chili. This one will be my go to from now on.Thank you for sharing.
Loved this recipe. It has just the right amount of spice for my taste.
I used ground turkey instead of beef. Added a diced green pepper and some diced celery. Left out the broth and tomato sauce and included the cayenne. Came out fantastic – made it for a crowd and everyone loved it. The spicing was perfect, a nice gentle burn.
As a college student who has no money and time, this was a delicious and cheap meal to make! Yummy in my tummy
Very easy to make. I like that there is less of a tomato base because of the broth added. I think it gives it more flavor!!! Delicious, this will be my go to chili!
LOVE this so much! The recipe is great but I do make a few alterations for our tastebuds. I don’t put any sugar in the Chili.
I also add 2-3 celery stalks, 1 large carrot, and add an extra can of dark red Kidney beans so 2 cans total.
I also use Chicken stock instead of Beef broth.
It is my all time favorite Chili in the world! I will never order it out from anywhere anymore!
This is a fantastic recipe and loved by my entire family. Thank you!!
So good! Next time I’ll use less salt and sugar but otherwise it’s perfect. Great flavor with a little kick!
Great recipe. I added 3/4cup of Chipotle in adobo sauce. It added some heat and smokiness. I will definitely be making this again.
Really good!
thanks you so easy makes me laugh
YUM!! Easy to make and very flavorful. Everyone loved it!
5 star Delicious
I just made your CHILI it is Delicious Thank you!!!
With an extended family of 40 people, everyone loved it, from the 2 year old to the 71 year old! I even added the red pepper!
I have tried so many different recipes for chili and I finally found one I liked! Definitely saving this recipe for next time. Thank you for sharing!
Made this last night and everyone LOVED it! I doubled the recipe but adjusted the spices as many people I was cooking for are sensitive to spicy food. They gave their stamp of approval! This recipe is so simple and good. Will definitely now be “my” chili recipe! I followed another commenter and added kethup in place of tomato paste. Thank you.
Best chili I’ve ever made hands down
Flavorful and my favorite. I don’t use as much sugar, just a pinch and I add beans to it. I do add just a little more broth when I’m allowing it to simmer and it’s great. Thank you for this recipe.