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.
Absolutely delicious!! I’ve never used beef broth in my chili and was a little skeptical but I will use it from now on. Often the simplest recipes are the best. Quick, easy and my family loved it!!
So easy! I made it for Elks bingo night, it disappeared. Thanks!
The combination of spices is perfect. Even if I made a veggie chili, I use this spice blend for rave review every time.
Thank you, I love this chili. I have won 2 chilli cook offs with this simple recipe. Simple is almost always better when making comfort foods like this.
Really great recipe! I didn’t need the broth because we like our chilli really thick not soupy, but it was delicious!
Can’t believe some on the negative comments although very few. Just goes to show that you can’t please everyone. I had a chili recipe that I used for years and thought it was the best. Then I tried this one. Wow! So tasty! By the way it’s just as good when using turkey.
Excellent. The snow is blowing, the wind is blowing and this recipe is comforting with a Capitol C.
I love this recipe but always add some extras like half a red pepper, chocolate, and touch of brewed coffee.
Really good chili and easy recipe
I really like this recipe. I had a recipe for chili but it was a little too salty for me. I needed something somewhat basic but with a lot of flavor. I added another can of beans this time. What I really like is it taste better as the days go by but it doesn’t last long. LOL I also add the cayenne pepper it’s not too spicy just enough so that it’s not overwhelming for others who may not care so much for the spicy chili. Thanks for sharing great recipe.
So good. I prefer the seasoning blend in this recipe over the packaged seasoning. I made my first batch with 3 diced jalepenos, I loved it but it was a bit spicy for my husband. I sauté minced garlic with the onion. My husband and I also used 3/4 of the tomato sauce, 50% sodium beef broth (doubled the amount of broth), 1 cup of water, add paprika, and add additional seasoning to taste as we go. Then we let it simmer for about an hour.
Easy & Perfect!!!
So good! The only chili recipe I will use now. Only substitution I made was we used ground elk.
Best tasting Chili.
Hi Amanda…I’m a 60 year old guy that found myself needing to cook for myself…imagine that ;-). Anyway, mostly I take the easy way out and cook simple stuff over and over that I know how to cook and it is OK or mabye, once in a while good or better. But, I have started trying recipes from time to time. This recipe is a winner! Took it to a group dinner of about 40 people and they raved…I told them that I was happy to take all the credit, but, that Amanda deserves all the credit…then they kept asking about Amanda…:-)
Tried lots of recipes and this is my favorite. One reason is it’s easy and it always tastes good. I change just a little. I use fresh garlic and also add smoked paprika. I always add the optional ingredients except the kidney beans if my husband is around. I also always add cayenne. We really enjoy it. Not to many people living in Hawaii make chili.
Perfect
THIS CHILI RECIPE ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS. I SAVED IT TO MY LIST OF FOODS AND WILL MAKE IT AGAIN. I DO NOT THINK I’LL BE USING ANY OTHERS. THANK YOU.
Amazing batch of chili! Followed the recipe pretty much exactly except subbed ground beef for ground turkey and used chicken broth instead of beef broth. Also doubled the amount of cayenne cuz we like it pretty spicy. Will def save this recipe and make it again.
SO flavourful! Thank you!! I have tried a few recipes and this is my favourite so far!