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 accidentally put 4 stars on my first comment…there is no way to change it? Sorry…the chilli is really good!
Hi Amanda:
Your recipe was great! I wanted to make a bigger pot and use turkey, (The fam likes it better). So I double everything. Except the spices. I used just a little more of each as needed to taste. I kept the cumin the same as single batch. It really turned out great! I usually use chicken broth but I used the beef broth and it is really good too! Thanks!
I followed this recipe and didn’t change a thing (included cayenne) and it was delicious!! Loved the sweet and spicyness. Might’ve added a little more cayenne and doubled the recipe for sure. I agree that you might wanna add less sugar, if at all, if you exclude the cayenne
Made this chili for the first time ever, over a campfire no less, and it turned out amazingly!!! Thank you very much for this recipe! I will definitely use it again!
Wow, I can’t believe I’m the only one who thought it called for to much spice! I literally added 1/2 the spices and water instead of beef broth and it was still very spicy and good.
After putting down the bowl down and whipping my mouth I said wow that was good. I replaced beef with shiitake mushrooms chopped, used only 1 tablespoon of Cumin. #banger
Excellent, perfect classic chili. Go to recipe, time and time again.
Wow! I’m surprised I’m the only one who thought it was heavy on the spices ! Mixed all the spices together and knew it was way to much for my taste. Added 1/2 green pepper in with the onion, 1/2 the spices and 1 cup of water. It was perfect topped with sour cream and shredded cheese! Loved the recipe quick and easy!
This would have been prefect had it not been for the amount of cumin. It was difficult for everyone in the family to eat it, but I know that next time I make this and use way less cumin it will be perfect for us. Thank you for sharing.
Great recipe! Tweaked it a little bit for heat lovers.
This chili is super easy to make and so delicious!!!
It will be my go-to for chili in the future. I made mine with ground turkey and added green and red peppers.
Amazing!
An excellent meal! Thank you!
Very good recipe but like many mentioned, too much cumin for this amount. A teaspoon is all that’s needed.
Don’t add the sugar. My husband and I couldn’t figure out what the chili was missing and then realized the problem was that it was sweet. My husband wanted to make dinner and he just followed the recipe. If I had made it, I would have known to omit the sugar. I’ve ever made a chili with sugar in it before. Otherwise, it’s a good standard chili.
Amazing! So easy to make and full of flavor. I love this recipe.
Absolutely love this recipe!
So good and easy to make!
My husband, 2.5 yr old son and myself, we all enjoyed it 🙂
I added a 4-oz. can of diced green chiles. Great flavor boost.
Very good. Is the serving size 1 cup?
I thought this recipe was fantastic! I made it exactly as is except for the cayenne. Well, and added in my own preferred vegetables. It was delicious and very easy. I read a comment that it wasn’t enough, but it will definitely feed a family of four. I will definitely put this in with my recipes.
Great call on the Cheyenne and brown sugar! I will do that next time. Thanks!
We doubled the recipe but left it at one medium onion. Also used ground turkey instead of ground beef, and added cinnamon. A note to those who question the sugar in the recipe…if you skip the Cheyenne pepper than skip the sugar too. The sweet is meant to accentuate the spice. We used brown sugar.
Would it mess it up if i only Doubles beans and meat?