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.
Great recipe, but I skipped the beans because a true “classic” chili does not include beans. Beans are used as a filler to cut down on the cost of the meat.
Made a double batch of this, didn’t double the salt and it was PERFECT, the entire family loved it. Served over white rice, topped with cheese and sour cream and a side of Italian bread. Goodbye old recipe this is our new favorite chili
Amazing. We eat this over and over. We skip the cayenne and it’s spicy enough for us.
Beautiful chilli but just a warning to parents of small children 2.5 tablespoons of chilli powder is wayyyy to much next time I’ll use 2 teaspoons.
Delicious! substituted ground turkey for the ground beef. Totally delicious! I made a double batch to have leftovers for my family of 4. Served w grated cheese & sour cream- yum yum!
Great recipe. Easy to make and great flavor. I think I will add green pepper to it next time.
Well that recipe was amazing its defiantly one i will make again
I added mushed saltine crackers and sour cream and it was so delicious <3
1st time I used this recipe, the results speak for themselves. Thanks the pot was emptied by the end of the meal. Good flavor, great with corn bread or polenta.
Such a crowd pleaser! The whole family loves it 🙂
This has become a family fave. We even made it for some friends who recently had a baby. They said their super picky kids ate it all! We make it as is – minus the cayenne because of small kids who sometimes complain that salad is too spicy. We do add a can of corn for extra veggies. Delicious and comes together quickly. Whenever we get a hankerin’ for chili this is the go to recipe.
Can you use a slow cooker for this???
I thought it seemed like a lot of chili powder and cumin but I followed the recipe because I like spicy. But this was too much for my taste. I added a good splash of V8 juice and that toned it down some. I’ll probably make it again but use half the cumin and chili powder.
love this recipe! reminds me of when i was a kid and my mom made her chili for me. <3
Deeeelicious! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Can I make this recipe using chicken instead of beef?
Would suggest adding a disclaimer that not everyone (especially in Texas) agrees that chili should have beans.
“If you knew beans about chili, you’d know chili has no beans,
I loved this recipe. I added diced green pepper, extra tomato paste, black beans and used no salt tomato sauce. I will use this again.
The BEST recipe!!!
It’s a great basic chili recipe. I added a diced chipotle pepper in adobo sauce as my husband and I like it spicy. This recipe is a keeper. 👍🏽