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.
Love this recipe. I added chili beans with sauce. I did not rinse. It was a little hot for my elderly Mom.
Favorite chili recipe! The only thing I change is add an extra can of beans; I typically use one can dark red and one can light red kidney beans. Always a family favorite and will continue to make this fall and winter as I did last year.
Weird combination
Sooo yummy!! I added some corn and avocado to it. So delicious my family loved it!
Hi! What would you recommend as a good substitute for beans? My husband does not like beans in his chili.
Try lentils
Made this for supper last night and was most pleasantly surprised as was my husband. I followed directions and think that next time I will back off the cayenne a little. It really was good and so easy. All ingredients I had on hand.
This recipe turned out great!!
Thank you! So good and easy to make!!
I follow everystep, but ommit the inion, ’cause my wife is allergic to it. The result is delicicious anyways. Thanks!!!
Omit the sugar (or at least reduce it substantially). Other than that, this is a fantastic recipe which is why I gave it 4 stars The sugar ruined it for me though. With sugar its a 1 star for me
Really enjoy your general recipe. I was only unsure about the strength of the amount of the spices so I used only half of each of those ingredients and prefer not to add any sugar. Will make again and continue to use only half of the spices. Very good. Thanks for sharing 😊
Can you use ground turkey and chicken broth to replace the ground beef and beef broth?
Do you drain the meat after cooking?
This is hands down the best chili I’ve ever had! I followed the recipe exactly and couldn’t be more pleased.
I doubled the recipe’s seasoning amounts, except the salt, added two pounds of pre-cooked cubed chicken, had only 1 can of diced tomatoes (no heartburn), 1 can of tomato sauce, no cayenne, added a pack of taco seasoning. Minced a clove a garlic.
Served over a bowl of Fritos topped with shredded Sharp cheese and a dollop of Daisy.
This is my go-to recipe for chili! It is super delicious. I’ve followed it exactly as written and I’ve made it with alternations. It’s always been good either way! If you know your way around the kitchen you can add or take away. If not, follow exactly as written and you won’t be disappointed!
Oh! And I use meatless crumbles (instead of ground beef) and it’s still very, very delicious!!
I made a much larger variation of this recipe and it was delicious! Doubled seasoning, tripled the meat, and used 1 can each of Pinto, Black, and Kidney beans. This one is going in the family cookbook to feed my large family for a few meals. It freezes great, and is great alone or on top of fry bread.
I’m pretty new to cooking so bare with me hear on this question. After you’ve browned the meat, do you drain it? Thanks!
I never write reviews but I’ve made this recipe twice now and I love it! I had to dice tomatoes instead of getting canned and added chopped bell pepper the second time as well as ground turkey- it turned out great! So simple and so quick, thank you for this recipe!
This was excellent. I made it as directed but halved the sugar. Thanks for sharing recipe!