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.
Doubled it. Very spicy. Don’t know about the sweetness either. The flavor was good, but next time I’ll use no sugar and cayenne,and back down a little on the chili powder and cumin.
My som can’t have alot of spice so i cut down on the chilli powder and no red pepper. It was great.
I’ve made this twice and followed the recipe to the”T” and it is absolutely delicious!
Loved it but made some changes. Added #some chopped shishito peppers with the onions. Used beer instead of broth.
Used PINCH SPICE MARKET chili powder. Best chili powder ever. (You can buy it online) used maple syrup instead of sugar. Best chili I ever made. Thanks for the recipe!
We LOVE this recipe. Our new go to chili! Thank you!!
Didn’t use the beans or the sugar… As my husband and I are not huge bean fans. Swapped the beef for ground turkey and we loaded it up with celery, carrots and bell peppers to sub out the beans. Made our own diced tomatoes and tomato paste to make it healthier. We loved it!!!
Ive never made chili from scratch (without the packet!) & this was easy & perfect! Thanks
Fantastic
Excellent!!! I love the flavor, didn’t change a thing!!!
oh my god, amazing recipe
I made this chili recipe but doubled everything and I’m sorry that I did. I turned out too soupy for my liking and the taste was okay, not “the best” in my opinion.
Wow! I’ve tried many chili recipes and usually like them all. BUT… this one was the easiest and quickest and OMG! most yummy! I only made a few additions (which speaks volumes since none really impact what you’ve done). I made all veggies on the chunkier side and used a whole, large, sweet onion, a red bell pepper, and an 11oz drained canned of Mexican corn I only had chicken (not beef) broth, so used that. This is a GREAT recipe, and I’m so glad I found it. I’ll definitely pass it along to my (adult) sons. Yummm!
I’ve made this recipe twice, 1 as written and the other without sugar. Much better without the sugar and ok with it. My family loved it without and ate 2 big ole bowls before their stuffed bellies just really couldn’t hold any more.
Best chili I’ve ever had
I made the chilli recipe exactly, and we loved it. Enjoyed the sweetness. It is now our new go to for chilli! Thank you for sharing.
This chili recipe is AMAZING! Very good, the entire family loved it! Definitely keeping this recipe to use for family gatherings. Thanks for sharing!
I normally use another recipe for my chili but decided to give this one a try. My husband loved it: “This is the best chili you have ever made” “that recipe is a keeper”. The only thing different that I did was skip the sugar and I added fresh minced garlic. Will be making it again this weekend!
This was fantastic. I left our the sugar but did everything else. So good and easy vs a day long cooking version.
LOVED IT ! I did it with fresh heirloom cherry tomatoes that I diced up instead of using canned,nd also made my own tomatoe sauce w/ fresh tomatoes to make it healthier. I wish I added some bell peppers as I felt it was missing a crunch so I think I will get some tomorrow& air fry them and add it in. Topped mines off w/ fresh green onions,sour cream,Mexican cheese,and lots of Tabasco of course. Delicious i sure got to the bottom of the bowl fast! Will definitely remake ! Thanks for sharing the recipe !
My family didn’t care for this chili. We found it way too sweet with not enough beans.
OH MY OH MY OH MY!!!! So good you will not regret it!!!!! First time I ever made it knocked it out of the park!!!
About how many does this serve?