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 have made this many times and its a great starting recipe! I’ve made a few tweaks over time but over all great!
Perfect basic chili recipe! I have been looking for one lime my mom’s, and this one was it. Thank you!
This was the best chili I ever had. Normally my son isn’t a fan of chile…well this recipe changed that. I wouldn’t change one thing. We just used ground turkey instead of beef.
Fantastic recipe. I add 1/2 times meat, leave out half the sugar and add half can of garbanzos.
delicious- i did add chopped carrots
Fantastic and easy to make!
Excellent base recipe! I made one version as indicated, except I added smoked sausage (sauteed the sausage before adding in the onions) and cooked in my electric pressure cooker. The family loved it!! I made a second version using this recipe as a base but added spicy andouille sausage, spicy cocoa seasoning, and red pepper flakes for some more heat. Also made in the pressure cooker. Oh…and about a 1/4 cup of guinness stout.
So incredibly good. I doubled the recipe and froze half.
Unfortunately for me, the amount of Cumin the recipe calls for leaves an overbearing after taste with each bite. I went back and rechecked the measurement. If I make this recipe again, I will most likely cut the amount of Cumin in half.
This was the first time I made chili bean soup and it was awesome. I used organic products where I could and a few small adjustments …. only 1tbs of sugar (might omit or use less next time) and added thyme. Also I used grass fed beef. My husband loved it … had enough to freeze for another night.
Easy, Fast and tastes fabulous!
I use brown sugar, bay leaf, no broth, but the rest of recipe is like mine. I have never, ever cooked my chili for just 30 minutes, at least 2 hours or 2.5 hours. To me the longer it cooks, the better it taste, oh and nothing on top of mine.
Have a nice day!
Really good!
This is excellent recipe!!!
Best chili 🌶 ever!!!
Excellent chili. I made a double batch which fit perfectly in my 6 quart slow cooker. I only used 1 can of kidney beans, and then used 1 can of corn, drained. All the spices melded very well together and my family really enjoyed it. This recipe is a keeper!
Very quick and easy to prepare and tastes delicious!
I love this recipe. I would like to double it but two pounds of beef seems too much. What ratio or proportions should I use for these ingredients? 1 1/2 lb. beef, and double everything else?
Amazing!! Simple and delicious!! We added some red onion and also peppers. YUM!
Ive tried so many chilli recipes and this is my new favorite! I was hesitant about the sugar, so i only added 1 tablespoon and i think it adds just the right flavor. Definitely will be making this again
It really is the best classic chili recipe! Simple, traditional, and everything it should be! Thank you for sharing! My son gets excited every time I say I’m making this.