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.
This is exactly the same as the Chili my Mom made when I was a kid. It’s delicious. Brings back memories.
I also like to add cooked macaroni noodles at the end and turn it into Chili Mac. Best Chili recipe out there.
Is this a one cup serving or more?
The beef broth brings in a lot of flavor. Loved this recipe. Did a couple undrained bean cans as well and added some minced garlic. Great recipe! fav chilli I have made
I am literally eating a bowl at this time hot off the stove. I am not a cook at all. I pretty much had all the basic spices, prep was super fast, and cooking made me feel like I was doing something while not actually doing much at all lol. Most importantly it is very, very tasty.
Easy and delicious
I’m always skeptical about recipes that say they’re the best, but this one delivers! Like some other people said, I thought it was very “tomato-y” before it cooked but came out perfectly! I added some ground pork because I didn’t have enough ground beef and cooked it in the crockpot for 10 hours on low, then let the flavors meld in the fridge for a day. Chili is always so much better a day or two later, in my opinion. My bf went back for thirds, which is highly unusual. Winner winner Chili dinner!
Delicious!
Can I use tomato juice instead of beef broth or would it change the flavor too much?
Excelente recipe! The only thing I modified was going with 1 tablespoon of sugar versus 2. It came out delicious! I served with sour cream, mild cheddar, and green onion.
Looks to me like the prep time for this recipe is more like 30 minutes, with another 15 minutes before that just to assemble all the ingredients!
I’d never used a recipe before and believe the addition of sugar (just like in good Italian red sauces) makes a huge contribution. I also learned that cayenne is MUCH hotter than chili powder (who knew – I thought they were interchangeable before). Great recipe that I have book marked on Pinterest so that I can make it again and again.
Way too much sugar in this recipe. Results were cloying.
yummy! would definitely add less salt next time though.
I suggest only using one tablespoon of sugar, just my family’s preference. I didn’t use cayenne pepper because I only had Ro-tel tomatoes but definitely would if I had used regular tomatoes.
Great chili recipe! I made it exactly as shown for all ingredients and included the cayenne pepper. We have kids but they HATE beans so I didn’t worry about the spiciness of the cayenne- but the sugar balanced it out! Even my bean haters loved this chili! And super quick and easy. Thanks!
If I double this recipe to make 12 servings would it fit in a 7.5 quart dutch oven pot?
I tried this last night and it was ok but I wasn’t thrilled about it . I totally did not put the additional spicy chili powder in it ,but I did notice a weird after taste that I think may have been from the Cumin.I dont think I’ll make it again.
Excellent depth of flavors in this chili. We loved it!!
Way to sweet!! Going to try again but without the sugar.
Love this! Easy as can be!!! I did add about 2 tablespoons of red wine 😋 and absolutely the cayenne pepper!