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.
Very good. I used chili beans instead of kidney beans. My 8 year old son and myself just prefer those. Love the recipe! He said he could eat it for breakfast!
Absolutely delicious. 1/2 tbs of cayenne pepper adds just the right amount of heat. Will continue to make <3
Wow so super good. Followed almost all of the directions. Added green pepper with the onions and skipped the tomato sauce as I added a can of brooks chili mix in place of that.
I will always make this recipe. Thank you
No, I dont as I find the fat helps pick up the flavor of the dry ingredients and adds to the overall taste. Theres flavour in the fat
the ingredients call for tomato paste but directions omit it
This chili has nothing wierd or gimmicky in it- it is just darned good chili! I made it and won a Chili Cookoff!!! A few notes-
I did not omit the cayenne. I used 2 T of chili powder and 1/2 T of Chipolte chili powder. and then I did season to taste with a little more salt which may not have been necessary had I used less sugar than called for.
And chopped green onions, cheese, and sour cream for topping
YUMMY!!!
Very easy to make absolutely delicious!
Delicious! I stopped eating red meat a few years ago so I subbed ground turkey and chicken broth for the beef products. I left everything else the same and it’s AMAZING! I served over rice with cornbread and roasted corn on the cob— perfect!
Love love this
I dont know what happened but this is way too spicy! Even for my husband who loves the hottest spices. It leaves a powdery aftertaste and the spice isnt sweet it’s just powder tasting. I was hoping for something much much better. Very dissatisfied. I even drained out all the sauces and did it over and added 2 more cans of different types of beans, used more brown sugar and only half a tablespoon of chili powder, we will see what happens lol
I’m addicted to this chili. It really is the best!
Literally the best chili I’ve ever made and had. It’s going I’m the family recipe book.
Absolutely the beat chili! I also add some celery slices to the onions and olive oil. It adds a nice additional church and flavor. I usually add the celery about two minutes into the 5 minute cooking process.
Very tasty and flavorful. Trader Joe’s didn’t have chili powder, ended up using 4 tbsp of TJs Chili seasoning blend, omitted the cumin bc the seasoning blend already has cumin. The blend also has garlic powder, but still included the 1 tbsp of garlic powder. It was divine!
This is the best chili recipe I ever made! It’s so easy and delicious. I always come back to this one.
I made this recipe several times, I LOVE IT! I never used a different chili recipe only yours! Thanks for sharing your recipe !
Finally, after all of these years, I too can make the best Chili ever. I found this recipe about a month ago, made it, loved it, and am ready to make it again. This will be my prize Chili recipe forever and ever more. I omitted the Red Pepper as my tum-tum doesn’t like it. However, I may add just a smidge this time. Absolutely No Sugar, thank you! Not fond of a main, hearty meal having a sweet tint. Try this recipe. I guarantee you will love it!
Guys this recipe is seriously amazing. So easy, tastes just the way chili should. I didn’t make mine spicy because I have two kids, so it’s a little sweeter than I normally like it- but I’m just adding hot sauce and it’s perfect.
(And shocker, the kids won’t even try it 🙄)
Very happy with this, can’t wait to make it again and again!
Also, I used ground turkey- it’s tender and delicious!
Easy to make, no fuzz great chilly recipe.
Excellent recipe, very easy to cook and well balanced. It is “The Best”.