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.
Regarding the browning of the ground beef:
I notice the recipe calls for the onions to be sautéed in the oil for a bit and then you add the ground beef and brown it. Wouldn’t browning the beef with the onions and oil remove some of the onion flavor from the meal when you drained the fat from the browned ground beef?
Thanks!
I used 93/7 beef and didn’t have to drain the oil.
It doesn’t call for draining the beef.
I used 90/10 beef and had no extra oil in the pan.
I personally cook the onions with the meet then i also added garlic salt and onion powder it added more flavor
Excellent recipe. Quick and delicious!
Very good. Only thing I changed was I added bacon and sliced jalapeños. I do suggest to cut down on the sugar though.
Simple and delicious. Most importantly the husband approves. Not that i think women should put their man’s
(or woman’s) needs before their own but im a crazy anxious ppl pleaser type and therefore regard his opinion of my cooking above mine. Okay ramble finished. Thx for this easy, yummy recipe!
HAHA me too!!! nothing better than having someone enjoy your meal.
Made this for dinner tonight and my husband just said to me, “This is the best damn chili I’ve ever had. This is the way chili is supposed to be.” Great, solid, easy recipe! Thanks for sharing!
This was damn good chilli. I like beans so I added a second can … and about 1/2 cup of broth more. Lots of wiggle room in this recipe to make it your own!
My husband said the same!
Just had to stop and say I love this comment!! 🙂
This recipe is great! I made it the first time per instructions, however from that time on I’ve changed a couple of things. First I don’t like the sugar in mine and I add fresh garlic and jalapeños. Salt as I go to the taste. I also like adding whole stew tomatoes that I cut in half cause I like it chunky. Awesome recipe that you can make your own.
Great recipe. Very quick and easy to make. My daughter is a very picky eater and she loved it!
I found this recipe tonight and happened to have all the ingredients except I only had Jenny-O ground turkey 1 lb. The dish was very nice and tasty. I did less cumin and used 2 tsp and not the 2 tbs listed. The amount of cumin is an individual taste. I recommend this chili .
Excellent!! My first time making chili and I was so happy with the results. I did add some jalapeno to it just as an added jolt of flavor but it was quite good! Thank you
Great recipe except very heavy on the cumin- in my opinion. I will make again but with less cumin! Cayenne pepper gives it the perfect amount of kick.
Exactly was excellent recipe.
I agree.Two much cumin.Made. It bitter.So next timeI’ll adjust by half.Otherwise a great recipe.
So easy. We have played with the seasonings and have settled on just doubling the cayenne.
Have you ever tried to put in chili’s in adobo sauce?? Adds great spice.
I never write reviews on recipes but, this one is tooooo good not to! My boyfriend ate 4 bowls. He also said it’s the best chili he’s ever had! Thank you sooooo much! It’s quick and easy and the flavor is just out of this world! It’s New Year’s Eve 2020 and I’m making this for my neighbors tonight! I know they’re going to LOVE It! Thank you for sharing!
Very easy and delicious. Thanks for sharing.
Great taste! And so easy!
I used pinto beans instead of red beans and a can of tomato sauce. I also added a pinch of baking cocoa and a dash of cinnamon.
OMG! This chili recipe is so easy and wholesome and delicious. I only swapped the ground beef for turkey. My kids are now requesting this meal often! Thank you!!!
This is a great recipe! I’m making it for my home! I just tried it- it tastes REALLY, really good! I love the addition of the juicy and onions. I can’t wait to cook this again! Thanks!!! 5 stars!
I just made a double batch of this with some cornbread for my large family, adding a bit of extra diced tomato, and a poblano pepper. It was divine – thank you for the wonderful recipe! Also, I highly recommend adding the poblano – it adds an extra layer of complexity that puts it over the top. Winner winner, chili dinner!
Great chili recipe. Was a huge hit in my house.
I made this beef chili and it is delicious 😋, my go to recipe always.
This chili was seriously the BEST chili I have ever eaten in my life. My mom and sister were over and their eyes got big when they took the first bite. So excited to have found this recipe! Thank you for sharing!!!
Just made this recipe and it’s awesome ☺️
Great recipe! We omit the sugar all together and use just half the cayenne pepper. Excellent on a hot dog 🥰
absolutely amazing! i did with out the sugar but overall the best chili recipe yet!
Love this recipe. Used half of the salt it called for. Used Rotelle in place of diced tomatoes. Family absolutely loved it!!
Just made this chili today and it is delicious!! Thank you for sharing the recipe! Yum!
This is a very good basic chili recipe. My only suggestion would be less chili powder (and maybe cumin?). I thought the chili powder somewhat overpowered the rest of the ingredients. Perhaps it depends on the brand of powder you use, and what is in that? I just know that for my taste buds, the chili powder was a bit too much. I added in 4 minced garlic cloves and a diced green pepper. It was delicious! It’s a very versatile recipe – I think you could add just about anything to it, or tweak it however you wanted to, and it would come out great! Thank you for sharing!!