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 made a double batch, but I used 1 lb ground beef and 1 lb hot Italian sausage and left out cayenne pepper. Very yummy. Served with corn bread on the side. Huge hit with the family. Thank you for the recipe!
I used Gardein (non meat) from the frozen food aisle and it was fantastic. My neighbor suggested that because they can’t have meat.
Best chilli recipe hands down….first time making it today, and it’s perfect.
Delicious; lots of flavor! I opted to leave out the cayenne, but it was still very flavorful. Super easy to make. When I made it, it served four adults almost exactly. We will definitely put this in the dinner rotation.
Very good and Easy.. Only change is that I doubled the beans. Love beans
The best recipe I have ever tasted. I didn’t put the sugar in it, can’t have extra sugar. Love it just the way it is.
Awesome Chili. I bumped it up a bit with some venison, a small can of chopped green chili peppers, 1/2 tsp of Sage, 1/8 tsp of red pepper, a sprinkle of white pepper, 1 tsp of Worcester Sauce….dark brown sugar instead of white sugar. It was some of the finest chili I have made. I consider myself to be a good chili cook and this will be my new go to recipe for Chili. Good, good stuff.
Easy, yummy, and love the cumin. Delish! Thanks!
Excellent recipe….Simple and fast. I did find it rather hot. Even after adding 1 more can of diced tomatoes and beans. (I didn’t drain the beans which helped thicken it) Next time I plan to reduce the chili powder to 1 1/2 TBSP. Not a fan of cumin so I completely eliminated it. Plan to try it with ground turkey.
Love this recipe. I didn’t change a thing. I am not good In the kitchen but this was easy with exact directions.
I would like to know if you can freeze it?
Great chili just added a pepper and garlic 🧄
I really liked this recipe it’s easy to make and my first time making my family enjoyed it .my hubby wants more so today i will be making more .thanks
I’ve made this recipe twice now. First time I followed the recipe adding the red pepper, it was way to hot for my family’s taste. Second time I made this recipe I omitted the red pepper. Everyone loved it! This is my go to Chili recipe now.
Finally, after years of searching I FOUND the best.
Thank you
This is my go to chili recipe. Always a crowd pleaser every time. the only change is, I double everything for double the serving size! 😁😁
Oh and I use ground turkey and turkey broth.
I made it and loved it My first chili was a success!!!
This is my first time ever commenting on a recipe or blog but I got to give credit where credit is due! This is where my go to chili recipe after years of experimenting. For me the spices are absolutely perfect I love all the flavor. I also find the consistency of this chili is perfect for me, not too watery and not too chunky. Amazing thank you!
Excellent recipe for chili. Thought the sauce was a bit thin, so I thickened it with a little corn starch and water. Otherwise, the best chili I have had in ages. Serve with shredded cheddar/Colby cheese.
Excellent chili! I like my Chili with more beans so I added Peruvian beans and reduced the amount of beef. I did not add the sugar. I will definitely make this chili again .
This was an excellent recipe for me making chili for the first time. I did make a few changes and will probably a few more for the next time. The changes/additions I did: added fresh garlic and green pepper with the onion, added beef kielbasa and 1/2 jalapeno after hamburger was cooked. I used recommended seasoning but probably added a little more/less to my taste. Also for seasoning added a little adobo, Trader Joes Italian sofrito (a must have in every kitchen), a dash of red pepper flakes, and a pinch or 2 of cajun seasoning. It gave the chili a very nice smoky flavor, just enough spice but not spicy. I also used regular diced tomatoes and not petite from the can. Next time the only difference I will make is use less broth. I thought this was a little soupy and I like my chili hearty. I also let it simmer on low for an hour.