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 recipe multiple times in the last year. It is so good. Everyone I have made it for loves it also!!!
This chili was very easy to make and very tasty. It was more on the sweet side so next time I will use half of the amount of sugar. Very happy how it turned out though and recommend to others.
Perfect recipe for people learning how to cook. Easy to make, great tasting, doesn’t take too long. Makes good leftovers.
This is a perfect cold day meal! I leave out the chili powder because I feed young children. I let adults add chili sauce if they want more heat🥵. Also I mix the seasoning in a zip lock bag so I’m ready to mix up another batch in a hurry whenever requested!
Easy, tasty, and had everything in my pantry!
My husband is extremely picky and doesn’t like experiments. He said it was a five out of five! I will make again.
Really delicious! I used 1/2 the amount for the Cumin And sugar and it turned out perfect. I will definitely make this again. This will be my go to chili recipe from now on.
My favorite chili recipe! I follow recipe exactly as listed- but I double it for leftovers.
WOW!!! I never use a recipe for chili but this week I wanted chili and didn’t want to think. I pulled this up and made – so quick and easy. So DELICIOUS!!!! Just the right spice and flavor.
Best chili recipe ever! Easy yet so flavorful. I omit the cayenne pepper for my kids.
Loved it!! My husband had two helpings. I did not add the cayenne, and it was still delicious. This will be my chili recipe going forward.
Love, love, love this recipe❤️. Soo good! Only thing I added was garlic; I sautéed with the onion. Thanks for posting! 😉 And the cumin amount was just fine for me! Thanks again!
I have made this recipe about 8 times. My husband says it’s the best chili he has ever had. I skip the sugar and add more beans, black and red.
My family over it! Second time making it at their request.
This chili recipe is amazing. The only change I make is that I use 3/4 of red wine that has been sitting too long and 3/4 cup of beef broth.
First time making chili and we ate the first batch so quickly I made another! SO good, definitely the best chili I’ve ever had.
Outstanding recipe, very quick to make. I just cut the cumin in half, very delicious.
Fast and easy recipe. We doubled all the ingredients and added jalapeños to the mix. Very tasty
Everyone loved it. Used half of the cumin suggested. Also added more meat and beans ( I feed an army). Was asked to make this week again.
I’m making chili for the first time and was wondering what I’d need to do if I wanted to leave the diced tomatoes out. I don’t particularly care for the texture of cooked tomatoes. I know you need the liquid from the diced tomatoes, so I assume you’d need to substitute something, but am not sure what, or how/if it might change the seasoning. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
This is the best chili EVER !!! I shared my chili with my 90 year old neighbor, who thought his chili was the best. Now he only uses this recipe. Who says that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks !!! 😊
Only thing that I changed was : didn’t add the salt, use about half of the beef broth for thicker chili, put it in crock pot after cooking the onions and beef. Cook in crock pot either on high or low stirring occasionally. Yum !!!
Thank you for your EXCELLENT recipe !!!