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.
Allow much more time for cooking. Suggests 25 minutes, but last step is to simmer for 20-25 minutes, after all the other steps.
Still simmering. Tastes good already!! Smells great!!
I use this recipe every time I make chili. We all absolutely love it!
I really enjoyed the chili recipe. I will continue using this recipe when making chili
Great recipe. The only thing I changed was using less sugar than the recipe called for. For the number of servings I made, I was supposed to use 3 tablespoons of sugar and I only used 1.
Excellent!!! I made it with venison.
We LOVE this recipe! It is now the ONE we make. Simple, yet so flavorful
I really enjoyed the taste of this chili. It has a good combination of spices. It is full of that chili flavor I love. I like to tweak it a little, maybe a can of chili beans, and/or a can of garbanzo beans, maybe corn and/or black beans, a bit more chili powder, maybe a little more tomato paste.
This recipe is super easy and delicious!!! The only thing I would change is to half the sugar or possibly even omit. My husband and I like spice, so I did add the cayenne pepper as well as sliced jalapeños, and I am so glad I did! Can’t wait to make this again in the near future!
I will follow any receipe to a T the first time as I did with this. I was surprised it called for sugar, and to be honest, it was a pleasant surprise, it had a dynamic taste with all the other seasonings. I would do maybe 1 tbsp next time, but this was still a delicious recipe. Next time I’ll try stewed tomatoes instead of diced for a chunkier consistency. Still, I kept saying this was one of the best chili recipes, and it’s been bookmarked.
The BEST chili recipe! I’ve always used Carroll Shelby’s but this is way better.
this is amzing
Made this for supper (Jan 2021). I doubled the onion and doubled the garlic. I also used fresh garlic. Everyone really liked it and the vote is to have it again. We vote on new recipes. We’ve been married 20 years and for the first time we all agree on a chili recipe. Thanks.
Excellent and so easy to make! The first time I made it I used the full amount of cumin but it turned out to be slightly too much so the next time I scaled it back to about 2/3 and it was perfect. I would also recommend doubling the recipe if you have a family of more than two.
Best chilli I’ve ever had
Made per recipe, except left out sugar. Very nice spice ratio! Will make again and maybe add an extra can of beans…maybe black beans.
Seriously so good. I think the spices here are just spot on. Alterations I made only because I didn’t have the same ingredients: I made my own tomato sauce using like 1/3c paste and 2/3 water. Then added the additional 2T paste as written. I used stewed tomatoes canned instead of diced, just cut them up a bit with scissors in the pan..I also used ground chicken instead and some Asian fried red chili flakes at the end! Didn’t even matter that I had to sub half the ingredients because it was just so stinking good!
We really loved this recipe. I adjusted the spices for the preference of my family! This will be a go to!
Love the flavor and the heat!
Definitely saving this recipe.
Can I sub veggie broth for the beef broth?