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 like it just the way it is perfect I wouldn’t change a thing thanks for sharing.
This was so delicious. I doubled the recipe. I used the amount of sugar in the recipe, but it was too sweet for me so o added 2 chopped Chipotle in adobo and some of the sauce. This made it perfectly spicy and cut down on the sweetness. Next time, I will use 1/2 the sugar. So so good!
Excellent recipe! The next time I make it, I will reduce the cumin, but that is just a personal taste. Love it!
Absolutely Awesome! Thank You!
I used chili beans (pinto beans in chili sauce) instead of kidney beans otherwise great recipe.
These above comments were so helpful. I tweaked the recipe after reading them. I used Half the Cumin, cut Salt to just a Tsp, and cut sugar to 2 Tsps not Tbps. Oh, I I substituted black beans in for Kidney beans! It’s a really good chili! Thanks y’all for all the great advice!
Super yummy!!! I didn’t have tomato paste or tomato sauce, so I used Heinz beans in tomato sauce instead and it worked perfectly! I also used a low sodium beef broth, and added some extra seasonings and it’s so yummy🤤
Really good and enjoyed by all. Great dish for this terrible weather we are having!
Really really good chili… ‘classic’ is the perfect description of it. My husband said several times, “man, this is good chili”. The weather was chilly and rainy, perfect chili weather, which adds to the comfort and heartiness of eating it! Thanks for a great recipe… this chili is a keeper!
I’ve had this recipe saved for a couple of years now and is my go to for an easy cold weather meal. Ive changed it slightly to make it my own, mainly I dont use beef broth at all, replace it with a bottle of regular Shiner (yellow label) and prepare yourself for some unique tasting chili, longer it simmers the better. 5/5 would recommend. Write this one down, its good
This is a five star recipe with all ingredients well balanced.
Made this tonight for the first time like most comments used a tablespoon of sugar. Might reduce or change the amount of tomatoe next time, no Byrne for me but over all a good recipe, will make againcathy
Delicious!!!! Added to my family recipe book! I will be making this very often. yum yum
Too much sugar! I wish I had omitted it or only added one tbs instead of 2. It tastes sweet and chili is not meant to taste sweet. I added 1/2 cup of water in hopes of diluting the sweet taste. 🤞🏽
This recipe came out amazing! Delicious, easy and fast, I will be making it again and again. I may substitute ground chicken and see how that comes out. Also, I did add the cayenne pepper and it was the perfect amount of spicy!
Great recipe! Reduced the amount of cumin to 1 tbsp and substituted the sugar with bourbon infused maple syrup, absolutely delicious. Will be my to-go chili 🌶 recipe. Thank you Amanda for sharing your recipe,☺️
Definitely a keeper! As good as advertised, quick and easy to make. I tripled the beef and did 1.5 times the spices and it was yum-yum-yummy!!!
My husband thinks I make the best chili. Turns out – I just make this recipe! Also great with ground turkey.
Great chili! I was hesitant about the amount of cumin, but I went with it and was happy with the result. I had a bell pepper and sautéed it with the onion. I didn’t have tomato sauce or tomato paste in my pantry so I substituted a can of condensed tomato soup. I also used cannellini beans instead of kidney beans.
Substitute brown sugar for white. Half the cumin and add paprika in place of the missing half.