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.
YEAH! Best chili I’ve ever made or eaten.
Wow. this is good. Didn’t need the sugar. It has a kick but I think this is the easiest, yummiest chili I’ve ever made.
I left out the sugar too. Thought the same thing. Sugar doesn’t belong in chili or spaghetti imo.
This was soo good! This will be my go to chili recipe. It made enough to freeze for chili brats and baked potatos, or whatever else I need it for.. I also made a a vegetarian chili using this recipe for our son.. was a hit!
Love this recipe! I use fresh garlic and add problano peppers diced up
Great chili recipe that I prepared many times. Can use elbow macaroni or rice to accompany. No more store bought chili mix packets needed. Your recipes are terrific. Thank you!
Absolutely amazing. Now our go to chili recipe.
Made with impossible meat and vegetarian beef broth. Incredible! Best chili I’ve ever had. I did skip the sugar and didn’t think it needed it.
Everybit as amazing as the reviews state. The only modification I made was to sub ground turkey and chicken broth or plant based meat and vegetable broth. I promise you nobody is the wiser. We like some spice so I did add jalapeno and double the beans to make it stretch with my big family. Everyone loves it ask for it regularly and do yourself a favor and double the batch so you may get left overs. The first time I made it my 15 yo grandson ate 6 bowls. My 12 yo grandson who eats nothing…had 3 bowls and said its the best chili hes ever had.
Astonishing delicious!!!!
BEST CHILI RECIPE EVER
I’m used to a chili with a few more beans. I’ve made this recipe several time and I always add a second can of beans. Usually white beans. This time I used impossible meat, and subbed chicken broth. I also added hatch chili’s left over from my cornbread batter. Such a great recipe and so versatile.
Thanks for the chili recipe from Toledo, Ohio…will sleep good tonight…Chip
I have used Ree’s recipe up until now, doubling or tripling the spices. But found we were getting dissatisfied. I didn’t quite add all the beef broth, didn’t add any sugar, doubled the recipe, but still only used 1/4tsp cayenne. I did add jalapeño to mine personally. I’m excited to find your site and will be back! Thank you!
I love chili, and have tried many recipes. My husband has never been that crazy for any of them. Until I
Made this chili. He LOVES IT !! Now he is asking all the time to make chili. Great recipe!!
This recipe is amazing! I like to also add a couple of fresh jalapeños and bacon takes it to another level. Thank you for sharing this
Super easy and super yummy! It was a hit, made it with cornbread and it was amazing. Added lots of Frank’s Red Hot and it just upped the delicious factor. Will make again!
It’s on the stove, bubbling away. I left out the sugar, I’m diabetic and don’t like sweet anyway. I used our own canned tomatoes, and poured the beans and liquid in, no rinsing. Also added a can of vegetable broth, as I’m out of beef broth.
Smells delish.
My go-to chili recipe, I modify it with a few more beans, and I don’t like tomato chunks so I swapped those for green peppers. It’s still amazing when I make little tweaks here and there sometimes, I love the seasonings!
Great recipe to start with! We couldn’t resist tinkering a little though. we cooked bacon then used the grease to saute some garlic cloves, small boiler onions, green peppers, and small baby bella mushrooms. The spice combo is great;. Instead of broth, we used powder since our tomatoes were homeade with lots of juice already. We used one can of black beans instead of kidney beans. This recipe will be my starting point for years to come! thanks for sharing!
My family absolutely LOVES this chili recipe! There are hardly any leftovers, but if we have any, it’s even better the next day! I always serve it with cornbread…Yum!
Unfortunately too much cumin… should have reduced by half…oh well
First time making chili. Easy recipe. Loved it. I’ll use it from now on.