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 this tonight as written and it was delicious. It did not say anything about draining the grease from the hamburger but I did. I did not add the cayenne pepper but it had plenty of flavor. Will make again!!!
Best Chili I’ve had for a quick recipe. Instead of Cayenne I used chopped jalapeno and was fantastic
Been making different chili recipes for over 30 years and this is the best darn recipe !! Did not add cayenne and still had a little kick that was just perfect for tummy’s that can’t take spicy food anymore. Also used 1/2 the sugar. Other than that I decided to follow the recipe exactly to see how it was the first go around , I plan to make it again and not change a thing other than half the sugar was it for me, no other add ins are necessary. Had shredded cheddar cheese and large scoop corn chips with it. My husband and my daughter both agreed, best chili ever!
This was amazing! I substituted two cloves of minced garlic (which I added to finish the onions) and halved the garlic powder.
Everyone who ate the chili asked me for the recipe!
I have never had homemade chili. Decided to give it a try. I did put in the cayenne but that’s because I love spice. It wasn’t spicy at all compared to what I’m used to. But it did give it a nice amount of heat with the sweet. Instead of beef I used turkey. I also forgot the tomato sauce so I just added a bit of tomato paste with water. It was absolutely delicious! I had been snacking beforehand and thought I wouldn’t eat the small bowl I served myself but I did. Will definitely try this recipe again.
Hey there, this recipe looks amazing! My husband has been asking me to make chilli and I’m glad I found this one.
Would I be able to make this in my Instant Pot? If anyone has, if you could please let me know that would be great.
Thanks!
Yes put it in instant pot for 20 minutes turned out great.
Absolutely delicious, thank you for this wonderful recipe!
Best chili recipe that I have tried. Great flavor!
My family loved this chili! Full of flavor!
Delicious! Easy and followed recipe. I used one and a half pound of 80/20 ground beef and used 8 ounces of tomato puree instead of the sauce. Thank you. It’s our new favorite for chili. We’ll have to double recipe for next time so we will have enough leftovers
So amazing just a little sweet with a slight burn in the back of the throat. 😍 My goto chili recipe from now on!
Wow, absolutely delicious! I added some franks (powered form) and Sriracha for a kick. By far, the best I’ve tasted.
Super balanced really easy chili recipe. Have made many times and will probably make it hundreds more!
My go to chili. Thanks for sharing. I did substitute chicken broth cause I ran out of the beef broth and I added a half of a can of rotel. Delicious!!!
I doubled the beans, used chuck roast instead of hamburger and added less broth. I cooked the meat first in a crock pot with garlic and onion for 8 hours, then added the rest and cooked for 4 additional hours. My favorite recipe by far. I need to put this one in a cookbook!!
Hi!
What kind of tomato sauce did you use? Asking, located in the Netherlands. Thanks! Looks delish btw!
I would think that most any generic canned tomato sauce would work (make sure it’s only an 8 ounce can(about 250 grams) …
tomato paste is only 2 tablespoons (30ml?), so use something that can be resealed and refrigerated for later use (think tube tomato paste) …
as for the actual tomatoes themselves, use a 400 gram (15-16 ounce) can, they come in a variety of flavors now – chili ready (with green chilies added) … fire roasted … or plain canned diced tomatoes …
hope this helps
I was skeptical because every website claims theirs is “the best,” but this one really lives up. I made the recipe both with and without the cayenne so the people who like spice can have it and those who don’t don’t! I also made a vegetarian version and used lentils in place of the ground beef and vegetable broth. All were fantasic
WOW. Just made this today (5/14/21) and it’s the BEST beef chili I have ever made and so simple. I followed the recipe as written (left out the cayenne) and it is DELICIOUS. Definitely my go to chili recipe from now on. Next time I’m going to try chicken and chicken stock. My wife and kids love this chili. Tony
Why would you ever put sugar in chili? sugar is poison!!!
The sugar is to cut the acidity. I couldn’t even taste the sugar. Best chili I’ve ever had!
Sugar is your friend in small doses..:)…..plus, a salty dish is exalted with a touch of sugar! Just like my Grandma Caprio’s Sunday Pasta Sauce had a tsp. of sugar, to tantalize the tastebuds! If it was a cup, you’d have an argument! Perhaps, don’t knock it till you tried it..much <3 to you sir
Everyone in my family enjoyed it, even my boy who doesn’t usually love chili.
Dials down the acid. Just a pinch goes a long way, you wont even taste it. Good for your spaghetti sauce too.
Sugar, like salt, often helps to bring out flavor in vegetables and spices! (Brown sugar in pasta sauce is a GAME CHANGER!)
I avoid added sugars in processed food, and in cooking I’ll often substitute agave or honey for white sugar.
I tried honey in this recipe and it was amazing!
Chris, Sugar is in everything! Have you ever read the labels on canned goods?
I used honey instead….worked really well.
It isn’t poison in moderation!! Awesome chili!
We made this and I thought it seemed like too many seasonings and I hadn’t ever used broth in my chili. However, this is forever my go-to. Thanks!
Yummy recipe, a little on the sweet side with the tomato sauce and paste, so I skipped the sugar. But I will definitely make it again!
This recipe is a godsend and I have used it many many times. I quadrupled the recipe and froze it for a family reunion meal! Thank you so much!