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 to make all kinds of different chili, but today wanted to make it like my mom used to for my late brother’s birthday, in honor of his standard request. So delicious!!! Will make it again as is, and also with variations.
This came out Amazing!!! I also added black beans, and its delicious!!! Although for my personal taste i think the cumin is a bit overpowering. But my husband loves it! This recipe makes so much too! Cant wait to eat it again tomorrow for lunch!!
I’ve been making this chili exclusively since 2019. I like my chili on the spicier side so I include the cayenne and use spicy Italian sausage in place of ground beef. I follow the recipe exactly and add sharp cheddar cheese, a dollop of sour cream, sliced green onions on top, and saltine crackers and this is absolutely the ‘best classic chili’. This is not only the tastiest chili I have made but also the easiest! Cook the onions and beef, add the spices, throw in literally all remaining ingredients, simmer for 20 minutes, and an amazing meal is ready to eat. YUM.
I, too, thought there might be too much seasonings but I followed the recipe to a T with the addition of 1-1/2 green and red peppers and it was amazing!!! This recipe is going in the recipe box!
Have been making chili for years and this is by far the best and easiest recipe ever. I will be using this recipe from now on. Thank you for sharing a great recipe!
My first time making this chili and my family loved it. I added Italian sausage and it was awesome. This is my go to chili and I’ll make it again and again. Thank you
Great basic recipe. I use it as a starter and then dial it up anyway I feel like it. I’ll double it and use fire roasted tomatoes, Cajun seasoning, hot pork sausage, a little smoke paprika, celery salt, obviously extra cumin and chili powder, some chopped celery and carrots, light and dark kidney beans, black beans, maybe some corn, chorizo, mesquite smoke what ever I feel at the moment. Have fun with it, easy to make, easier to make even greater if you want to!
This recipe is delicious. I had to make a few modifications with using white kidney beans instead of red, I used ground pork instead of beef, I put a tablespoon of brown sugar instead of white and for some colour I added a handful of green peas, chopped red pepper and mushrooms. We topped the chilli with grated cheese and sour cream. I would be happy to make this again to serve to guests. Thanks !
I made this exactly as written. EXCELLENT Chili Recipe which I will use from now on!
Made this today (6/20/21) and it was absolutely delicious. Used crushed tomatoes since I had that on hand, added freshly grated garlic and some additional spices to my own taste (cocoa powder, cinnamon, smoked paprika, ancho chili powder – basically dumped anything I thought sounded good). Highly recommended! Served it with Fritos, sour cream, cheese, hot sauce. Looking forward to making a vegetarian version as well.
Even with the extra the chili is way too hot for me or my grandkids. Wish I knew how to save it.
add a can of tomatoes if it’s too hot. I also serve over pasta.
Well, you could add more sugar. That is how the heat of peppers is rated – they keep adding sugar until the heat is gone. The more sugar, the hotter the pepper.
correction, you did not make this recipe today
So… you really didn’t make this recipe then 🤪
I love it!!! Thanks for the seasoning tips! I add lime juice and cinnamon to mine but I think I’ll try this out.
As an experimental chili cooker try brown sugar in place of the white sugar.
This was wonderful! It was easy to make, fast, and my family loved it! I didn’t use the cayenne, and it was still very flavorful. Thank you!
Made it today 6/17/21 it was one of best recipe for chili it was was delicious. ❤
Love this recipe. I used beyond meat ground and added some fresh garlic with the onions and an extra can of beans and it is delish.
It is raining here in south Florida. I just made this for dinner and it is extremely good. I love things on the spicy side so I added a little extra cayenne pepper. Also, I left out the sugar. Paired it with saltines and cheese. I’ve had two bowls already and the husband isn’t home from work yet. Definitely saving this recipe!
This recipe has a great balance of the classic flavors. It cooks up quickly and just gets better with reheating. Thank you for sharing!
Delish! I added 2 fresh garlic cloves minced.
The best chili I’ve tasted
Fantastic chili! I am making this for the second time in the last month. The only thing I did different was to add a green bell pepper. My wife loves them.
Love it!! Probably going to use this recipe for the resr of my life lol
This might just be the best chili I have ever made! Thank you. I substituted Beyond Burger for the ground beef and added one chopped sweet potato, because I had it. I am delighted with the results!