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.
can’t star since I haven’t made it yet, but I’m curious if cayenne is REALLY that spicy ? I would like to try it exactly but worry about comments concerning spiciness though it is only 1/4 teaspoon. that seems like such a small amount to me. I haven’t bought the cayenne yet and will skip if suggested that it will make my chili too hot. I eat medium spicy food if I’m asked preference at a restaurant.
I made it exactly as it is & gotta say it was delicious! I’m not normally a Cumin fan but after simmering for 2 hours, all the flavors worked beautifully together! I added the 1/4 tspn of cayenne and it wasn’t very hot, just like mild wings – I would say that children probably would notice it more.
Really, really good chili and easy to make!
I just finished making this chili! I’ve been searching for a good chili, and this one does not disappoint! It’s fantastic! I didn’t use Cayenne, but it’s delicious even without it!
Great recipe although after reading the comments, I made a few modifications. I used 1.5 lbs of ground sirloin and sautéed a chopped bell pepper with the onion. I cut the cumin to 1 tbsp. and the sugar to 2 1/2 tsp. (2 tbsp. of sugar seemed like a lot). I also added a dash of paprika. It was delicious! Next time, I will reduce the salt to 1 tsp. if I don’t use low sodium beef broth and I may add green hatch chilies. This is a great basic chili recipe and easy to tweak to your liking.
This was so delicious! I added a tablespoon of coco semi-sweet powder. It’s my secret ingredient!
Delicious chili recipe! Perfect for football Sunday! Topped with sour cream and shredded cheese! Thank you!
Perfect, simple and delicious.
Wonderful flavor! I never used a recipe, but found this and followed it exactly, except for adding several minced garlic cloves. We love garlic. I will be making it this way from now on. Thank you.
This is fantastic! I used a 28 oz can of San Marzino tomatoes and dry red beans instead of cans. Used vegetable broth (all I had on hand) and then added an small can of regular tomato sauce for additional liquid to help cook off the beans. Also threw in a diced bell pepper and used 1/2 an extra onion and some chopped garlic (3 cloves). Omitted the garlic powder but kept true to the other spices including their measurements, I may have eyeballed them tomato paste though. Superb and I will use this as my new go to!
Way too much cumin! Trying to add other stuff to even it out a bit, but I think this is a lost cause and will end up in the garbage. I checked other recipes and see only 2 teaspoons, so I wonder if this is a typo?
1st time making it was today and it is delicious
Hi Amanda, I’m also an RD. This was definitely the best chili recipe that I’ve ever made. Thank you so much….great job!
Love this chili! So easy to make and so yummy! Thanks for sharing😊
WOW!!! Best Chili recipe so far, it will be the only recipe I use for now on!! Flavors were amazing. MAKE SURE YOU DOUBLE THIS RECIPE you will definitely want leftovers:)
I doubled the recipe this time because I didn’t have any leftovers last time! This is the best chili recipe EVER! I plan on adding a can of refried beans to my leftovers to use on hotdogs this weekend! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Quick and easy recipe! Flavor is amazing. I’m just missing corn bread.
Recipe was easy and delicious I used ground turkey instead of beef. Definitely will be making again.
Awesome chili! We used vegan beef and it was still the best!! The name does NOT lie. Thanks for the great recipe.
Absolutely delicious!! I have tried lots of difference recipes for chili this is the best one! I added some red wine too ! Will definitely be making again!
I make chili sometimes for my wife. This receipt is the simplest I’ve ever made and the best.
Thanks from Japan!