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 have use this recipe many time and it’s the BEST CHILLI RECIPE and my friends and family raves about it. Thank you so much.
I’ve used so many different recipes over the years, but this one I feel is the winner! The addition of the sugar helps cut the acidity of the tomatoes and brings a nice balance to it!
My all-time favorite go to chili recipe. It is so very good. I made it exactly the way it was written. So yummy. Thank you for sharing.
Love this chili recipe. The only change I made is I added garlic after the onions cooked and before adding the meat. I love garlic! 😎
My family loves this chile. As always, I make a recipe as stated. The next time I make it, I may try changing things up. I don’t with this one.
I will share a family tradition from when I was a little man – I eat chile with a plain peanutbutter sandwich. Believe me, I know this sounds strange, but it just works, and it works well. When first cooked, this recipe is a bit runny,so I dunk the sandwich in the liquidy section. It’s so good.
Best chilli recipe, so simple, I have it on repeat!
My fav chili recipe. So easy and versatile recipe
Have been making this chili for a few years now! Even my kids love it. By far the best I’ve had.
Best Chili Recipe by far,,, my Wife and neighbors always come asking me , when are you gonna make Chili again?
Easy and amazing. I add an additional can of beans.
Made this recipe at work for a potluck – needless to say it’s a HIT and I get asked EVERY YEAR to make it again!!!
It’s delicious!!
My favorite chili recipe! I cook the meat with spices and throw it all in the slow cooker with the rest of the ingredients. Sometimes I don’t have either tomato paste or tomato sauce but add whatever extra tomato thing you have (I did pasta sauce once) and it still tastes good. I add an extra can or 2 of beans for my preference.
I’ve been making this recipe for years and it’s my go to. I add about a tablespoon of cornstarch and black beans. I omit the tomato paste. I serve with slices of avocado, cheese, and tortilla chips, so good!
Every time I make this I wish I would have doubled it! Using standard chili powder the recipe is top notch. If using Pasilla chili powder you’ll only need half the sugar called for.
All it took was one time making and my family was in love. When I make chili this is my go to and will forever be in my recipe book for chili.
I have made many times! Amazing!!!
Best chili recipe I’ve tried in the last ten years.
Tastes amazing!
This will be my new go-to chili recipe. I didn’t change a thing. I did only use 1/4 tsp of cayenne, but otherwise followed the recipe to a tee, and it was so yummy!
Always delicious! My go-to; I even added it to my physical recipe book. I add some chili beans for extra beany goodness.
I decided to start cooking everything fresh and this was the first recipie I tried, 2 years later and I’m still making it. It’s simple, easy and tastes so good! I don’t put the can of tomato sauce in because quite frankly I don’t know what that is or where to find it lol. I put 400ml of beef stock and one can of chopped tomatoes and then after it’s bubbled for abit I add one veg stock cube. Tastes soooo good!