• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • About
  • Cookbooks
  • Shop

Chili Pepper Madness logo

  • Recipe Index
  • RECIPES BY TYPE
    • BBQ/Grilled
    • Burgers
    • Chicken Wings
    • Chili
    • Curry
    • Dehydrator
    • Game Day
    • Hot Sauces
    • Jalapeno Poppers
    • Marinades
    • Pickling
    • Preserving
    • Quick and Easy
    • Salsas
    • Sauces
    • Seasonings
    • Stuffed Peppers
    • Tacos
  • COOKING TIPS
  • Pepper Info
    • Chili Pepper Types
    • The Scoville Scale
    • Hottest Peppers in the World
    • Growing Chili Peppers
    • Preserving
    • Health Benefits
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Buy Plants & Seeds
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • All Recipes
  • Pepper Info
  • Chili Pepper Types
  • The Scoville Scale
  • Growing Chili Peppers
  • Preserving
  • Chili Pepper Health Benefits
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Cooking Tips
  • Cookbooks
  • Shop
  • About Us
×

Home » Recipes » Classic Chili Recipe

Classic Chili Recipe

by Mike Hultquist · Feb 8, 2023 · 14 Comments

Jump to Recipe
Easy Homemade Chili Recipe

The best chili is a homemade chili and easy to make with ground beef, beans, fire roasted tomatoes and the perfect chili seasonings, what I grew up with.

Easy Homemade Chili Recipe

Easy Homemade Chili Recipe

We're cooking up a big pot of comforting homemade chili in the Chili Pepper Madness kitchen today, my friends. You're going to love it. It's loaded up with ground beef, fire roasted tomatoes, lots of chilies, and beans.

Like many of us, chili is something I grew up with. My mother used to cook up a big pot for dinner, and I remember the smell of it simmering on the stove, driving me crazy with hunger.

She always made hers with grounds meats and kidney beans, along with canned tomatoes and a store bought chili seasoning packet.

It was always easy to make and fed the whole family.

What is Chili?

Chili is a flavorful stew of meats and chilies, often with tomatoes, beans, and seasonings. Chili has evolved from its early versions of meats and chili peppers simmering in a broth thickened with cornmeal.

You'll find variations all over the U.S., from simple classics like Chili con Carne and Chili Colorado to delicious renditions like Chili Verde and White Bean Chicken Chili.

This particular chili recipe is a beef chili very much like you'll find all around America in kitchens and restaurants. It's sort of a prototypical bowl of chili with beans, very easy for you to make and also customize to your own preference, like changing the type of beans, using different meats, and playing with the seasoning combinations.

I hope you enjoy it!

Let's talk about how to make chili, shall we?

Stirring a big pot of classic homemade chili

Chili Ingredients

  • Olive Oil.
  • Onion.
  • Chili Peppers. I like to use jalapenos for heat and flavor, but use bell peppers for a milder chili.
  • Garlic.
  • Ground Beef. You can use other ground meats, like ground turkey, chicken, or pork.
  • Seasonings. Chili powder, cayenne pepper (optional), cumin, salt and black pepper.
  • Tomato Paste. Adds thickness and flavor.
  • Beef Broth. You can use chicken broth or vegetable broth as well.
  • Fire Roasted Tomatoes. You can use diced tomatoes instead, but I love the added flavor of the fire roasted tomatoes.
  • Crushed Tomatoes.
  • Kidney Beans. You can use other beans, like black beans, pinto beans, or a mixture.
  • Optional Extras. Hot sauce (a must!) and red pepper flakes.
  • Toppings. Choose your favorites!

How to Make Chili - the Recipe Method

See the recipe card at the bottom of this page for ingredient quantities and full instructions.

Cook the Vegetable Base. Heat the oil in a large pot to medium heat. I'm using my Dutch oven for this recipe, but you can use a large pot. Add the onion and peppers and cook 2-3 minutes to soften.

Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.

Brown the Beef. Add the ground beef and break apart with a wooden spoon. Brown the meat for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally.

First recipe steps for making classic homemade chili with beans - cooking the vegetables and browning the meats

Add the Spices. Stir in the chili powder, ground cumin, cayenne, salt and pepper to taste, and tomato paste. Cook 1-2 minutes to let the spices bloom.

Broth, Tomatoes, and Beans. Add the beef broth, tomatoes, and kidney beans.

Next recipe steps for making classic homemade chili with beans - seasonings, tomatoes and more.

Simmer the Chili. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors mingle and develop. You can simmer longer if you’d like, up to 60 minutes.

Serve with Optional Toppings. Serve with your favorite chili toppings, like shredded cheddar cheese, spicy chili flakes, sour cream, chopped onions or green onions, chopped cilantro or parsley, fritos or tortilla chips, or others.

Boom! Done! Your chili is ready to serve. Grab yourself a bowl and add as many toppings as you'd like. Nothing beats a bowl of easy homemade chili, just the way you like it.

Recipe Tips & Notes

  • Crock Pot Chili. Use your slow cooker or crock pot to make this recipe. Simply cook the vegetables and brown the meats per the recipe steps #1-5, then transfer everything to the crock pot and proceed. Slow cook on high for 1 hour. See my crockpot chili recipe.
  • Thicken your chili with a bit of cornmeal or masa harina. Simply swirl a few tablespoons into the simmering pot and let it thicken to your preference. Adds a nice corn flavor, too!
  • Try my homemade chili powder recipe for a truly sensational chili experience. You can also use a typical American chili powder blend.
  • Add a tablespoon of brown sugar to your chili for a touch of lingering sweetness.
  • Simmer your chili longer for more developed flavor. I like to simmer at least 1 hour or more. Add a bit of water or extra broth if needed.

Customizing Your Chili

You can change up this chili recipe to make it completely unique, which is why there are so many types of chili out there. This is a basic recipe, but here are some ways you can really make it your own.

Chili Meats

You can use other ground meats, but also consider tougher cuts of meat like chuck roast, brisket, or pork shoulder. Cooking them low and slow in your chili makes the entire pot amazing.

Chili Liquids

This recipe uses fire roasted tomatoes and beef stock, but consider other tomatoes, roasted chili sauces and roasted chilies themselves, homemade stocks, beer, and others.

Chili Beans

Kidney beans are popular for typical chili recipes, but consider others like black beans, great northern beans, pinto beans, red beans, and others. Chili is often great with a nice mix of colorful beans.

Chili Seasonings

Most chili recipes call for "chili powder", which is typically a blend of ground chili peppers. Consider using your own personal blend of chili powders, such as ancho powder, guajillo powder, chipotle powder, chile de arbol, ground cascabel, or ground New Mexican chili powder.

You can also add other seasonings, like brown sugar, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, fish sauce, chili pastes, and others.

Your possibilities are endless, so experiment and make your own favorite chili. Enter a chili cookoff and win!

Homemade Chili with beans in a bowl

Does Chili Have Beans?

Old school chili recipes do not include beans, but were instead a simple mix of meats, chilies and spices. Many people argue that beans don't belong in chili, and there are some great no bean chili recipes out there.

However, you'll find beans in most typical American pots of chilis, and many people enjoy them. It's a great way to round out the meal and stretch it to feed a family or crowd.

If you want to include beans in your chili, the choice is yours.

Storage & Leftovers

Homemade will last up to 5 days in the refrigerator in a sealed container. Simply warm it up gently in a pot to enjoy again. It's even better the next day after all those flavors mingle.

You can also freeze chili for 2-3 months.

That's it, my friends. I hope you enjoy this easy chili recipe. It's the best chili recipe ever, you'll see! I'd love to hear how you adapted it and customized it to make it your very own.

Try Some of My Other Popular Recipes

  • Texas Style Chili
  • Frito Pie
  • Cincinnati Chili
  • Easy Turkey Chili
  • Beef Chili Recipe
  • See all of my Chili Recipes
Homemade Chili on a serving spoon

Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.

Easy Homemade Chili Recipe
Print

Classic Chili Recipe

The best chili is a homemade chili and easy to make with ground beef, beans, fire roasted tomatoes and the perfect chili seasonings, what I grew up with.
Save Recipe Saved!
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: beans, chili, chili powder, ground beef
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Calories: 405kcal
Author: Mike Hultquist
Servings: 6
Tap or hover to scale
4.88 from 8 votes
Leave a Review

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large onion diced
  • 2-3 jalapeno peppers diced (use bell pepper for milder heat)
  • 6 cloves garlic
  • 2 pounds lean ground beef
  • 3 tablespoons chili powder or more to taste
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional, for extra spicy
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 1/2 cups beef broth
  • 1 15 ounce can diced tomatoes with juices (or use fire roasted tomatoes as a tasty alternative, my preference)
  • 1 15 ounce can crushed tomatoes with juices
  • 2 15 ounce cans red kidney beans drained and rinsed
  • Optional Extras: 1 tablespoon or more hot sauce 1 tablespoon or more red pepper flakes (for a spicier version)
  • Toppings. Choose your favorites!

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a large pot to medium heat.
  • Add the onion and peppers and cook 2-3 minutes to soften.
  • Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
  • Add the ground beef and break apart with a wooden spoon. Brown the meat for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Stir in the chili powder, ground cumin, cayenne, salt and pepper to taste, and tomato paste. Cook 1-2 minutes to let the spices bloom.
  • Add the beef broth, tomatoes, and kidney beans.
  • Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors mingle and develop. You can simmer longer if you’d like, up to 60 minutes.
  • Serve with your favorite chili toppings, like shredded cheddar cheese, spicy chili flakes, sour cream, chopped green onion, chopped cilantro or parsley, fritos or tortilla chips, or others.

Notes

Nutritional information estimated without toppings.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 405kcal   Carbohydrates: 34g   Protein: 43g   Fat: 12g   Saturated Fat: 4g   Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g   Monounsaturated Fat: 5g   Trans Fat: 1g   Cholesterol: 94mg   Sodium: 643mg   Potassium: 1450mg   Fiber: 10g   Sugar: 7g   Vitamin A: 1721IU   Vitamin C: 24mg   Calcium: 124mg   Iron: 9mg
Easy Homemade Chili Recipe
Did You Enjoy This Recipe?I love hearing how you like it and how you made it your own. Leave a comment below and tag @ChiliPepperMadness on social media.

Categories: Chili Tags: Chili Pepper Madness, chili pepper recipe, game day and superbowl parties, mikes favorites

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Mike Rohm says

    February 26, 2023 at 11:38 pm

    5 stars
    I just made this. Great recipe!! Switched out several ingredients, and added some others, but it was great. JK. I made your recipe without alteration, and it was fabulous. No beans, but I am a native of that state. Thanks for sharing your wonderful research.

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      February 27, 2023 at 7:11 am

      Haha, glad you enjoyed it, Mike! I appreciate it.

      Reply
  2. Greg says

    February 16, 2023 at 9:17 am

    5 stars
    I made a big pot of your chili the other day. I started with chunks of chuck roast and hamburger, both from our pasture raised beef. Then I added 3 table spoons of my 3 pepper blend; habanaro, ghost and scorpion peppers. Next I added some brown sugar, honey and a generous splash of tequila, and let it simmer on the wood stove for a few hours. It was so good that my wife asked me to make her a batch minus the peppers.
    I never add beans to my chili.

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      February 16, 2023 at 9:20 am

      Sounds wonderful, Greg. I love your pepper blend! Nice!

      Reply
  3. Chris says

    February 15, 2023 at 6:02 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious!

    Swapped smoked paprika in for the cayenne pepper, a red bell pepper for the jalapeños, and added a dried reaper and a couple of teaspoons of the reaper hot sauce I made from your fermented ghost pepper recipe. Also added some roasted corn for an extra bit of sweetness. The taste buds are definitely awake now. I might have to tone it down a bit next time for my friends

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      February 15, 2023 at 6:20 pm

      Boom! Sounds awesome, Chris! I love it. Ghost pepper for the win! Very nice.

      Reply
  4. Gloria says

    February 13, 2023 at 9:39 am

    5 stars
    Hi Mike! Yesterday I made not one, not two, but THREE of your recipes for the Super Bowl 🙂 I made this delish chili, the bacon wrapped jalapenos, and the Nachos. No Leftovers! Everything was delicious. Thank you for your recipes. You're my go-to not just for spicy stuff, but for good food period.

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      February 13, 2023 at 9:43 am

      Wow! So happy to hear this, Gloria! Glad you enjoyed it all, and I'm always happy to be helpful. Cheers!

      Reply
  5. Kris M. says

    February 10, 2023 at 7:36 am

    5 stars
    My husband is a lover of all things "hot". This chili recipe was rated by him as the best and hottest that he's ever had. A real keeper that will reside in my recipe catalog as long as I'm able to cook it.

    One note: I did not have any jalapeno pepper, so I used a small can of sliced jalapenos instead.

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      February 10, 2023 at 7:38 am

      Glad he loved it, Kris! Thanks for sharing! Nice and spicy hot!

      Reply
  6. Damien C. says

    February 09, 2023 at 11:30 am

    5 stars
    Yep, the perfect bowl of chili. Nothing beats a simple bowl of spiced ground beef with beans and lots of tomatoes. Thanks for another winner.

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      February 09, 2023 at 11:30 am

      Thanks, Damien! Very happy you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  7. Paul says

    February 09, 2023 at 10:24 am

    4 stars
    If you have access to a smoker, cook it low-n-slow (250ºF) for 2 to 3 hours with your favourite hardwood. Cast iron is great or foil pan, stir occasionally.

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      February 09, 2023 at 11:31 am

      5 stars
      Yep, simple and perfect. Cheers.

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

ALL. SPICY. RECIPES. Hi, I’m Mike and I LOVE Spicy Food! Say goodbye to bland and boring food with my easy-to-follow recipes. Let’s get cooking!

More about me →

Mexican
Cajun
Sauces
Seasonings

5 ESSENTIALS FOR SPICY COOKING

Subscribe and receive my FREE email series with tips for spicy cooking and new Recipes

Order The Spicy Food Lovers' Cookbook by Mike Hultquist

AMAZON / BARNES & NOBLE / INDIEBOUND / BOOKS A MILLION

Order The Spicy Dehydrator Cookbook by Mike Hultquist

AMAZON / BARNES & NOBLE / INDIEBOUND

Most Popular Recipes

  • Bang Bang Chicken
  • Mexican Birria Recipe
  • Cajun Chicken and Sausage Gumbo Recipe
  • Jamaican Curry Chicken
  • Mexican Picadillo Recipe
  • Homemade Blackening Seasoning

Footer

NEVER MISS A RECIPE

Receive my "5 Essentials for Spicy Cooking" email series & new recipes

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

↑ back to top

About | Contact | Travel-Food | Ingredients | Stories | Privacy | Disclaimer | © 2023 Chili Pepper Madness

EXCLUSIVE MEMBER OF MEDIAVINE FOOD