Congratulations, you’ve found the actual BEST Chili Recipe! It’s won dozens of cook-offs and is about to knock your socks off. Made with bacon (and the option to omit bacon if needed) and ground beef and simmered on the stove for just 30 minutes, this is my family’s go-to cool weather comfort food.
Chili Cook-Off Champion!
Something savory/cozy for you today because believe it or not Fall is here, which means cold weather and hearty comfort foods like baked ziti, my favorite meatball recipe, and this best chili recipe!
This recipe is actually one that I shared last year, and since then I’ve made it probably 50 times. Not only am I completely obsessed with it, as of this writing it’s also won over two dozen Chili Cook-offs! While I’ve never entered it into a cook-off myself, so many of you who have tried this chili recipe have commented or e-mailed me that it’s taken home first place and I don’t even know how to express how happy that makes me!
So, yeah, I do feel a little bit extra proud of this chili cook-off champ recipe right here.
Not only does it taste amazing, it’s shockingly simple to make. Basic, no-fuss ingredients and just 30 minutes of simmering yield a complex and rich flavor that’s simply unparalleled.
This best chili recipe (alternating weekly with my potato soup) is on regular dinner rotation for me as soon as the weather starts to dip below 70 degrees. It’s easy to make, incredibly filling, and the flavor is out of this world.
Let’s get started.
How to Make the Actual Best Chili Recipe
- Start with bacon! Cook until crisp, remove to a paper-towel lined plate, and reserve a bit of the grease for cooking your veggies. The flavor that develops from this step elevates a great chili recipe to the best chili recipe.
- Cook your onion and pepper until soft, add garlic and cook until fragrant.
- Add your ground beef, cook until mostly browned (but not all the way cooked through).
- Add all your seasonings.
- Stir well, cooking beef through.
- Add the remaining ingredients (and your bacon from step 1!), give everything a good stir, and allow to simmer for at least 30 minutes and until liquid is reduced.
Tip: Make your chili even better by choosing the right toppings when you serve it! Sour cream is a must, but shredded cheddar, corn chips, sliced jalapeños, avocado, or green onions are all great choices, too!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, leftovers can be frozen in an airtight container for at least 3 months.
Kind of. For best flavor, you will still need to follow steps 1-4 of the recipe as written, then you can transfer everything to the crockpot and heat it there (I don’t add the bacon back in until I’m ready to serve). Cook on low until ready to serve.
The bacon imparts an incredible flavor and is the secret ingredient that makes this chili the best chili recipe and an award winner. If you’re entering a cook-off, use it! However, you can leave it out if you absolutely must. Please see the notes in the recipe for instructions on making this chili bacon-free.
I most often use 90% lean ground beef but any percentage will work just fine (I’ve used all of them, but usually end up draining some grease if I use 80%). Ground turkey or chicken or really any ground meat will work here, but keep in mind the flavor will be slightly altered!
What Goes Well with Chili?
Obviously, bread is my chili side-dishes of choice. Because this chili is so hearty and filling on its own, a slice of cornbread makes for a sufficient side for chili.
Enjoy, and make sure to check out my other easy dinner recipes!! And make sure you let me know what you think when you try this! I love hearing about the cook-offs it wins and if you really agree that it’s the all-time BEST chili recipe!
Let’s cook together! Make sure to check out the how-to VIDEO in the recipe card!
The Best Chili Recipe (Award Winning!)
Ingredients
- 5 strips uncooked bacon chopped¹
- 1 large yellow onion diced (about 1 cup)
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced (about 1 Tablespoon)
- 1 lb ground beef (455g) (I use 90% but any will work)
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon chili powder²
- 1 Tablespoon ancho chili powder²
- 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ¾ teaspoons ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper³
- 1 ¼ cup beef broth (295ml)
- 15 oz can dark red kidney beans lightly rinsed and drained (425g)
- 15 oz can black beans lightly rinsed and drained (425)
- 14.5 oz can diced fire roasted tomatoes undrained (411g)
- 7- oz can fire roasted green chilis (198g)
- ¼ cup tomato paste (66g)
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Preferred toppings particularly sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, and corn chips
Instructions
- Place chopped (uncooked) bacon in a large pot or Dutch oven and cook over medium heat until crisp and cooked through. Remove bacon to a paper towel lined plate and drain all but 1 ½ Tablespoons of grease.5 strips uncooked bacon
- Add onion and pepper and cook until softened, about 3-5 minutes.1 large yellow onion, 1 red bell pepper
- Add garlic and cook until fragrant (about 30 seconds).3 cloves garlic
- Add beef, breaking apart with a spatula as you cook. Once meat is partially (about 50%) browned, add sugar and all spices (chili powders, paprika, cumin, onion powder, black pepper, salt, cayenne pepper) and stir well.1 lb ground beef, 1 Tablespoon brown sugar, 1 Tablespoon chili powder², 1 Tablespoon ancho chili powder², 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ¾ teaspoons ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon salt, ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper³
- Add all remaining ingredients — beef broth, beans, tomatoes, tomato paste, chilis, and Worcestershire sauce — and your cooked bacon and stir well.1 ¼ cup beef broth, 15 oz can dark red kidney beans, 15 oz can black beans, 14.5 oz can diced fire roasted tomatoes, 7- oz can fire roasted green chilis, ¼ cup tomato paste, 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Bring to a boil and cook 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally. Simmer for 30 minutes to allow flavor to really develop.
- Serve with preferred toppings (sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, and corn chips are a must!)Preferred toppings
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
I originally shared this chili recipe 10/05/2018. Post has been updated to include more notes, a video, and more helpful information 09/11/2019.
Jill
This recipe is so delicious! I made it vegetarian by omitting the bacon and using Beyond ground beef. Also added a bit of chipotle chili powder in addition to all the spices the recipe calls for to up the heat. Will definitely make again!
Kat
I’ve tried so many chili recipes. Some were quite good, but this one tops them all! It has the perfect balance of flavors.
Rosie
Can I make this in a slow cooker
Sam Merritt
Hi Rosie! This could be kept in the slow cooker on warm, but there are several steps where things need to be added so I’m not sure how it would work to make it in the crockpot.
Rose Crescenzi
I am actually going to make this for a chill cook off for a Fundraiser. I decided to do exactly what you said and make it on the stove and keep it warm in the crockpot. Cross your fingers I win.☺️
Sam Merritt
Good luck! 🙂
Nancy
I wanted to try a new chili recipe and this was delicious! I used black beans only, and sweet Italian pork sausage, because that’s what I had on hand. But otherwise followed the recipe to a T. My husband loved it, a nice change from our usual go-to. Thank you.
Chris
I have been making chili as ling as I can remember. Recently I went to a chili cook off and realized mine was not that great.
I came across this recipe and tried it and it was the beat chili I have ever made. My family agreed. In fact, after tasting, my husband ate 1/2 the pot with his spoon before ai had a chance to serve the family! 🤣. He said it was “that good”! Thank you!
Annette F
Thank you for sharing this recipe, it was absolutely delicious! The only change I did was use a tablespoon of Bacon Up to cook the veggies, since I forgot to buy the bacon. The flavor was so much better than my previous chili recipe, which I thought was really good. I previously used McCormick’s taco seasoning packets, which always had a bit too much salt for my personal preference. Switching to using my own spices in your recipe will now be the recipe I use. Thank you!
Megan
My favorite chili! The smoked flavor it gets from the bacon grease is divine! 10/10
Janice
My kids loved it! I did omit the cayenne and ancho but those who wanted, added hot sauce. I enjoyed the mix of spices. It’s delicious. Thank you!
Rebecca
10/10 definitely recommend!! Love cooking this recipe !! It’s officially saved as a fam fave !!
I forgot I bought maple bacon so we will see how this goes lol
Last time I made this, brought it to work the next day for all my coworkers lunch, needless to say it was a hit!
Becky
I was very careful to purchase and use the correct ingredients and measurements.The only changes I ended up making was admitting the cayenne pepper and salt. I normally wait until what I’m making has cooked for a while before I add the salt and this had more than enough sodium for my taste from the beef broth and canned ingredients. Thankfully I didn’t add the cayenne pepper because this chili was very spicy. Too spicy for my taste. I added water in an attempt to drop the spiciness and ended up adding two full cups. I’m not a picky eater and although I found the chili to be good it wasn’t very good. I won’t make it again.
Sam Merritt
Hi Becky! I’m so confused as to what could have happened here! What kind of chili powder did you use? I typically feed this to my kids with the cayenne pepper added and they don’t have any trouble with the level of spice. 🙁
Maddy
Hi Becky – I’m guessing what may have happened here is you used actual chili powder I.e. Ground up chili? in most places outside of the States, chili powder is extremely spicy and mainly used as a heat enhancement. However, in the States, chili powder is mild and flavorful. I once almost knocked out my husband by adding actual chili powder to enchiladas before learning of this important distinction 😂 Thought this might be applicable to you as well…
Kat
Absolutely delicious!!!! Was in a pinch and needed something quick. Wow! This was loved by all!!!
Thanks Sam!
Carl
That’s the best chilli, I I’ve made. i added a bit more cumino seeds and two square of dark chocolate.
insanely good!
Jessica
I made this chili for a cook off at work & WON! It is by far my favorite now and forever going to be used for cook offs! Thanks for sharing this AMAZING recipe!
Carolyn
How spicy hot is this? Recipe reads wonderful, but hubby can’t handle any heat (medical).
Sam Merritt
Hi Carolyn! I feed this to my young kids without any issue. You will probably want to omit the cayenne. You can always tone down the spices a little bit to be extra cautious if you want to, but that shouldn’t be necessary. Enjoy! 🙂
Paige
delicious! thank you. but add butter to cooking veggies. you can never go wrong with butter 😋 it’ll add a nice browning and juiciness to them!