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 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.
- Add onion and pepper and cook until softened, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add garlic and cook until fragrant (about 30 seconds).
- 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.
- Add all remaining ingredients — beef broth, beans, tomatoes, tomato paste, chilis, and Worcestershire sauce — and your cooked bacon and stir well.
- 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!)
Notes
Nutrition
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.
Meg
Wondering how this would be with a jalapeño or two. We love spice ☺️
Sam
Hi Meg! You can certainly experiment with adding them in. 🙂
Coffeemom
This is now my go to chili recipe! We like a little more heat so I add a half a can of chipotle peppers!
Lillian
Was REALLY good!! Whole fam loved it! Almost burned it though, LOL.
Jim
Hands down the best chili I’ve ever made (or eaten)!! Absolutely perfect and I’ve tried at least 20 different online recipes over the years as well as my own experimenting. I doubled the recipe and wish I had made more for leftovers as the small group we had over last night devoured it. I used meatloaf mix as we didn’t have regular ground beef in fridge but next time will go with straight ground beef as per recipe. No more searching for The Best Chili – this is it. Thank you for sharing. PS, I never provide feedback online to anything but just had to share because it was that good.
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed it so much, Jim! I really appreciate you taking the time to leave your feedback. 🙂
Gigi
If I’m making for a group, can I double the recipe and still come out just as good?
Sam
Hi Gigi! Yes, this chili recipe doubles well. Enjoy 🙂
Nicole
Easy and delicious
Kieara
I’ve never made chili and searched around the internet looking for a recipe that looked trustworthy. I found this one, and it is perfection! Seriously some of the best chili I’ve ever had, even reheated a couple days later! The only differences I made to it was I added about twice the smoked paprika, ancho chili and cayenne pepper seasonings and j simmered it for about 2 hours. I’m definitely going to make it again!
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed it so much, Kieara! 🙂
Hanna
Made this tonight and it’s delicious!! Although, I totally cheated (but it worked so don’t judge) by using a can of rotel w/green chilies instead of the fire roasted tomatoes. I had to add a little more smoked paprika. Hopefully it didn’t change the flavor too much and you’re not sitting there shaking your head as you read this. Ha. Regardless, you had me at bacon with this recipe!! Me and mine loved it. Thank ya ma’am.
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed it so much, Hanna! 🙂
M13
This makes a good chili to be certain however it winning multiple awards maybe is a stretch my family of 6 thought of it as a good homemade chili which did the job 8/10 also easy to follow instructions
Sam
Scroll through the comments and see for yourself. 😉 I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Sheri Widler
Awesome
Katy
This is a great chili recipe and I was happy to stumble across it! The only change I made was adding a half pound of ground mild sausage and a half jar of spicy Mina Harissa (moroccan red pepper sauce). It added just enough extra heat and depth. Amazing! Happy New Year!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so happy to hear it, Katy! Thank you so much for trying my recipe and commenting. 🙂
Emily K
So good! My family loved it and we ate all the leftovers quickly! Good flavor and texture!
Kyle
One question I have after making it, is there no draining of the grease from the ground beef? Our chili tastes good but there is a lot of “oil” floating to the top I’m guessing in the form of fat.
Sam
Hi Kyle! If there is too much grease you can remove some, but personally if there is grease floating on the top that’s how I tell it is good. 😉
Jennifer
I’ve made this at least five times so I figured I should finally comment and rate it while it’s finishing on the stove. It’s amazing! Simple and easy to adapt to the ingredients you have or you prefer and the notes for substitutions are super helpful. The only change I generally make is smoked paprika (not a fan). It makes great leftovers and freezes like a dream.
All of your recipes I’ve tried have been wonderful and the directions and notes make things foolproof!
Sam
Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment, Jennifer! I’m so glad you enjoy it so much! 🙂
James
I’d recommend trying Hungarian paprika instead.
Angela R
The flavor is amazing! Seriously is THE best chilli recipe!
Thank you for sharing, I feel so privileged that you made a great cook out of me!
David
Do you drain the beef fat?
Sam
Hi David! To drain the bacon fat, I just remove the bacon and pour the fat into a container. I like to use 90% ground beef so there isn’t too much grease made from the beef. 🙂