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.
Nancy Tamilia
I made the chili today and it was phenomenal!! I actually used ground turkey and ground sweet sausage and added 1/2 can of diced jalapeno peppers for a little kick. It was so good and had such a great flavor!!! Thanks.
Al Wight
Entering a Chili Cookoff for Super Bowl using your recipe🤞
Keith
Currently simmering. I can’t with good conscious let chili only simmer 30min 🤣. That being said, doubled the recipe, added some mushrooms and have been tasting all the way. So far sooooo good! I’ve always used the secret ingredient (bacon) in my chili’s so this is my kind of chili! Wife seems to get a Mexican vibe from it. 👍🏻👍🏻
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We hope you both love it, Keith! ❤️
Jay
I made this for my family last night and it turned out EXCELLENT! Everyone loved it and my wife said it was her favorite dinner I’ve made. We’re in Texas and beans in chili just isn’t something we do, so I doubled the beef to two pounds in place of the beans. Also added a small can of tomato sauce. When it was done cooking, I spooned it into a 13×9 casserole, mixed up two boxes of Jiffy Corn Muffin mix and spooned that over the top of the chili. Tossed into a 375 oven for about 20 minutes till golden on top and it was amazing.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Sounds delicious, Jay! We’re so happy you both enjoyed it ❤️
Ashley
Can you make this in a crockpot?
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Hi Ashley! You will need to go through steps 1-4 prior to adding it to the crockpot. After that, you can follow the recipe as instructed and keep it warm until you’re ready to serve. We hope that you enjoy the chili! 🙂
Dee
I have to make chili for a chili cook off at church so I made this as a trial run. It is very good but I find my kidney beans to be very tough. If the kidney beans you used were not tough, do you mind leaving a reply letting me know of a softer brand? I admit, I used a cheap brand I had on hand so maybe they used very mature kidney beans
Sam
Hi Dee! Did you use kidney beans from a can? They are typically in a juice so I’m not sure they could be hard. I haven’t ever run into this issue.
Dee
Yes, they were from a can. It was a cheap brand so maybe that is why.
Teri Taylor
I loved this recipe, but I substituted pinto beans and black beans for the kidney beans, and it turned out delicious!
Michelle James
I’m going to use this recipe in the next BBQ competition, they usually have a chili cook off or a desert turn in. I added some smoked brisket and some smoke chili peppers. I love all of your recipes! Thank you for sharing.
Tricia Link
Just had to come here to say… I made this chili for a church Chili Cookoff, and I did in fact win. 😂 It’s delicious! It will now be my go-to chili recipe!
Sam
So happy to hear this! Thank you so much for trying my recipe, Tricia! 🙂
Nikki Randolph
So flavorful! Have made it several times and it is wonderful. I added the beef bouillon base as well!
Jay
Hey Sam – This recipe looks amazing and I’m planning to make it with cornbread, but one little question. We’re in Texas and typically we don’t put beans in our chili down here. If I omit the beans and double the meat, will the rest of the recipe be OK? Thanks
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Hi Jay! You can leave the beans out, but they really help make the chili really hearty. Doubling the meat will work just fine. Enjoy!
Jbird
This is SOOO good! We grow tomatoes so I did add a pint of frozen plum tomatoes because I like chili not as thick as this recipe.You can never go wrong with the fresh taste the tomatoes add too. If I didn’t add the tomatoes this recipe would still get 5 stars.
I love your recipes!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Sounds delicious! Thanks for letting us know how it went for you ❤️
Keith
Good. But I can’t say award winning ! I like the bacon in it. Next time I’m either cutting out the brown sugar or just adding a little. I don’t like the sweetness.
Val
I used to think my kids didn’t like chili. Turns out they didn’t like MY chili. We all loved this! Best chili recipe ever!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
🤣 So happy it was a hit!
DB
This p****** me off, but this is way better than my chili and might be the best I’ve ever had.
I doubled it and everyone loves it. Everyone.
I am going to add diced pickled jalapenos to it next time and claim it completely as my own recipe. I’ll be trying many of your other recipes and likely claiming those as my own, as well.
Sam
🤣 I’m glad everyone enjoyed it! 🙂
TreJ
Our new family favorite! We used half ground turkey and half 90 % beef.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
So glad you enjoyed! ❤️
Mark
Add another 1st place to your list. I won our church chili cookoff out of about 12 others. I substituted beef brisket for the ground beef and added more beef broth and a can of tomato sauce since it came out a little thick using the brisket. Thanks for the recipe. Won a nice grill tool set with it!
DJ
This is delicious, I’m going to enter it in an upcoming chili contest…I will keep you posted,
Sam
I hope you win! 🙂
Dava
Is the red pepper meaning bell pepper
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Yes! Enjoy 😊