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.
Daniel
Gonna cook this soon, but I live in a place where those canned green chilis aren’t available. Can i just substitute them with regular fresh jalapenos? And if yes, how many?
Sam
Hi Daniel! You could just omit the chilis. Jalapenos are a good bit spicier so I wouldn’t recommend that substitute unless you like a bit of heat. 🙂
Rita Hand
This week i won our church staff chili challenge with this recipe! Thanks so much for posting it!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Congrats, Rita! Thanks for using our recipe ❤️
Tom
As someone who makes really good chili, I was skeptical that this was “the best chili ever.”
But after making it the first time, it well and truly I the best chili I’ve ever had.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
So glad the recipe was able to convince you, Tom! Thanks for commenting ❤️
Bobbie
My family loved this recipe! I made it without the bacon, ancho chili powder and cayenne pepper. Delicious!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We’re happy you enjoyed it, Bobbie 😊
Debi
Fabulous chili, will definitely make again! Thanks so much!
LillianA
Have used this recipe as the base to my own version and it is fabulous! Completely agree that the bacon is the key!
Connie
Well I took a chance and tried this for my husband’s chili cook off and it won first place! The only thing I did different was doubled the tomatoes. It’s definitely an award winning recipe! Thank you!
Charlotte Jacobs
I entered this in a church cook off and won second place out of 18 chilis! Such a great recipe!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Yay! Congratulations, Charlotte! Thanks for using our recipe ❤️
Rhonda
Hi, I’m making for a dinner, how large is a serving and about how many servings for this dish?
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Hi Rhonda! Serving size and quantity is listed in the recipe card ☺️
Marianne L
Unfortunately I didn’t have bacon or red pepper so I was skeptical but continued making this chili with the items I did have. I was so surprised at the flavor! Flavor is important to me, always. This chili was delicious and I can’t wait to make it all of the ingredients in the recipe. Delicious!!
Aurora
This was a tasty chili. I always add a bit of coffee to my chili to bring out the flavors so i did add some instant coffee and it really elevates the dish. It’s a good simple recipe.
ness
used all the same ingredients but added about a half a tablespoon of yellow mustard and used The Whole package of bacon and it is genuinely one of the best things ever.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Sounds great, Ness! Enjoy ❤️
Alesha
I had high expectations for this recipe because of all the “award-winning” talk. I would say this recipe is good but just as good as others. Nothing really stands out that would make this award-winning to me. I made it exactly as instructed. It had a bbq-esque flavor profile, perhaps due to the worchishire and bacon. I would try this again but without those two things, and see how the flavor compares.
Madelyn Sprague
Do you make a meatloaf like your chili recipe. That was the best ever chili?
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed the chili so much, Madelyn! I do not have a meatloaf recipe, but I do have a meatball or salisbury steak recipe you may be interested in. 🙂
Janelle Litwak
I liked this chili a lot.
I made this it using New Mexico chiles (which I ground to powder) in my Bullet instead of chile arbol. I reduced the amount from 3Tbls. to 1-1/2 tsp. after reading reviews about the heat level. I also did not add the cayenne. This gave the chili a nice level of spiciness.
If I made this again I’d add another can of beans as getting more fiber is a daily goal.
Bill Jensen
I won our companies annual chili cook-off today with this recipe. Must have been the ancho chili powder, bacon, and red peppers. Thank you!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Yay! Thanks for using our recipe, Bill 🎉
DeAnna
Made this recipe to the tee – minus beef broth, I only had vegetable broth. This was for a pot luck at work and everyone loved it. Everyone asked for the recipe.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Wonderful! Thanks for using our recipe and sharing it too 😊