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.
Mel Jones
Everyone Loves thos Chilie. Can’t keep it in the house ❤️🔥
DAN ISRAEL
I’m making this tomorrow. I have 80/20 hamburger. Should I brown this is another pan and strain? I will have the fat from the bacon. This looks so good, I cant wait to make it. I have a brand new 4 quart porcelain coated cast iron Dutch oven I think it should fit in. Thanks for any response.
Sam
Hi Dan! If you have a lot of excess fat you can take out a little bit, but you should be fine. I would do it in the same pot. I hope you love it! 🙂
Frank J
I plan on using this recipe in our 2nd annual church chili cook off. We are required to make 8-10 quarts. So would I double or triple everything in the recipe?
Thanks so much, and crossing fingers for a first place award.
Sam
Hi Frank! This recipe makes about 10 cups of chili (2.5qts). If you triple the recipe you will have just under 8 quarts (That’s a lot of chili!) Good luck! Let me know how it goes! 🙂
Kay
sooo good!
Zoila
Made this today, we are camping in Northern AL and its hard to use our stove in our trailer so I made it in my Cuisinart crock pot that has a sauté and brown option and it worked great. My husband likes more spice so he added jalapeños and Cholula hot sauce. Wonderful with corn bread and of course all the fixins
thank you for sharing, best chili ever!!!!
Loren
Everyone loved it in my house, thank you for sharing!
Sharon
My aunt made your recipe for her neighborhood chili cook off contest and she won second place! It’s a great recipe!
Kurtis J.
just used this recipe for a Chili Cook-Off yesterday (10/14/2023). I had made a double batch and added 1lb of ground country pork sausage instead of double the ground beef. Needless to say I won First Place with this recipe. Thank you so much for sharing.
Gino
Love this recipe, what if I don’t have ancho chili powder on hand and for the grocery store from a small town thank you!
Sam
Hi Gino! Regular chili powder will work as a substitute. The ancho chili powder just provides a really nice flavor. 🙂
Mike
I found the chili to have a sweet flavor. Next time I am skipping the brown sugar.
Rebecca
that’s what makes everybody I know love it 😀 sweet and savory! I add spice to counteract the sweetness so it’s both sweet and spicy 🔥I always get told I make the best chilli! I personally think the brown sugar it what sets it apart and makes it stand out but I guess everyone has different taste.
Linda
I made this yesterday for the chili cookoff for church. I WON!!! I have never won with chili before and that was ok but this was amazing chili. Thanks for sharing.
Latayne Eck
Most delicious chili ever! Definitely a keeper recipe!
Domini
So I know that this recipe has been around for some time not but I wanted you to know it amazing. I added and omitted a few things as I have made this recipe at least 15 times and it’s now what as referred to by anyone who tries it as the best chili they have ever had. It won this years Chili cook off in my area!!
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Domini! I love hearing that it’s winning cook offs! 🙂
Anonymous
This is the BEST recipe. I won my neighborhood chili cook off with this last year. I’m doing another cook off with the same group next month and I’m looking for ideas to make it even better so I win again! Even though, I really don’t think it can get any better! Any suggestions?
Sam
I’m so glad it won, this is fantastic to hear! Honestly I wouldn’t recommend changing a thing! 🙂
Meleah
Hello, what kind of red pepper needs to be chopped up? Is it bell pepper, cayenne, or another variety. Apologize for the question, just want to make sure I add the correct ingredients. Thanks in advance.
Sam
Hi Meleah! It’s a red bell pepper. 🙂
Rose Milligan
My son and I just made this and it was amazing!! We made one double recipe for him and my boyfriend then a single recipe for myself (I’m vegetarian). I used veggie broth and a plant based meat replacement them left out the bacon. So so so amazing 😋
Taylor
This was awesome! Will definitely make again. I skipped the black beans and cayenne and it still turned out great.
Anne Ryan
Just sampling this chili recipe. I believe I have made it before. EXCELLENT!!!
Taking to my daughter’s to have with nachos. Family will all be gathered. Love your recipes Sam!! You are an excellent cook, and baker. Thank you for your recipes.