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You are here: Home / Savory / The Best Chili Recipe

The Best Chili Recipe

September 11, 2019 Updated October 1, 2019 BySam 195 Comments

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This is the BEST Chili Recipe! 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.

It’s even better when paired with a side of buttermilk cornbread!

A bowl of the best chili recipe with sour cream and corn chip toppings

The Best Chili Recipe (Seriously!)

Something savory/cozy for you today because believe it or not Fall is just around the corner, which means cold weather and hearty comfort foods like 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, it’s also won over a 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.

Making chili in a Dutch oven

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 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.

Overhead of chili recipe simmering in large pot

How To Make Good Homemade Chili

  1. 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.
  2. Cook your onion and pepper until soft, add garlic and cook until fragrant.
  3. Add your ground beef, cook until mostly browned (but not all the way cooked through).
  4. Add all your seasonings.
  5. Stir well, cooking beef through.
  6. 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.

While I do include suggestions in the recipe in case for some reason you need to omit the bacon (coming from a household that never ate bacon, this is a tip I would’ve appreciated a decade ago), I really recommend including it for the best possible flavor. The bacon flavor takes what is a great chili recipe and really makes this the best chili recipe I’ve ever tried (and Zach agrees!).

Step by step photos for making chili

The Best Chili Toppings:

  • Sour cream
  • Shredded Cheddar Cheese (currently obsessed with Tillamook’s thick shred cheese OMG)
  • Corn chips (Fritos or crushed Tostitos are my favorite)
  • Sliced Jalapenos
  • Scallions/green onion
  • Additional Bacon
  • Avocado

Sour cream is an absolute must for any good chili recipe, I can’t enjoy chili without it anymore.

Close up shot of spoonful of chili con carne in bowl

What Goes Well with Chili?

  • Buttermilk Cornbread (a must!)
  • Jalapeno Cornbread (if you like a little extra heat)
  • Homemade Biscuits

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!

Let’s cook together! Follow me on my YouTube channel where I’ve already uploaded over 150 recipe videos that you can watch for free!

The Best Chili Recipe

This is the BEST Chili Recipe! Made with bacon (and the option to omit if necessary) and ground beef and  simmered on the stove for just 30 minutes, this is my family's go-to cold weather comfort food. It's even better when paired with a side of buttermilk cornbread!
5 from 57 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: best chili recipe, chili, chili recipe, fall recipes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 611kcal
Author: Sam Merritt

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
  • 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
  • 3/4 teaspoons ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper³
  • 1 1/4 cup beef broth 295ml
  • 15 oz dark red kidney beans lightly rinsed and drained (425g)
  • 15 oz black beans lightly rinsed and drained (425)
  • 14.5 oz diced fire roasted tomatoes undrained (411g)
  • 1 7- oz can fire roasted green chilis 198g
  • 1/4 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 1/2 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!)

Video

Notes

¹For best flavor, DO NOT OMIT THE BACON. However, as someone who spent 23 years not eating bacon I wanted to include tips for those of you who might have the same restrictions. if you wish to make this recipe without bacon you *can* do so by skipping the first step, heating 1 1/2 Tablespoons of oil over medium heat, and then beginning from step 2. On the other hand, if you want additional bacon for garnishing, cook it now and reserve.
²You can substitute one chili powder for the other and use just traditional chili powder or just ancho chili powder, but I personally like the blend of the two.
³This gives the chili a mild spice, if you like more heat increase to 1/4 teaspoon for a moderate spice. Add additional cayenne pepper at your own risk!

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving (not including toppings) | Calories: 611kcal | Carbohydrates: 72g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 55mg | Sodium: 1315mg | Potassium: 758mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 30IU | Vitamin C: 72mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 20mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @SugarSpun_Sam or tag #sugarspunrun!

Bowl of chili with toppings

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. 

Filed Under: Fall Recipes, Savory

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Comments

  1. Austin says

    September 11, 2019 at 12:15 pm

    5 stars
    I made this recipe last year for Packer football day and everyone loved it! My 7 year old ask for 3rds and still asks me to make it every once in awhile. My wife just asked me to make it for her birthday dinner. Great chili – thick and hearty the way it should be.

    Reply
    • Sugar Spun Run says

      September 11, 2019 at 12:17 pm

      Thank you so much, Austin! I’m so happy that your family enjoys the homemade chili! Thanks for your comment. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Brian says

    September 11, 2019 at 11:45 am

    I can’t wait to try this chili recipe
    I want to kick it up a few notches and spice it up a bit!
    I really love hot n spicy chili!
    Great recipe

    Reply
    • Sugar Spun Run says

      September 11, 2019 at 12:19 pm

      I hope that you enjoy the chili recipe, Brian! Let me know how it turns out! Enjoy! 🙂

      Reply
  3. L Nedelko says

    September 9, 2019 at 11:34 am

    Making this today for the second time because it was so good . Did switch things up a bit though . Added a bit of celery to the onions peppers and garlic mixture.
    For the meat I used a combination . One small package of cubed sirloin and one small package of 3 meats ( minced pork , veal and beef .
    Cannot use Worchestershire Sauce due to a food allergy( anchovies ) so in recipies calling for it I substitute HP sauce .
    Thanks for the recipe .

    Reply
    • Sugar Spun Run says

      September 9, 2019 at 11:57 am

      I am happy that you enjoyed the chilli. I love that you switched it up slightly to make it to your liking. Enjoy! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Denea G says

    August 21, 2019 at 6:21 pm

    5 stars
    Love the recipient you post on Instagram. So glad I found you on Pinterest too!

    Chili is in the crock pot now and it smells wonderful! Can’t wait to try it!

    Reply
    • Sugar Spun Run says

      August 22, 2019 at 8:18 am

      Thank you so much, Denea! I really appreciate you following my social media pages. I hope that the chili was enjoyed by all! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Lauren says

    July 27, 2019 at 3:26 pm

    Has anyone tried this in the crockpot?

    Reply
  6. Norman says

    July 27, 2019 at 12:22 pm

    5 stars
    What a great recipe. I combine it with my “secret ingredient” and it is terrific. My secret ingredient is only this: instead of cooking the beef in the pan I always grill extra patties whenever I have a cookout and freeze them for later. I just thaw them and add them at the brown the beef step for an extra subtle flavor that leaves people guessing.

    Reply
    • Sam says

      July 27, 2019 at 12:42 pm

      I am so glad you enjoyed the chili, Norman! I will have to try your trick with the meat. 🙂

      Reply
  7. Eric Raber says

    July 6, 2019 at 3:07 pm

    This was great. Perfect amount of spice for me. In addition to ground beef I added small cubed chunks of meat for an added dimension and left out beans. Delicious

    Reply
    • Sam says

      July 6, 2019 at 3:11 pm

      I’m so glad you enjoyed the chili, Eric! Thank you for commenting 🙂

      Reply
  8. Kathy D Reece says

    June 13, 2019 at 9:30 pm

    5 stars
    This is a great recipe! Easy to make and so delicious! Just the right spice mixture. Will pin this and make it again!

    Reply
    • Sam says

      June 14, 2019 at 9:11 am

      Thank you so much, Kathy! I am glad you enjoyed the chili! 🙂

      Reply
  9. JD says

    May 16, 2019 at 4:04 pm

    5 stars
    Love this thanks, I’m actually making it for the 2nd time right now. All other chili recipes I came across seemed boring, but when I saw this one I knew it was exactly what I was looking for. This ones a keeper, much appreciated.

    Reply
    • Sam says

      May 16, 2019 at 10:16 pm

      I am so glad you enjoyed the chili, JD! 🙂

      Reply
  10. Casey says

    May 10, 2019 at 6:44 pm

    Made this tonight and it was delicious! My husband who isn’t a big fan of chili asked for seconds! Yum!

    Reply
    • Sam says

      May 11, 2019 at 8:45 am

      I am so glad everyone enjoyed it, Casey! 🙂

      Reply
  11. Tony DaLuz says

    April 19, 2019 at 12:14 am

    5 stars
    Omg this is the first time I have ever Made Chili and it’s the best I have ever had BY FAR!! Do the bacon and bacon grease for sure!

    Added a little hot pepper flake and used garlic instead of onion….

    This was incredible!
    Thanks for the recipe!!

    Reply
    • Sam says

      April 19, 2019 at 9:01 am

      I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed the chili, Tony! Thank you so much for commenting 🙂

      Reply
  12. Donna says

    April 18, 2019 at 4:36 pm

    So so good. Just made this minus bacon but really good

    Reply
    • Sam says

      April 18, 2019 at 7:44 pm

      I am so glad you enjoyed the chili Donna! 🙂

      Reply
  13. Julie M says

    April 2, 2019 at 12:08 pm

    I make it like this all of the time, but I have to wonder, why didn’t you say for people to drain their ground beef Grease…????

    Reply
    • Sam says

      April 2, 2019 at 3:46 pm

      Hi Julie! It helps with the flavor. 🙂

      Reply
  14. Penny Taketa says

    March 23, 2019 at 9:38 am

    I made this- it was delicious! It wasn’t too spicy for us, we love spice, but you can control the spice level by going easy on the peppers the first time you make it. Thank you for sharing the recipe!

    Reply
    • Sam says

      March 23, 2019 at 5:49 pm

      I am so glad you enjoyed the chili, Penny! 🙂

      Reply
  15. Lisa Marucci says

    March 16, 2019 at 8:03 pm

    Want to make this but is it really spicy?

    Reply
    • Sam says

      March 16, 2019 at 8:19 pm

      Hi Lisa! It is not overly spicy. I hope you’ll give it a try and let me know how you like it! 🙂

      Reply
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Sam Sugar Spun Run Hi, I'm Sam! I'm dedicated to bringing you sweet, simple, and from-scratch dessert recipes. My life may or may not be controlled by my sweet tooth. Send help (or chocolate). Read more about me.

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