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.
Austin
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.
Sugar Spun Run
Thank you so much, Austin! I’m so happy that your family enjoys the homemade chili! Thanks for your comment. 🙂
Brian
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
Sugar Spun Run
I hope that you enjoy the chili recipe, Brian! Let me know how it turns out! Enjoy! 🙂
L Nedelko
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 .
Sugar Spun Run
I am happy that you enjoyed the chilli. I love that you switched it up slightly to make it to your liking. Enjoy! 🙂
Denea G
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!
Sugar Spun Run
Thank you so much, Denea! I really appreciate you following my social media pages. I hope that the chili was enjoyed by all! 🙂
Lauren
Has anyone tried this in the crockpot?
Norman
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.
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed the chili, Norman! I will have to try your trick with the meat. 🙂
Eric Raber
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
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed the chili, Eric! Thank you for commenting 🙂
Kathy D Reece
This is a great recipe! Easy to make and so delicious! Just the right spice mixture. Will pin this and make it again!
Sam
Thank you so much, Kathy! I am glad you enjoyed the chili! 🙂
JD
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.
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed the chili, JD! 🙂
Casey
Made this tonight and it was delicious! My husband who isn’t a big fan of chili asked for seconds! Yum!
Sam
I am so glad everyone enjoyed it, Casey! 🙂
Tony DaLuz
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!!
Sam
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed the chili, Tony! Thank you so much for commenting 🙂
Donna
So so good. Just made this minus bacon but really good
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed the chili Donna! 🙂
Julie M
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…????
Sam
Hi Julie! It helps with the flavor. 🙂
Penny Taketa
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!
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed the chili, Penny! 🙂
Lisa Marucci
Want to make this but is it really spicy?
Sam
Hi Lisa! It is not overly spicy. I hope you’ll give it a try and let me know how you like it! 🙂