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.
Marie H
Wonderful recipe doubled it – followed directions exactly!. Wasnt room in 6 qt pot for 3x. Made, cooling and in fridge for night, Will warm up in Crockpot for taking to church supper/chili cookoff. tomorrow night. I will have to make a 2nd pot as everyone at home loved it (they aren’t going) and nearly had to lock it up to keep them from eating.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Good luck Marie! Thanks for using our recipe 🩷
Terry Brown
I won my company’s chili cookoff with this recipe. Amazing recipe!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Congrats, Terry! We’re so happy our recipe was a winner for you 🙂
Mary
Can you use pinto beans instead of black beans
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Sure! Enjoy 🙂
Christy
I just wanted to say this is the best chili recipe I’ve ever come across. I go back to it anytime I plan on making chili.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Thanks for the review Christy! We are SO happy you loved the chili 🩷
Dee
Hello! Thai sounds so delish, but wondering if adding ground beef would be ok?
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Hi Dee! We actually use ground beef in our recipe; you could try adding more but you may need to adjust the seasonings to make up for it.
Jennifer
Used Chili recipe in a chili cook-off and I Did get first place It’s very tasty love it
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Yay! Congrats, Jennifer!
Melissa
This was really good. Spicey but not in a bad way. I actually followed the recipe except for the kidney bean which I don’t like. This will replace my old (delicious) chili recipe.
I also love the way the Instructions are written. The addition of what ingredients are being used and how much is very helpful.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We are so happy the recipe was such a hit for you, Melissa! Thanks for the review 🩷
Brant
Got 3rd place in the chili cookoff at work!! First time ever!! Thank you!!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Congratulations, Brant! Thanks for using our recipe!
Chris
absolutely the best chili recipe I ever had! Deep flavor and complex. Soo good. Thank you so much!
chris
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We are so happy it was a hit for you, Chris! Thanks for the review 🩷
leigh
hi! can this be made in a crock pot? if so, how long would you recommend cooking.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Hi Leigh! There are many different steps that would make it hard to prepare in a crock pot, but you could certainly keep it warm in one 🙁
Marilyn
Hello, can I double the recipe?
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Absolutely! Enjoy, Marilyn 🙂
Tommy
Has anyone tried adding some shredded brisket?
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Yes! Sounds tasty 🙂
Christina Harrison
very good, will be using this for the chilli cook off this Sunday and give an update if I win. kids and husband like it. The first time I made it I accidentally bought 14oz of the green chilies and no fire roasted tomatoes. I misread the recipe , the husband liked it more with the double chilli’s than with the tomatoes but that’s just his opinion. It was good both ways. Made it with the fire roasted tomatoes tonight and definitely more spicy.
Marilyn
Won my office chili cook off with this delicious recipe!!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Woo hoo! Congrats, Marilyn!
Al Saveriano
In place of the bacon I added 1 tsp of soy sauce and 1/4 tsp of Liquid Smoke. Those two items were added when the beef broth and the beans etc were added. This allowed you to get more of that bacon background taste without actually using the meat.,
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Thanks for sharing, Al! We hope you loved it 🙂
Marilyn
delicious. can I double the recipe?
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Yes! Enjoy 🙂
Ramona Starkweather
I participated in a Chili Cook Off on Oct 11 2025 at church and you were right I received the “Fireman”s Choice Award” for the best Chili. Thank you it’s my new Chili Recipe.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Yay! Congrats Ramona 🥰 Thanks for using our recipe!
Cliff
You remain undefeated! Entered this in a chili cookoff and it won! Did 3:1 ancho chili powder and added a mix of Chipotle and Hatch chilis, but otherwise followed your recipe and people raved about it. Thanks!!!! It’s DELICIOUS!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Woo hoo! We’re so happy to hear that, Cliff 🎉
Olga
Made this chili for a chili cook off with friends last night and won first place out of 7 chilis 🙂
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Yay! Thanks for using our recipe, Olga 🩷