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.
April
I changed this in a couple of ways. I didn’t have a red bell pepper so I used a green. I didn’t use green chiles, instead I used 3 chipotle peppers in Adobo sauce. Also I used only black beans. Otherwise I did everything the same, and it was the most delicious chili I have ever eaten in my life!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so happy to hear how much you enjoyed it, April! Thank you for trying my chili recipe and for commenting. 🙂
Amy
Thank you!!! I won first place at my company’s chili cookoff. Delicious!!!! 😀🤤
Sugar Spun Run
Congrats on your big win, Amy! I am so glad that the chili was a hit! 🙂
Mike
This recipe is pretty delicious! Let it cook for 3 hours and followed the recipe exactly. Will definitely make it again thank you 😃
Sugar Spun Run
I am so happy to hear that the chili was enjoyed, Mike! Thanks for trying my recipe and for commenting. 🙂
Angela
This was a great recipe as everyone else mentioned. The only thing I did different was add a little Texas Pete. It was awesome!! Thanks!!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed the chili, Angela! Thank you for commenting. 🙂
Heather
My husband and I think this is the best chili ever! Thank you so much for this recipe (:
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that the chili was such a hit! Thank you for trying my recipe and commenting, Heather! 🙂
KIM
HOW MANY SERVINGS IS THIS RECIPE?
Sam
Hi Kim, it is 6 servings.
Katie
Is it really spicy?
Sam
Nope, just a little heat. You can leave out the cayenne pepper entirely, too 🙂
Tamara Wood
Taking tomorrow for our annual Chili cook off and I usually come in 1st or 2nd every year. Hope this Chili keeps me in the winners circle!!! I did add chorizo to give it my own spin so wish me luck,,,
Sugar Spun Run
Thanks for choosing my recipe, Tamara! Others have won with this chili recipe so I hope that you do as well. Sending good luck wishes your way. Keep me posted on how it does. 🙂
Eryn
Tamara,
I’m making this tonight and was going to add chorizo as well! Excited to taste it!
Tracey
Completely enjoyed and it was fast from start to finish.
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you found the chili recipe quick to make and enjoyable, Tracey! Thank you for commenting. 🙂
Kendrick Doll
Everybody! This is by far the absolute best recipe! I entered this chilli in my work Chilli Cook off and won 1st place. Excellent, just cant go wrong.
Wishing you flavour and fun!
Sugar Spun Run
Congrats on your big win, Kendrick! I am so glad that the chili was a hit! Thanks for trying my recipe and for the 5-star review! 🙂
Cleta
OMG. This is the best chili I have ever had! The bacon was the secret ingredient I’m sure! This will be my go to chili for the rest of my life! Can’t wait to share it with friends and family. Next time I’ll double the recipe so there’s some leftover! Simply amazing!
Sugar Spun Run
Thank you so much, Cleta! I am so glad that you enjoyed the chili. Thanks for commenting. 🙂
Kevin Figueroa
This recipe helped me win 1st place, in a chili cooking competition, the only difference is that everything I had to do it from scratch and I used brisket as my main meat!!!!
Sugar Spun Run
Congrats on your chili win, Kevin! I am so glad that you enjoyed the recipe and that your adjustments worked perfectly. Thanks for commenting. 🙂
Rayne
Oooh. I would love to know how you used orcorporated of the brisket. Did you just chop up slices of brisket into little pieces after it was cooked so, did you cook the brisket in advance? That sounds delicious I would love some tips
Brittani D
I have been searching my entire life for a chili recipe that I can rely on!! I’ve tried some terrible ones!! I’ve finally found it! Thank you!! This is delicious
Sam
I’m so happy this recipe was a success for you, Brittani! Thank you for letting me know how it turned out, I appreciate it 🙂
Deb
Excellent and our favorite chili recipe and easy also🏅thanks for bacon addition too🥓
Sugar Spun Run
I am so happy to hear this, Deb! Thank you so much for letting me know how the recipe turned out for you, I appreciate it 🙂
David
This truly is the best chili recipe. I made it exactly as described. The sweet, smokey, and spicy flavor profiles are in perfect balance. I was surprised how much flavor this recipe yields with relatively simple ingredients and a short cook time. Although this recipe can be easily modified to suit individual taste, I honestly wouldn’t change a thing. Bottom line: 5-stars are well-deserved and I’m done trying other recipes. It’s awesome. Thanks.
Sugar Spun Run
Thank you so much for the 5-star review, David! I am so glad that you enjoyed the chili. Thanks for commenting. 🙂