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.
Virginia
Wonderfully easy, quick recipe
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed the chili, Virginia! Thanks for commenting. 🙂
Priscilla
This chili was delicious! Hint of bacon and smoked paprika flavor added to the flavor. Small kick to it. I will be making this again!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed it, Priscilla! Thanks for trying my recipe and for commenting. 🙂
Nina
Hello, I made this last night and it was so yummy.
I am entering into a chili cook off this Sunday and I would like to double the recipe without doubling the meat.
Also when I made this last night I only used 1/2 can of the tomatoes and 1/2 can of the green chilies and only a handful of the red and black beans some question is how would you suggest I double or triple it without adding any more hamburger?
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Nina! With chili, it really is based on preference. If I were to double it, I would double all the ingredients. Good Luck at your chili cook-off! 🙂
Leanda
Hi I am in the uk and can not get fire roasted tomatoes or the fire roasted green chillis so can I use regular tinned tomato’s and some chopped green chillis would that be ok and do you use smoked bacon? I have 18 to feed for my husbands 50th birthday at weekend.
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Leanda! The substitutions will be fine. As far as using smoked bacon that will work as well. If you have 18 to feed, I recommend that you double/triple the recipe. I hope that your husband has a wonderful birthday celebration and that the chili is a hit! 🙂
Jessica
Honey! This chilli is amazing. I’ve been making chilli all these years but never with bacon as my base. My family told me my old chilli was good but not leftover good! Lol now when I make this pot of chilli I catch them putting it on everything the next day ( omelets, burgers, hot dogs, you name it)
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that your family enjoyed the recipe, Jessica! Sounds like your family may have a new favorite that can be used again and again. Thank you for trying my recipe and for commenting. 🙂
Sue
Can I use the crock pot?
This recipe looks fantastic
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Sue! Yes, you can. Of course, you will need to go through steps 1-4 prior to adding it to the crockpot. I hope that you enjoy the chili! 🙂
Sue
This recipe is fantastic
Best chili I have ever made
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed it, Sue! Thank you! 🙂
Rebecca
I could not find fire roasted green chilis will regular green chilis in the can be ok?
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Rebecca! Yes, that will be fine. I hope that you enjoy the chili. 🙂
Samantha
What type of Dutch oven did you use in this chili video? It’s such a pretty color!!
I just made your chicken tortilla soup today and everybody loved it, including my 2yo. I will be making your award winning chili next!! Thank you for so many amazing recipes (brownies, sugar frosted cookies, cupcakes, broccoli salad, etc etc etc). Your website is the only place where I can trust the recipes to work out perfectly, without having to do a test run first.
Sugar Spun Run
Thank you for your kind words, Samantha! I am so glad that you have enjoyed my site and my recipes. Finding a meal that pleases the entire family (2 year old included) is awesome. I am so happy to hear that it was a hit! I can’t wait to hear what you think of my chili recipe next!
Here is a link to the Dutch Oven that I use. 🙂
Natalie
I am so happy to announce another chili cook-off win!!! Your recipe (I cut down the spices by half, my family is not big about spice) won by a landslide out of 15 different chilis at my husband’s office event! This recipe is clearly a masterpiece, congratulations to you!
Sam
This is so awesome to hear, Natalie!! I am so thrilled to hear that you chose my recipe and that it won!! Thank you so much for commenting and letting me know how it turned out for you 😀
Creekdweller
This a fabulous recipe, and bacon knocks it out of the park. I doubled the recipe for a chili cook off at church, but did not double the beans (my preference). It won! First place! By a mile! Thanks so much for sharing!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that the chili was such a hit! Thanks for trying my recipe and for commenting. 🙂
Alex
I’m curios if this has been tried in a crockpot?
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Alex! You can follow directions 1 through 4. Then, transfer and add the remaining ingredients listed in step 5 to the crockpot. I would cook it on low until ready to serve. I hope that you enjoy it! 🙂
cheryl
My husband is making this chili this weekend and was wondering what kind of pepper the “red pepper” is
Sam
Just a bell pepper 🙂
CynthiaPB
Your beef & chicken chilli recipes look great! I will be trying the beef one first. Thank you so much for being so clear about the ingredients and the instructions.
Sugar Spun Run
You are welcome. I hope that you find the recipe easy to follow and delicious, Cynthia! 🙂
Joshua
Sooooooo
I know beans take between 45-1.5 hours to cook.
Nothing on here says anything about cooked beans.
Am I supposed to put the beans in raw and only cook for 30 minutes?
Sam
Hi Joshua, you will want to use canned beans for this recipe, not raw ones.
Valerie Rerie
It says stained and slightly rinsed.
Rick
I made this last year this time and it was awesome. My wife won’t let me do any other kind now. I have won two cook offs with it. I have a people’s choice award for it and a honorable mention with it. I play with it from time to time and it never gets old. I like to cook it up a week before and let it sit in a crockpot for a week. I stir it during the week. I believe the flavors blend well together sitting idle for a week. The hard part is not dipping into it that week. Thank you! This is comfort food.
Sugar Spun Run
Congrats on your big wins, Rick! I am so glad that you have enjoyed this recipe. Thanks for commenting. 🙂
Jill Jordan
This is a GREAT chili recipe! Thank you for sharing it! I made it following your recipe written, except didn’t have the ancho chili powder, so just used regular chili powder. I did add a tad bit white pepper & a little garlic powder. Yummy! Thanks again! God Bless
Sugar Spun Run
I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed the chili recipe, Jill! Thanks for commenting. 🙂
GAryK
So am I correct that you do not drain off any of the fat after cooking the ground beef with the onions/pepper/garlic?
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Gary! It really is a preference. I typically do not. I hope that you enjoy the chili. 🙂
Mike
This really was one of the best chilis i have ever made it has every flavor you are looking for and more.
Bacon brings amazing flavor i added corn also and jalepenos. Superbowls today i will be serving and eating this all day and week haha
Sugar Spun Run
Chili is perfect for game day, Mike! I am so glad that you enjoyed it. Thanks for commenting. 🙂