The Best Chili Recipe - Kristine's Kitchen (2024)

How to Make the Best Chili

I’ve been making chili for years and years, and along the way I’ve learned quite a few tips and tricks for making the best ever homemade chili. This chili recipe is thick and flavorful with the rich, complex flavor that characterizes a great chili.

• Use the right spices. The secret to the best chili is to use a flavorful mix of spices to give the chili a spicy, nuanced flavor that keeps you going back for more. This recipe uses chili powder, ground cumin, dried oregano, salt and pepper.
• Add a touch of sweetness. I add a tablespoon of brown sugar to my chili and it brings just a bit of sweetness to complement the spicy flavors. It’s so good. Try it and see for yourself!
• Use tomato paste and fire roasted tomatoes. Tomato paste brings rich tomato flavor to the chili and also helps to thicken it. Fire roasted tomatoes add a deep, smoky flavor that works so well in a chili recipe.
• Simmer it to thicken the chili and develop the flavors. I simmer this chili on the stove for 1-2 hours, and if you have time to let it cook for 2 hours, you’ll be rewarded with a deeper flavor and a thicker chili.

How to Make Chili

Sauté the onion. Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven or other large, heavy pot. Add the onion and cook until softened.

Brown the ground beef. Add the ground beef to the pot and cook it, crumbling with a spoon, until browned.

Add the garlic, seasonings and tomato paste. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds while stirring. Then stir in the chili powder, cumin, brown sugar, oregano, salt, pepper and tomato paste.

Stir in the broth, tomatoes and beans. Scrape up any browned bits that are stuck to the bottom of the pot.

Simmer the chili with a lid on the pot for 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally.

To thicken chili, uncover the pot during the last 30 minutes of cooking and simmer until it is your desired thickness.

Chili Toppings

This is the fun part! Everyone can add their favorite toppings to their bowl of chili.

• Cheese. Shredded cheddar, Monterey jack, pepper jack or cotija are all delicious on top of chili.
• Sour cream. Cool, creamy sour cream tempers the spice.
• Onions. Both chopped green onions and chopped red onions work well.
• Avocado. I love adding diced avocado on top of chili.
• Jalapeños. For extra spice. Slice or dice them before serving.
• Tortilla chips. Crumble them up and sprinkle on chili for crunch.
• Cilantro. If you’re a cilantro fan, add chopped fresh cilantro for a pop of color and flavor.

What to Serve with Chili

This Cornbread Recipe is my favorite side dish to serve with chili. You could also serve Biscuits, Corn Casserole or a salad with this chili recipe.

Leftover chili makes a delicious topping for a Baked Potato or Baked Sweet Potato. Or mix leftover chili with pasta and cheese to make an easy chili mac.