This is the BEST Chili Recipe! Made with bacon (and the option to omit if necessary) and ground beef and simmered on the stove for just 30 minutes, this is my family's go-to cold weather comfort food. It's even better when paired with a side of buttermilk cornbread!
Prep time: PT10M
Cook time: PT20M
Total time: PT30M
Rating
4.97 stars (2037 reviews)
Keywords
best chili recipe, chili, chili recipe, fall recipes
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))
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.
Add onion and pepper and cook until softened, about 3-5 minutes.
Add garlic and cook until fragrant (about 30 seconds).
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.
Add all remaining ingredients -- beef broth, beans, tomatoes, tomato paste, chilis, and Worcestershire sauce -- and your cooked bacon and stir well.
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!)
Nutitrion
Serving Size: 1 serving (not including toppings)
Calories: 611 kcal
Carbohydrates: 72 g
Protein: 40 g
Fat: 19 g
Saturated Fat: 4 g
Cholesterol: 55 mg
Sodium: 1315 mg
Sugar: 14 g
Unsaturated Fat: 1 g
Reviews
Lisa on 2025-11-15 (5 stars): I made this for a chili cook off and guess what? I WON! They said by a land slide! Woohooo
JUDY SHIFLETT on 2025-11-15 (5 stars): Hi SAM….JUDY HERE…..I HAVE BEEN MAKING YOUR CHILI FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS…..I LOVE IT,MY FRIENDS LOVE IT,MY GROWN KIDS AND GRANDCHILDREN LOVE IT…… MY HUSBAND IS AN AVID HUNTER…..I USE ELK MEAT….DELIISH, LOADED WITH MORE PROTEIN THAN OTHER MEAT.AND VERY ORGANIC!!!!! THANK YOU FOR SHARING RECIPES SAM. YOU ARE SO KIND TO DO SO!!!! SAM I TOOK A PHOTO BUT HAVE NOT FIGURED OUT HOW TO GET IT ON INSTAGRAM yet!!! Will keep trying
Bonnie Kussmaul on 2025-11-13 (5 stars): Best chili I have ever made. Few! I finally found a recipe that everyone loves. Chili is one of those dishes I have not been able to master and I am so happy I found this recipe. It's on the regular rotation now. Thank you so much
Ken on 2025-11-12 (5 stars): Very good!
Alyssa on 2025-11-11 (5 stars): Made this for a potluck among a large gathering. I added two extra cans of beans and a little extra broth just to inexpensively bulk it up for a crowd. So incredibly delicious! I've never added bacon but loved it! This will replace my decades old chili recipe. I loved it! Thank you for the recipe.
Wendy on 2025-11-11 (5 stars): This was the best chili I’ve made! I’ve never used bacon in chili before and from now on I won’t make chili without it! I only made a few adjustments as to what I had on hand but it was basically the same as the recipe. My 3 very picky boys loved it, they as also had a friend over who loved it also! I’m definitely adding this to my rotation during the cold months! Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe!
