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    Home » Main » World’s Best Chili Recipe

    World’s Best Chili Recipe

    Published: Feb 27, 2023 by Megan Porta · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This is the world’s best chili recipe! It is a contest winner, total crowd pleaser and the best version you’ll find. It is packed with flavor, texture and color. Make it for your next gathering, large or small, and you will get rave reviews. Add jalapenos for extra spice or go mild!

    Ladle full of chili recipe hovering over full slow cooker.

    Original post: April 2018 | Updated: February 2023

    Why This Recipe Works

    You have just found the world’s best chili recipe ever. That is a massive claim, I know, but you will soon agree! You are about to have either a very happy tummy, a very happy family, very happy guests or all of the above.

    My husband and I have been making this delicious soup for years. Together we have tweaked it many, many times. Here are a few of the reasons we love it:

    • It is absolute comfort food perfection and such an amazing chili recipe.
    • This Pip and Ebby chili recipe is a favorite easy recipe for many home cooks far and wide.
    • This classic chili recipe is perfect for cold, snowy days, as well as for larger gatherings such as game day parties or holiday feasts.
    • We’ve never thrown a single morsel of it away because it always gets gobbled down in its entirety.
    • It has the most perfect consistency and the flavor is beyond explanation.
    • This beef chili recipe is a GREAT quick and easy comforting soup!

    If you absolutely cannot find a chunk of time to make this delicious dish, consider trying my Easy 5-ingredient chili for a much-condensed version. Enjoy!

    Helping you remove stress from your holiday menu planning!

    Check out my FAVORITE easy, tried-and-true holiday recipes here on the blog in one handy gallery.

    Say goodbye to endless internet browsing and hello to easy, delicious recipes!

    Ground Beef Dinner Ideas

    If you have extra ground beef on your hands, browse through this comprehensive roundup of delicious ground beef recipes!

    Chili Ingredients

    Collage of chili ingredients.

    Ground beef – To keep this chili on the leaner side, use ground turkey, ground chicken or lean ground beef. To add a delicious flavor, replace 1 pound of ground beef with 1 pound of ground sausage.

    Jalapeno peppers – Although the end result is not “spicy,” omit the jalapenos and cayenne pepper to ensure a totally mild soup. You can totally cater the spice level to your liking. Personally, I consider this the secret ingredient that helps this soup win chili cook-offs.

    Tomato juice – For a thicker chili, use half the amount of tomato juice in the recipe.

    Beans – While red kidney beans and pinto beans are super tasty inside, feel free to swap out any variety of beans.

    Toppings – Garnish with shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, sliced green onions, cilantro, lime wedges, chopped red onion or crushed saltine crackers.

    Delicious Dinners

    • Best meatloaf
    • Runza casserole
    • Crockpot mac and cheese
    • Goulash
    • Shrimp tacos

    How To Make The Best Chili on Earth

    Step 1

    In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook 2 pounds lean ground beef over medium heat until it is no longer pink. Transfer the meat to a bowl. Drain the excess fat from the skillet, but do not clean it out.

    pan of cooked ground beef

    Step 2

    Add the olive oil to the skillet and reduce heat to medium. Add the chopped onions, green bell pepper, garlic, parsley and jalapeño peppers (if using) and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft and fragrant (about 5 minutes).

    Chili ingredients in pan ready to be cooked.

    Remove the pan from the heat and add the chili seasoning ingredients to the beef mixture: 3 tablespoons chili powder, cumin, sugar, oregano, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper. Stir until combined.

    Spices on top of peppers and onions in skillet.

    Step 3

    If you are cooking it on the stove top, add the cooked meat back to the skillet. If you’re using a slow cooker, add the meat-veggie mixture to the slow cooker.

    Add the tomato juice (replace a portion of the juice with 2-3 cups beef broth to add a kick of flavor, if desired), diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, kidney beans and pinto beans to either the skillet or slow cooker, depending on which you are using.

    Chili ingredients in a crockpot ready to be cooked.

    On the stove top, bring to a boil, dial the heat back to medium-low and let chili cook for 2 hours (stir occasionally). In the slow cooker, cook on low heat for 7 to 8 hours.

    Great Chili Recipes

    • Recipe for white chili
    • Quick easy chili recipe
    • Chili mac recipe
    • Hot dog chili recipe
    • No bean chili recipe

    What To Serve With Chili

    Homemade cornbread is a great option to serve alongside this bowl of comfort. Dinner rolls, chopped salad and garlic bread taste delicious, too!

    Chili Dinner Ideas

    Chili dinners are the best in those cold winter months! If you are looking to round out your meal, peruse this roundup for ideas about what to serve as appetizers for chili dinner.

    How To Thicken Chili

    If you make a delicious batch and find that it is not thick enough for your liking, we have some simple methods that will fix it! Read on for tips about how to thicken chili.

    How Long Does Chili Last In The Fridge

    If you are wondering how long chili lasts in the fridge or if your batch is still fresh, click over for all the info!

    Best Bean Substitutes

    Whether you can’t eat beans or you just don’t have any on hand, learn what to substitute for beans in crockpot chili!

    Recipe Notes

    • Serve warm with shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream! Other great topping options include sliced green onions, avocados, crushed tortilla chips or minced jalapenos (give your meal a nice kick!).
    • This is more of a soupy homemade chili recipe, so in order to thicken, replace the diced tomatoes with crushed tomatoes and reduce the amount of tomato juice by half.
    • Add up to 1 tablespoon brown sugar for an added touch of sweetness.
    • For a more Mexican flair, replace some or all of the beans with black beans.
    • Make the dish heartier by adding diced potatoes or another hearty vegetable such as carrots.
    • Add a few tablespoons of tomato paste for an extra robust flavor.
    • Store leftovers that have been cooled to room temperature in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or in heavy duty freezer bags in the freezer for up to 6 months.

    How To Make Chili In An Instant Pot

    This comforting meal turns out like absolute perfection when made in an Instant Pot. Head over to my posted Instant Pot chili to get the full instructions!

    What To Do With Chili Leftovers

    If you have leftovers (and it’s very possible that you will because this makes a really big batch of chili), please check out these delicious recipes to help use them up:

    • Baked stuffed sweet potatoes
    • Best ever chili dogs
    • Chili mac and cheese
    • Chili-topped baked potatoes

    Mac and Cheese Recipes for Thanksgiving – 13 Delicious Ideas!

    Mac and cheese is a Thanksgiving staple! Read on for some scrumptious mac and cheese recipes for Thanksgiving that you can make this year! You’ll find a ton of options to choose from in this roundup.

    Looking down into a full and hearty bowl of chili topped with jalapeno slices and sour cream.

    What People Are Saying About This Recipe

    “I will NEVER make another chili recipe in my life again!! This is so good! I absolutely hate cooking and all the prep so the first time I made this I told myself I would never again do it. It was so good that it was worth the chopping up of a few veggies and measuring of a bunch of spices. I make it at least 2-3 times every fall/winter now!“ ~ASHLEY

    “This IS THE BEST Chili! This recipe has been on rotation in my home for awhile now. Everyone raves about how it IS the BEST chili they be ever had! Thank you for sharing this with us! “ ~SARA

    World’s Best Chili Recipe

    This is the best chili recipe on the internet! A contest winner, crowd pleaser and the best chili you’ll find, it will get rave reviews!
    5 from 115 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Soup
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 8 hours
    Total Time: 8 hours 20 minutes
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 391kcal
    Author: Megan Porta

    Equipment

    • Slow Cooker

    Ingredients

    • 2 lbs ground beef
    • 4 tbsp olive oil
    • 1 yellow onion chopped
    • 1 green bell pepper chopped
    • 4 cloves garlic minced
    • 1/4 cup flat-leaf Italian parsley finely chopped
    • 2 jalapeño peppers finely chopped (optional)
    • 3 tbsp chili powder
    • 2 tsp cumin
    • 1 tsp sugar
    • 1 tsp oregano
    • 1 tsp salt
    • 1 tsp pepper
    • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
    • 46 oz tomato juice
    • 28 oz diced tomatoes
    • 15 oz tomato sauce
    • 16 oz kidney beans drained and rinsed
    • 16 oz pinto beans drained and rinsed
    • Shredded cheese and sour cream for topping
    Text Ingredients

    Instructions

    • In a large skillet, cook ground meat over medium-high heat until no longer pink. Transfer the meat to a bowl. Drain excess grease from skillet, but do not clean.
    • Add the olive oil to the skillet. Add the onion, bell pepper, garlic, parsley and jalapeño peppers (if using) and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft and fragrant (about 5 minutes). Remove from heat and add the chili powder, cumin, sugar, oregano, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper. Stir until combined.
    • If cooking on the stove top, add the cooked meat back to the skillet. If using a slow cooker, add meat-veggie mixture to the slow cooker. Add the tomato juice, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, kidney beans and pinto beans to either the skillet or slow cooker, depending on which you are using.
    • On the stove top, bring to a boil, dial back to medium-low and simmer for 2 hours (stir occasionally). In slow cooker, cook on low for 7 to 8 hours. Serve warm with cheese and sour cream.

    Notes

    • Serve warm with cheese and sour cream! Other great topping options include sliced green onions or minced jalapenos (give your meal a nice kick!).
    • For a thicker chili, replace the diced tomatoes with crushed tomatoes and reduce the amount of tomato juice by half.
    • To keep this chili on the leaner side, use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef.
    • To add a delicious flavor to the recipe, replace 1 pound of ground beef with 1 pound of ground sausage.
    • For a different flavor, replace some or all of the beans with black beans.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cup | Calories: 391kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 484mg | Potassium: 1108mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1504IU | Vitamin C: 43mg | Calcium: 96mg | Iron: 6mg
    Did you make this recipe?If you loved this recipe, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kim

      March 11, 2023 at 12:55 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you for this amazingly recipe! I have been making this for about a year and it is always a huge hit…. I substitute black beans for pinto beans. For the V8 I use the Spicy version and only 24oz. I add corn and an extra tbs of chili powder😊

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        March 11, 2023 at 6:26 pm

        Thank you for sharing the tweaks you made – others will enjoy those options! I appreciate you, Kim!

        Reply
    2. Mia

      February 21, 2023 at 5:34 pm

      5 stars
      Literally the ONLY chili recipe I’ve used for the past several years for my family of four! So so so goood.

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        February 22, 2023 at 11:17 pm

        I am so glad you think so, Mia! Thank you for sharing,.

        Reply
    3. KathyD

      February 05, 2023 at 5:18 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious chili with the perfect consistency. I wouldn’t change a single thing. Perfect!

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        February 05, 2023 at 10:49 pm

        Glad you enjoyed it, Kathy!

        Reply
    4. amanda

      February 04, 2023 at 9:31 am

      5 stars
      Easy and flavorful! I have tried many chili recipes and this one was a winner.

      Reply
    5. Alysia

      January 31, 2023 at 7:05 pm

      Have you ever made it in a pressure cooker? If so, how long do you cook it?

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        January 31, 2023 at 10:43 pm

        Hi Alysia, making chili in the instant pot is MAGICAL! https://pipandebby.com/pip-ebby/best-instant-pot-chili/

        Reply
    6. Liz

      January 12, 2023 at 2:01 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve used this recipe for years and years and will forever use it! I always get “best chili” comments when I make for family and friends and my kids actually eat it!!!

      Reply
    7. Kim Bailey

      December 05, 2022 at 10:18 pm

      5 stars
      This is by far the best chili recipe ever! So delicious!

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        December 05, 2022 at 11:30 pm

        Thank you, Kim. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing!

        Reply
    8. Melissa

      November 29, 2022 at 2:11 pm

      Absolute best love it do half Italian sausage / half beef .. once did spice Italian so good but prefer regular lol. Always a crowd pleaser and makes a ton. I do add a couple ribs of celery as well otherwise follow to a T!

      Reply
    9. Gail

      October 17, 2022 at 3:59 pm

      5 stars
      I love this recipe! I have made it many times and it always disappears. I do not change a thing other than I use my own dry beans from my garden. I love the use of the tomato juice in this. Absolutely genius! This is hands down my favorite! Thank you for sharing it.

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        October 18, 2022 at 6:03 pm

        That’s so cool that you use your own beans. Thanks for sharing!

        Reply
    10. Tifftastic

      October 16, 2022 at 2:52 pm

      I used this recipe for a chili cook off and WON! it was a random invite, searched for the worlds best chili. Not only did the whole party vote for this, I continue to use this recipe because even my picky children enjoy this recipe. Wins all around!

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        October 17, 2022 at 9:46 am

        That happened to me as well! So glad you won and are enjoying it with your family.

        Reply
    11. Ashley yvonne

      October 09, 2022 at 1:13 pm

      5 stars
      The only recipe I use for chili. Seriously is a game changer! The problem is, after eating this recipe, I am super picky about my chili now!

      Reply
    12. Chickennipple

      March 31, 2022 at 7:13 pm

      5 stars
      I love this recipe as a fantastic base to work with. I add black beans in addition to the pinto and kidney. I also chop up and add a pork shoulder that I smoke with my homemade Memphis dry rub. I make a double batch and it disappears ridiculously fast!

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        April 01, 2022 at 10:44 pm

        Oh I can imagine that does disappear fast – sounds delicious! I love the pork shoulder and the dry run. Thanks for sharing that tip with us!

        Reply
    13. Lois O

      March 24, 2022 at 4:21 am

      I’ve been using this recipe for about 3 years now! It is basic but soooo good. It is the only one I use. I think the big changer for me was using pinto beans instead of ‘chili beans’. The flavoring from those canned beans over powers anything else you do. Doing it with pinto beans let’s you control the flavor the ways you want.
      Love it. Thank you. So happy I found this. I always get compliments on my chili!

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        March 28, 2022 at 10:18 pm

        It’s so fun to find a recipe you like and then tweak it to your personal preferences. I’m so glad you did. Thank you for commenting, Lois!

        Reply
    14. Adrianne

      March 13, 2022 at 9:13 am

      My favorite chili recipe! How can I adapt for uncooked dry beans? Trying to cut back on sodium.

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        March 14, 2022 at 10:42 pm

        It’s a great question Adrianne but I’ve never prepared my meals with uncooked dry beans so I’m not an expert in this. But I have read online that you have to cook them ahead and then add them, you can’t cook them in the chili to get them soft.

        Reply
    15. Shelley

      February 13, 2022 at 9:32 pm

      5 stars
      I found this recipe and pinned it a few years ago, This is the only recipe I use and get so many compliments! I use ground turkey and my 15 y/o one time suggested to throw chopped in some turkey Kielbasa in it too and it was delish!

      Reply
    16. Ellie

      February 13, 2022 at 6:20 pm

      5 stars
      This is by far the best chili recipe out there, and the only one I use. Everyone that has tried it agrees and demands that I share your recipe with them! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        February 14, 2022 at 5:41 pm

        Thank you, Ellie for sharing that! That made my day. I’m so glad it’s enjoyed!

        Reply
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