Chilli is one of the all-time most favorite comfort food of many people, but cooking homemade chili may take a lot of time and effort. Instead, there are numerous canned chili products available on the market that can give you the same delicious taste and smell of a fresh batch of chili.
So, which canned chili brands should we choose? Here are our recommendations of the best 16 canned chilies in 2020:
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Top 16 Best Canned Chili Reviews In 2020
Campbell’s Chunky Canned Chili
Talking about canned chili is talking about Campbell’s and it’s Chunky Hot & Spicy Beef & Bean Firehouse Chili. This chili recipe will give you the same smell and taste of homemade chili you may have eaten during your childhood once heated, so it easy to understand why it becomes extremely popular.
The taste of this canned chili is quite spicy with green and red pepper, with thickness from beef, pork, and kidney beans. It offers nutritious vitamins A, C and other minerals needed for your body. The amount of sodium in this product is quite good too – not too low and not too high.
Besides, this can be served in a family party as a side dish or eaten as instant food on the go. The can should be heated once, so it’s really convenient for people on the ride or going camping overnight. The spicy taste will warm your body up, and it goes super well with the richness of cheese, rice or garlic bread.
However, if you have a weak tolerance for spiciness, you may want to choose a variety of this canned chili, since this one is quite hot and spicy. Even cooking on heat can not calm its taste down.
Pros
- Homemade taste
- Delicious and nutritious
- Easy to use
- Suitable for eating with cheese, rice, and bread
Cons
- Maybe a tad too spicy
Product Specs
| Brand | Campbell’s Chunky |
| Price | |
| Size | 18.8 oz Can |
| Available Varieties | 40+ Flavors |
Amy’s Organic Canned Chili
If you are a fan of organic food, you will surely love this Amy’s Organic Chili with Vegetables. This canned chili is certified by the USDA Organic, making it one of the healthiest canned chillis you can ever find.
Mixed with Mexican sauce, the red beans in this product are all organically grown and processed to preserve the best taste and nutrition. The vegetables in the chillis also add more texture, flavor, and nutritions to help to provide you a well-balanced and healthy meal.
This product is rich in minerals, vitamins, and fibers, free in gluten, and suitable for vegans and people with special requirements in the diet. This chili goes well with beef, rice, and garlic bread. The texture of this chili is quite thick, but it will loosen up when it gets heated.
Pros
- Healthy and nutritious
- Made from organic ingredients
- Vegan and gluten-free
Cons
- The paste loosens up when heated
Product Specs
| Brand | Amy’s |
| Price | $37.54 |
| Size | 14.7 oz. can |
| Available Varieties | 6 flavors |
Skyline Canned Chili
If you are seeking for a chili dip for nachos and tacos, our recommendation is the popular Skyline Chilli. It does not have the homemade chili taste and texture, but it is absolutely suitable for Mexican food, whether it is tacos, nachos or salsa. Its distinctive taste will blend in nicely with other food and create the best dishes you have ever made!
This canned chili has beef, tomato, and yeast, with the flavor of onion, garlic, and other spices. It also provides a certain amount of minerals, including irons, sodium, and iron. It may not be as nutritious as another traditional chili, but it will be the best choice for making dip sauce.
Eating this alone may not be as good as other chili products, but with some cheese toppings, you can make wonderful dishes out of this product.
Pros
- Good as a dipping sauce
- Unique texture and flavor
- Goes well with nachos, tacos and other like food
Cons
- Bland taste alone
- Not quite nutritious
Product Specs
| Brand | Skyline |
| Price | $23.68 |
| Size | 4 Cans / 15oz |
| Available Varieties | 1 |
Stagg Canned Chili
Another great chili for making dipping sauce is the Stagg Chili Steakhouse Reserve Chili with Beans. This paste also goes well with a hotdog and can be eaten alone with rice or garlic bread. Or, if you want to rich up its flavor, I would recommend adding a bit of sour cream to make the thickness of this chili stand out more.
The meat included in this chili, both grounded and chunky, are yummy and chewy, making you want more and more. And the portion of meat to paste is huge, so the protein intake per serving is high, and the amount of fat is lower than the average of other canned chillis.
The spice of this chili is quite high, so if you are into mild flavor, it can be a bit too much for you. And the price for this canned chili is not that reasonable, but the excellent taste will make up for that.
Pros
- A lot of meat
- Goes well with hotdog
- Rich in protein
Cons
- May be too spicy for many people
- High price
Product Specs
| Brand | Stagg Chili |
| Price | |
| Size | 15 Ounce Can |
| Available Varieties |
Hormel Canned Chili
Next, we have the Hormel Microwavable Cup Chili with Beans, another good canned chili for a dip. It is also great for making a side dish. The main ingredients of the chili are tomato, beef, and beans, so the spiciness is quite mild, suitable for all-range customers. But if you want to spice it up, add a bit of red pepper and cook them all together will give you your desired taste.
Besides, this canned chili can be microwaved, so you can enjoy it warmly with bread or rice in a few minutes – quite convenient. But if you want to make it look luxurious, you can pair it with cheese and baked potato to upgrade it into a fancy meal. Especially, it is an ideal choice for a dipping sauce for chips and fries alike.
Actually, we believe that this product is good for your health since it contains a lower salt amount comparing to other canned chillis. This might make it a bit bland, you can always adjust the taste up to your liking. The ratio of protein per serving is also great for providing energy for your body.
Pros
- Low on salt
- Good for dip and side dish
- Mild spicy
Cons
- A bit bland
Product Specs
| Brand | Hormel Chili |
| Price | $90.22 ($1.02 / Ounce) – Pack of 24 |
| Size | 7.38 Oz |
| Available Varieties | 9+ flavors |
Wolf Brand Canned Chili
For anyone from Texas seeking for hometown flavor, you should never miss out on this Wolf Brand Homestyle Chili with Beans, because this one is made with the authentic Texas chili recipe, its and will give you a trip back to your hometown. The special blend of spices gives it a flavourful and distinctive taste that will stand out no matter what.
This canned chili is cooked from beef, or and pinto bean, with a lot of different spices, including green pepper. The process of this product is claimed to be minimized, so not artificial additive flavoring is included. You can taste it fresh out of the can, or serve it along with some cheese and pasta.
The nutrition information of this canned chili pointed out that it is rich in vitamins, minerals, and protein, with good proportion promising a balanced meal. However, the sad thing is there is not much meat in one can; the chunk may look big, but they are quite few and far between.
Pros
- Authentic homemade Texas chili recipe
- No man-made flavoring added
- Goes well with pasta and cheese
Cons
- Less meaty than other chillis
Product Specs
| Brand | WOLF |
| Price | |
| Size | 15 ounces can |
| Available Varieties | 6+ Flavours |
Campbell’s Chunky Canned Chili
For anyone wanting a light meal, Campbell’s Chunky Chili – Beef & Bean Roadhouse may be a great choice to start with. Surprisingly, this chillis has a more liquid texture, more on the soup end rather than a chili paste, but it tastes exactly like a homemade one. The spiciness of this product is quite light, but the flavoring is delicious. You can always add more pepper to spice it up.
Preparing a meal with this canned chili is so easy and convenient, you just need to microwave it a bit, pop it out with some bread or rice, and done. Its taste also blends nicely with cheese, and the chunky meat will fill your stomach with nutritious protein. Lastly, it is quite cheap, so you can stock it up for lazy days.
Pros
- Homemade taste
- Goes well with cheese
- Cheap
Cons
- A bit bland
Product Specs
| Brand | Campbell’s |
| Price | |
| Size | 19 Ounce Can |
| Available Varieties | 1 |
Cattle drive gold Canned Chili
Now, for gluten-intolerant people, we would like to introduce the gluten-free Beef Chili with Beans by Cattle Drive Gold. This beef and beans chili has its main spiciness coming from cumin rather than pepper, so the flavor of it is quite distinctive. However, if you want something super spicy, this product will surely satisfy you.
This product has a good blend among the taste of meat, vegetable, and spice, making it ideal for ready-made recipes. Although it does not goes well with pasta, you can pair it up with slices of bread and rice. A safe choice for a great meal.
Pros
- Gluten-free
- Goes well with bread
Cons
- Not suitable for pasta
- Quite spicy
Product Specs
| Brand | Cattle Drive Gold |
| Price | $31.99 – Pack of 8 |
| Size | 15 oz. cans |
| Available Varieties |
Hormel Canned Chili
If you are still looking for a healthy canned chili, this one may satisfy you. The Hormel Chili Chunky Beef Chili with Beans is a great mixture of beef, beans, tomatoes, vegetable, and spices. All the ingredient are naturally grown or raised, along with zero artificial ingredients, has made this canned chili one of the healthiest choice for many families.
The flavor of this product of top quality too, you can very much use it as a dip, or eat it with hotdogs, rice or bread. Besides, it is rich in vitamins and minerals, as well as providing you a reasonable amount of protein per serving. However, for better taste and consistency, I recommend you cook it a little bit before serving.
Pros
- Healthy canned chili
- Nutritious
- No artificial ingredient added
Cons
- Taste better when heated
Product Specs
| Brand | Hormel Chilli |
| Price | |
| Size | 15 Ounce Can |
| Available Varieties |
Leoffy Las Palmas Canned Chili
Then, for anyone craving some Mexican taste, we recommend the Leoffy Las Palmas Whole Green Chiles, one of the best traditional Mexican-style chiles we have ever try. This one is such a good match for fries, and can be used mainly as a dipping sauce. You can try some nachos and tacos with this chili, it would taste like heaven.
The key to this unique-flavored product is the roasted green pepper. This ingredient keeps the spiciness mild, meanwhile, make it tastes different than the popular red-pepper-based chili. The texture and consistency of this canned chili are decent, so you either eat it straight from the can or make it into another dish.
For nutrition, it provides a balanced amount of proteins and vitamins, along with antioxidants from the green pepper. However, this nutritious chili does not actually go well with cheese, so you might want to top it with other food.
Pros
- Authentic Mexican taste
- Nutritious
- Go well with Mexican recipes
- Can be used as a dip
Cons
- Not suitable with cheese
Product Specs
| Brand | LEOFFY |
| Price | $60.60 – Pack of 12 |
| Size | 27 Ounce Can |
| Available Varieties |
Hormel Hot with Beans Canned Chili
Now we are talking about one of the spiciest canned chilies with a good taste: the Hormel Chilli Hot With Beans. This product is targeted as customers who want a nice and spicy chili, with taste delicious with bread, rice, and hotdogs. You can pretty use this as a dip for chips and fries, it will make your food taste yummy.
It has a good texture, almost creamy, with a bit of sweet taste to make the spices stand out, but some people may not like the sweet part. The main spices for this product are actually cumin, not pepper, so the taste and smell of this chili is quite smooth and balanced. You can never go wrong with a Hormel Chilli.
Pros
- Good spiciness
- Great texture
Cons
- A bit sweet
Product Specs
| Brand | Hormel Chili |
| Price | |
| Size | 15 Ounce Can |
| Available Varieties | 9+ Flavours |
Hormel Vegetarian Canned Chili
Another delicious canned chili from the Hormel Chilli is the Vegetarian Chili with Beans, a great option for vegan consumers. Of course, there will be no meat in this can, but the beans, tomatoes, green chili and onions will offer you a well-done and balanced flavor, almost tastes like homemade.
This canned chili is also extremely healthy, with only 1g of fat as a whole can! And the vegetable base provides you with various nutritions, including vitamins and important minerals. Not only goes will with bread, but you can also always turn it this product as a vegan dipping sauce for potato chips. However, if you favor the spiciness, you may want to add a bit of pepper into this chili.
Pros
- Vegan
- Healthy and nutritious
- Can be used as a dip
Cons
- Actually not spicy
Product Specs
| Brand | Hormel Chilli |
| Price | |
| Size | 15 Ounce Can |
| Available Varieties | 9+ Flavours |
Hormel Southwest Style Canned Chili
Best of Hormel never stops there. The Hormel Cook-Off Series Chili Southwest Style will give you a mind blowing experience with its unique taste. It is spicy with hearty chunks that will make your mouth watering.
The corn in the chillies makes the paste taste different, adding a bit of light-hearted sweetness to the meaty pasty, making the paste quite lighter. However, it is quite spicy, so you might consider a milder variety of you are not good at eating spicy food.
Pros
- Good flavor
Cons
- Quite spicy
Product Specs
| Brand | Hormel Chilli |
| Price | |
| Size | 15 Oz can |
| Available Varieties | 9+ Flavours |
Hormel Roasted Tomato Canned Chili
Next, I want to introduce a special canned chili, which is the Hormel Cook-Off Series – Roasted Tomato with Beans. It tastes quite interesting, with roasted tomatoes as one of the main bases for the paste. The juicy, rich and sweet taste of this canned chili goes well with slices of bread and rice, as well as making a great choice for dipping sauce.
However, the spiciness is barely there, so you can add more pepper to light things up. Also, not everyone likes sweet chili, but if you do, this will be your favorite choice for sure.
Pros
- Great flavor
- Good for dipping sauce
Cons
- Not spicy
- A bit sweet
Product Specs
| Brand | Hormel Chilli |
| Price | |
| Size | 15 Ounce Can |
| Available Varieties | 9+ Flavours |
Hormel Texas Brand Canned Chili
Texas’ authentic chillies will never let you down. This Hormel Cook-Off Series Texas Brand Chilli tastes just like a homemade chili from Texas, with a smoky and unique flavor. This product also has chunky meat – a lot of it, so the protein proportion is decent for a good meal.
However, the consistency of this product is not quite consistent, so it reduces the taste quite a bit.
Pros
- Good flavor
- Goes well with slices of bread
Cons
- Not good texture
Product Specs
| Brand | Hormel Chilli |
| Price | |
| Size | 15oz Can |
| Available Varieties | 9+ Flavours |
Trader Joe’s Beef Canned Chili
Last but not least, we have this Trader Joe’s Beef Chilli with Bean. Although tomatoes are not included in their name, they are the ones giving the paste flavor. You can taste the sweet and unique flavor of tomatoes, combining with juicy meat and decent spiciness, making this a brand new and lovable taste.
However, not all the people fancy the rich and sweet taste of tomatoes. But if you like something else different from the familiar taste of homemade chili, you might really fall in love with this.
Pros
- Unique flavors
Cons
- A bit sweet
Product Specs
| Brand | Trader Joe’s |
| Price | $1.99 |
| Size | 15 ounce can |
| Available Varieties |
The Ultimate Guide To Choosing Best Canned Chili In 2020
Chilis may all look the same in cans, but there is a lot of things you need to know before choosing one:
Type
They all are in cans, but what inside is quite different. Actually, there are six different types of canned chili.
The chili con carne is the traditional, meaty chili that you are all familiar with. Typically, this type of chill has peppers, tomatoes, meat, beans and other spices in it.
Chili Verde is the spicy green pepper chili. It has green chili, garlic, and pork in some chicken broth. Tomatoes are generally not used in this type.
White chili is an interesting name, but this kind of chili does turn white once cooked. The cream sauce is the reason for the color, and it does have chicken meat and white beans included. The spicy level of this type is quite light, suitable for children.
A vegetable mix with chili is a healthy choice for many consumers. It is the traditional type of chili but is added vegetables to increase nutrition.
Meat-based chili is various. You can find chili with different types of meat, for example, beef, pork, chicken or turkey.
Vegetarian chili is purely made from vegetables and spice, no animal products included. This type is dedicated to vegan consumers in general.
Spiciness
Sometimes, canned chili is not that spicy. They have a whole range of spiciness, ranging from, mild, medium, hot and super hot. You should choose your chili according to your spicy tolerance.
Thickness
Same with spiciness, the thickness varies from one product to another. Some are more liquid, while others are much thicker and heavy. Based on your recipe, you may want to choose a suitable thickness of chili.
FAQs
Is there any good canned chili?
Some of the good canned chilies are:
- Amy’s Organic Chili
- Campbell’s Hot & Spicy Beef Chili
- Wolf Brand Chili
- Skyline Chili
- Hormel Micro Chili
- Stagg Silverado Beef Chili
- Ray’s Chilli Original Chilli
- Campbell’s Chunky Chili
- Cattle Drive Gold Beef Chili
- Las Palmas Whole Green Chiles
What is the best canned hot dog chili?
For hotdogs, we recommend:
- Wolf Brand No Beans Chili.
- Hormel Chili – Without Beans.
- Castleberry’s, Hot Dog Chili Sauce.
- Chef-mate Hot Dogs Chili.
- Nalley Hot Dog Chili Sauce.
- Amy’s Organic Chili with Vegetables.
- Skyline Chili.
- Hormel Micro Cup Chili with Beans.
How can I make canned chili better?
You can either fresh it up by adding aromatic spices or bulk it up with extra meat and ingredient. But the most common way to cook canned chili is to heat it up and add more spice, like pepper.
What can I make with canned chili?
You can cook a lot of dishes with canned chili. But the most popular food types combined with canned chili are hotdogs, fries, bread, rice, and pasta.
How long do you cook canned chili?
Chili can be eaten fresh out of the can. In case you want it hot, you can cook it on the heat for a few minutes until the pasta boil.
How long does leftover chili last?
Normally, leftover chili can last well for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. However, if leaving in normal room temperature, leftover chili can last around 2 hours.
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