Chili is one of those dishes whose definition varies depending on who you’re talking to. Your idea of chili may feature classic ingredients such as red kidney beans and beef, while another version may simply be a combination of whatever odds and ends are hanging around the refrigerator.
The number of canned chilis available in grocery stores reflect this broad range and our shopping efforts left us with almost a dozen and a half chili brands and varieties to try! We tasted and evaluated as many types as we could in an effort to pin down the absolute best canned chili options, from beef to chicken, veggie to beanless, and beyond!
Table of Contents
Products We Tested
We taste tested the following 17 brands and varieties:
- 365 Whole Foods Market Organic Three Bean Chili
- Amy's Organic Light Sodium Chili
- Campbell's Chunky Hot and Spicy Chili with Beans
- Campbell's Slow Kettle Style Southwest-Style Chicken Chili
- Gardein Plant Based Chili with Beans
- Hormel Canned Turkey Chili with Beans
- Hormel Chunky Beef Chili with Beans
- Hormel No-Bean Chili
- Pacific Foods Organic Fire Roasted Vegetable Chili
- Pacific Foods Organic Harvest Black Bean Chili
- Plantstrong Organic Creamy White Bean Chili
- Plantstrong Organic Spiced Lentil Chili
- Stagg Dynamite Hot Chili with Beans
- Stagg Laredo Chili With Beans
- Wendy's Chili With Beans
- Wolf Brand Angus Beef Chili with Beans
- Wolf Brand Chili Without Beans
How We Tested
Our aim for this taste test and review was to select the best canned chili in each of the following categories:
- Best Beef
- Best Chicken
- Best Turkey
- Best Veggie
- Best Without Beans
- Best Hot & Spicy
- Best Lower Sodium
We heated each chili variety according to the cooking instructions provided on its label. We tasted the chilis plain--without toppings or seasonings--starting with the milder options first before moving on to spicy and strongly flavored varieties.
After all evaluations were complete, we graded each chili according to the following 4 criteria:
- Taste & Texture: looking at flavor notes and overall consistency of each product.
- Value: price per ounce.
- Ingredients: considering the quantity and quality of ingredients in each product as well as nutrition content.
- Production: taking into account factors of manufacture, distribution, availability, sustainability, and packaging.
Best Beef
Wolf Brand Angus Beef Chili with Beans
Overall Rank: 4.7 / 5.0
Taste & Texture: 4.8 / 5.0
Nearly half of the canned chilis we taste tested were beef chilis, and out of them all, this option from Wolf Brand was our hands down favorite. Instead of the often rather ambiguous ground beef that floats around most chilis, this brand uses large pieces of angus beef that eat more like steak!
The overall flavor is rich and luxurious, plenty savory but not very spicy. The tomatoey base has a smooth and velvety texture but we did think that there is a bit too much of it as compared to the meat and veggie components.
Value: 5.0 / 5.0
Despite the higher caliber of meat used, this option is still one of the most affordable we found, coming in at just $0.16 per serving.
Ingredients: 4.3 / 5.0
In addition to angus beef, this chili also contains pinto beans, beef broth, and tomato puree and is seasoned by chili pepper, garlic, and other spices.
All of that unctuous richness does come with a price in terms of nutrition however. It has a whopping 750 calories per serving, a full 50g of fat, and 20g saturated fat. On the good side, we have a high protein content of 32g per serving plus, 30% your DV of iron and 25% potassium!
Production: 4.8 / 5.0
Wolf Brand has quite a history whipping up Texas-inspired chilis since 1895. This option is free from artificial colors, preservatives and artificial flavors. We love the attention grabbing white-on-black label with bold font and a scannable SmartLabel which takes you to even more detailed product info.
Why We Picked It:
Our tasting panel loved the hearty chunks of angus beef, velvety texture, and super rich flavor here. The price point is excellent for a chili made with more expensive meat and it is a great source of protein and minerals. The cleverly branded packaging grabs your attention and is nicely detailed as well.
What We Didn’t Like:
We felt that there just wasn’t quite enough meat or beans in comparison to all of the saucy base. Also, this option is not the healthiest pick, as it has the highest calorie and fat contents.
Where to Buy: Amazon, Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons, Safeway, and more
Best Chicken
Campbell's Slow Kettle Style Southwest-Style Chicken Chili
Overall Rank: 4.5 / 5.0
Taste & Texture: 4.5 / 5.0
We found ourselves loving the hearty blend of black beans, pinto beans, bell peppers, diced tomatoes, and corn in this southwest style chili from Campbell’s. There are impressively sized chunks of white meat chicken in the mix and the whole thing is nicely flavored by bright cilantro, sweet paprika, spicy jalapeños, and savory soy sauce.
Our tasting panel felt that this option read a bit more like soup as opposed to chili but overall, was digging the smoky, spicy flavor and range of tastes and textures.
Value: 4.8 / 5.0
At $0.26 per ounce, this option is right on par with our across the board average of $0.24 per ounce.
Ingredients: 4.5 / 5.0
The ingredients panel on this option is fairly clean, filled with all of the great veggies mentioned above as well as tomato paste, plant based starches, and additional flavors. It does unfortunately contain a few GMO ingredients as well as carrageenan, a seaweed-derived thickener that some folks prefer to avoid consuming. Also this is one of the lowest calorie options we tested with just 330 per serving and it also provides 25% DV potassium and 20% DV iron!
Production: 4.5 / 5.0
We really like the convenience of the microwave ready bowl that this chili is packaged in as it’s ready in just 2 minutes--no need for a bowl! On the downside, the container itself is single use and non-recyclable.
Why We Picked It:
In addition to coming in a package that doubles as a bowl, we found this to be an overall flavorful chili with plenty of chunky white meat chicken and loads of veggies! It is moderately priced and low calorie, plus an excellent source of potassium and iron.
What We Didn’t Like:
The overall effect is a bit more soupy as opposed to chili-like. Also, it contains carrageenan, GMO ingredients, and comes in non-recyclable packaging.
Where to Buy: Amazon, Walmart, Kroger, Giant, Shaw’s, Publix, and more
Best Turkey
Hormel Canned Turkey Chili with Beans
Overall Rank: 4.4 / 5.0
Taste & Texture: 4.5 / 5.0
In short, we found the flavor of this turkey chili from Hormel to be basic, but good! It smells great upon cracking the can, with a smoky cumin aroma that complements the savoriness of the turkey nicely. There is moderate heat here from chili powder and jalapeño peppers. Texture-wise, this option is much thicker as compared to the more broth-y chilis like Campbell’s Southwest-Style option and Wolf Brand’s Angus chili.
Value: 4.6 / 5.0
This option is yet another that has a middle of the road price point, costing just $0.21 per ounce.
Ingredients: 4.2 / 5.0
Aside from the cringe-inducing phrase “mechanically separated” ground turkey, the ingredients list here is straightforward and easy to digest, with nothing artificial and no preservatives. It is higher than average in the cholesterol department, with 90mg per serving (30% your DV) and it is wicked high in sodium, with 1980mg per serving!
Production: 4.6 / 5.0
Hormel’s chili is widely available and we saw this option in most every store and online retailer we shopped at. It also has a quick and easy recipe for chili rice casserole on the label!
Why We Picked It:
This turkey based chili option from Hormel is a classic, with a savory flavor that is nicely complemented by cumin and spicy chile peppers. We like the thicker texture of this option and the fact that it is reasonably priced and widely available.
What We Didn’t Like:
This chili is high in cholesterol and is the most sodium laden of all chilis we tasted.
Where to Buy: Amazon, Target, Walmart, Stop & Shop, Fairway, Albertsons, and more
Best Veggie
Pacific Foods Organic Harvest Black Bean Chili
Overall Rank: 4.9 / 5.0
Taste & Texture: 5.0 / 5.0
This vegetarian chili from Pacific Foods features a flavorful mix of veggies, black beans, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, red bell peppers, chile peppers, corn, and onions. In a unique twist, this option also contains whole grain farro, giving it even more of a stick to your ribs quality.
The ancho chile powder adds quite a kick while roasted garlic puree, smoked paprika, and cinnamon round out the flavor profile in a unique and entirely complementary way.
Value: 4.8 / 5.0
This chili ranks in as average on the value scale, costing $0.24 per ounce.
Ingredients: 4.9 / 5.0
The ingredients label reads like a recipe you could make from scratch at home, featuring nothing more than fresh vegetables, seasonings, and common pantry items. It has the lowest saturated fat content of all chilis we tried, plus provides over 60% your DV of dietary fiber and is rich in iron, potassium, and calcium.
We also like that they opted to use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce here, as this eliminates a soy allergen concern. It does contain a higher than average sugar content however.
Production: 5.0 / 5.0
This chili is USDA certified organic and one of the most widely available brands we encountered. We also love that Pacific Foods is a philanthropically minded company, donating meals to families in need to the tune of 1 million+ per year.
Why We Picked It:
There’s no meat in this veggie chili and you don’t even miss it! The mix of veggies, whole grains, and seasonings is perfectly hearty and festive, especially when served with a side like our Fluffy Pumpkin Dinner Rolls. It has a clean ingredients list and one of the best nutrient profiles of all chilis we tested.
What We Didn’t Like:
There is 14g of sugar in each serving of this veggie chili, which is higher than most of the others we tried.
Where to Buy: Amazon, Sprouts, Kroger, Winn-Dixie, ShopRite, and more
Best Without Beans
Wolf Brand Chili Without Beans
Overall Rank: 4.5 / 5.0
Taste & Texture: 4.4 / 5.0
Well, this beanless chili from Wolf Brand is certainly not much to look at but dang is it tasty! It features a juicy combo of both beef and pork, plus the same overall rich and buttery taste that the other Wolf Brand variety offered. The heat level falls somewhere between medium and hot while there is plenty of savory umami taste to balance things out.
It has a bit of a funny texture though, so despite the delicious taste, we don’t think this is the best option for eating by itself. Best use this one for topping a hot dog, baked potato, tortilla chips, or using as a casserole base!
Value: 4.7 / 5.0
The price point on this option is middle of the road at $0.24 per ounce.
Ingredients: 4.5 / 5.0
Aside from a few more highly processed ingredients list soy lecithin and sodium phosphate, the ingredients list is decent here. Each serving of this chili provides 15% DV each of iron and potassium.
One thing to note: this option contains whole rolled oats and for gluten intolerant or sensitive folks, there is no indication whether or not these are gluten free oats.
Production: 4.6 / 5.0
We like that this chili is preservative free and packed in a non-BPA lined can, however, it is the only chili we needed a can opener for! All of the others featured a nice pop tab for easy opening.
Also, while we did see Wolf Brand products in many different stores, this bean-free option was not as common.
Why We Picked It:
In lieu of beans, this chili features both beef and pork, resulting in a very savory, tasty flavor profile. It has a consistency that makes it great for topping chili dogs or other items, is reasonably priced, free from preservatives and BPA’s.
What We Didn’t Like:
Unfortunately, this is not the best looking chili and the rather strange overall texture is one we didn’t enjoy eating on its own, so you may be limited on how you use this option. It also contains oats--which are notorious for being contaminated with gluten--and does not indicate any gluten safety in their processing.
Where to Buy: Amazon, Target, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Kroger, and more
Best Hot & Spicy
Stagg Dynamite Hot Chili with Beans
Overall Rank: 4.6 / 5.0
Taste & Texture: 4.5 / 5.0
Featuring a telltale rusty red coloring, this Dynamite Hot variety from Stagg Chili is one spicy pick! At first it tastes quite sweet, lulling you into a false sense of security. Rest assured though that heat will build as you work your way through a bowl, slowly taking over the back of your throat and tongue. It features a flavorful mixture of beef and pork along with large kidney beans and mixed veggies that add some pleasant heft to the dish as well.
Value: 4.6 / 5.0
Middle of the road price point here, just $0.25 per ounce!
Ingredients: 4.4 / 5.0
This chili is set ablaze by five different chile ingredients: guajillo peppers, chile de arbol, habanero, jalapeño, and chipotle.
Unfortunately it is on the higher end in terms of fats and calories, with 680 calories per serving and 32g fat per serving. Also, in order to balance out the heat they needed to add a ton of sweet, and this chili has a full 20g of sugar per serving!
Production: 4.8 / 5.0
This is one of few chili brands we found that is completely free from the major food allergens. It is also found in many different grocery store chains, however, it is a product of bioengineering.
Why We Picked It:
The combined heat created by all of those different chile ingredients was a real win with the spice-loving members of our tasting panel. Stagg Chili has an average price point, is widely available, and allergen friendly.
What We Didn’t Like:
This option is high in calories, fats, and sugar and is made with GMO ingredients. Also, the heat could of course prove to be too much for some chili-lovers, so taste at your own risk and have the sour cream ready!
Where to Buy: Amazon, Walmart, Safeway, Albertsons, ACME, and more
Best Lower Sodium
Amy's Organic Light Sodium Chili
Overall Rank: 4.7 / 5.0
Taste & Texture: 4.3 / 5.0
On first taste you’d think this light sodium option from Amy’s is a beef based chili like any other, but it actually uses tofu crumbles instead of meat! The result is perfectly meat-like and satisfying, with plenty of other tasty additions like petite red beans, sweet bell peppers, and spicy jalapenos.
We like the mild-moderate heat level and overall balance, although the lack of salt is indeed noticeable here. The resultant flavor is unfortunately a bit bland but on the bright side, this gives you the space to season it as you like, whether with a dash or two of soy sauce or a scoop of your favorite salsa.
Value: 4.5 / 5.0
This canned chili cost us $6.80 for the can, which works out to $0.46 per ounce--the most expensive by far!
Ingredients: 5.0 / 5.0
As with most Amy’s products, this chili has an ingredients list that is full of whole, organic foods. At just 500mg, it has the lowest across the board sodium content per serving. We know, that still sounds like quite a lot but as compared to the 1400mg average, Amy’s is certainly a better pick if you’re looking for less salt.
Production: 5.0 / 5.0
This chili is USDA certified organic, GMO-free, gluten-free, vegan, and packed in a BPA free can. Amy’s is very strict on allergen control measures in their production facilities and we love that this high quality brand is accessible in most grocery stores and supermarkets.
Why We Picked It:
This canned chili option puts tofu to good use as a stand-in for crumbled beef and deliciously pairs it with high quality and organic veggies and seasonings. It has less than half the sodium of most of the other chilis we tested and is produced in an extremely allergen conscious facility.
What We Didn’t Like:
At nearly $0.50 per ounce, this pick is the most costly of all chilis we evaluated. Also, it has a rather plain taste so you may find yourself wanting to jazz it up with additions of your own!
Where to Buy: Whole Foods, Amazon, Target, Walmart, Sprouts, Sam’s Club, and more
FAQs
Do You Drain Canned Chili?
No, most canned chili is quite thick and stew-like, meaning there is no excess liquid to drain. Plus, the liquid is flavorful and delicious! Just heat and stir to bring the chili back together if the liquid seems a bit separated from the solids.
Can You Eat Chili Straight From the Can?
Yep! Canned chili is perfectly safe to eat straight from the freshly opened can. That said, most folks find it much more enjoyable when hot. Also, once the can is opened, any leftovers must be refrigerated.
Is Stagg Chili the Same as Hormel Chili?
Stagg is actually a subgroup of the larger Hormel brand, however, we found that the Stagg line of products are quite different from the basic Hormel options. In our opinion, the Stagg options were tastier and of higher quality, more like a homemade chili than any of the classic Hormel picks.
Does Trader Joe’s Have Canned Chili?
Unfortunately, the beloved Trader Joe’s Beef Chili has been discontinued. They do offer a vegetarian chili and a seasonal harvest chili. Keep an eye out though, as Trader Joe’s is infamous for bringing products back after some time away!
Leave a Reply