The 12 Best Canned Chili Brands, Ranked
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Chili is one of those comforting dishes that has it all. It's simple to make, easy on the wallet, and loaded with flavor. Whether it's packed with veggies and beans — or stuffed with beef, pork, and chicken — chili is a crowd-pleasing dish that's tasty and filling. It's also easy to customize using a wide range of techniques and ingredients. If you like it spicy, you can add some pickled hot peppers. If you like it on the thicker side, just let it reduce longer on the stove.
That said, not everyone has the time to make chili from scratch. For a multitude of reasons, the task of making a fresh lunch or dinner is sometimes not possible. When hunger strikes, canned chili can provide an undeniable level of convenience.
The trouble is trying to figure out which canned chilis are worth your time. This is especially relevant since there can be noticeable differences in quality. The good news is that we have a few favorite canned chili companies. We've selected a mix of different canned chilis to please every palate and budget, so you should be able to find a few that work for you. Here are the 12 best canned chili brands, ranked.
12. Armour
One of the best things about Armour is the chili brand's affordability. Considering that food prices have recently skyrocketed — and it's possible that they'll continue to climb — many of us are trying to pinch pennies at the grocery store. On top of Armour chili being a bargain, it's also pretty good. One downside to the brand is that it only offers two variations of its chili: one with beans and one without. The brand's limited chili options are part of why it comes in last.
Both types of Armour chili share some common ingredients. These include water, pork, beef, and a blend of common seasonings. While these chili products are decent for their prices, some customers have complained about their texture. They say that the can's contents can be a bit grainy.
For this reason, we'd recommend using this chili as a base, then adding some extra ingredients. Several things that you likely have on hand will work. If you have some leftover cooked burger patties, give them a rough dice and add them into the pot to simmer. The texture and heartiness of this chili should improve dramatically. If you look at this canned chili brand more like a blank canvas, buying Armour's products is worth it.
11. Hormel (No Beans)
For many of us, Hormel is one of the most familiar prepared food brands out there. The company sells a wide variety of products, including pepperoni, bacon, chicken, and macaroni and cheese. But out of its whole repertoire, Hormel is especially well-known for its canned chili. One of the company's best canned chilis is its Hormel Chili with No Beans.
Made with beef, pork, corn, and chili powder, this Hormel chili is often used to make a meaty cheese dip. It's also a popular topping for chili cheeseburgers, nachos, or loaded chili dogs. If you want to enjoy this in a bowl, we'd recommend adding sour cream and freshly shredded cheese. Like most canned foods, this chili can taste a bit salty if eaten all on its own, so pairing it with these creamy dairy ingredients can really help balance its saltiness.
The bottom line is that Hormel's no bean-chili is a classic pantry staple that can be used in many other tasty dishes. When you're pinched for time, a can or two of this chili — paired with some dairy — can also help put dinner on the table. But because this chili isn't as delicious on its own, we rank the brand Hormel near the bottom.
10. Chilli Man
Founded by a winner of the International Chili Championship and judge for the International Chili Society, Chilli Man has been on the market since 1953. The company produces five different types of canned chili, each with various levels of heat and some minor differences in ingredients. Chilli Man's Chili With Beans is a popular choice that features some bold flavors. This likely comes from the pork, beef, and cayenne peppers in each can.
If you're looking for a lighter option, Chilli Man also makes a Lean Beef Chili. It has 25% less fat than the brand's regular Chili With Beans. But don't mistake this reduction in fat for a reduction in taste — this chili still retains a bold flavor that's sure to hit the spot. Veggie lovers will also be pleased to see Chili Man's canned Vegetarian Chili option. This product is made with ingredients like beans, soy protein, cumin, and chili powder.
This brand has earned a nearly perfect rating after more than 500 reviews on Amazon, which is a testament to how good this canned chili is. However, many users said that they bought the chili out of nostalgia since they ate it during their upbringing. We doubt Chili Man's products would be as popular or well-reviewed without this nostalgia factor.
9. Wolf
Wolf Brand Chili has been around for over a century. The company's first recipe was created back in 1895. Around 30 years later, Wolf started canning its chili. Named after a founding member's pet wolf, Wolf now offers four cans of chili. The brand even sells microwavable bowls of chili, as well as a chili specifically developed as a hot dog topping.
While the flavor of this chili is good, some customers have complained that it's not meaty enough. The truth is that whenever you're dealing with canned chilis, there's a good chance that it won't hold a candle to the beefiness that you typically find in homemade chili, so customers should adjust their expectations accordingly. Wolf Brand Chili is one of those brands that doesn't really deliver on meatiness.
However, the amount of meat is only one part of this. A canned chili's meat also has to have a nice texture. Some canned chilis feature smaller, granular pieces of meat, while others feature bite-sized chunks. As far as we're concerned, chunkier meat is always better. Wolf's meat is nice and chunky. That said, if Wolf were a bit more generous with its meat, the brand would have landed a lot higher on our list.
8. Hormel (White Chicken)
Hormel's White Chicken Chili earns its own spot on this list. We like this canned chili product more than Hormel's No Bean Chili. When it comes to canned chili products, beef and pork tend to dominate most recipes. It's nice every once in a while to change it up and go with chicken instead. Hormel's chicken chili is a flavorful option with some nice thickness in terms of consistency. However, it doesn't really feature big chunks of chicken. Instead, it's made with finer shreds of white chicken meat.
The good news is that Hormel's shredded chicken is surprisingly tender, considering that it comes from a can. This canned chili is made with green chilis and jalapeño peppers in the recipe. These ingredients add a moderate level of spice, which also contributes a nice depth of flavor. If you ask us, any good bowl of chili should bring a little zing. Another praise-worthy aspect of this product is its inclusion of cheddar cheese. The addition of cheddar gives this soup a little extra density that helps it stay thick and rich, while also lending it a touch of cheesiness. There's also some sour cream in the recipe, which adds to this effect.
This can of chicken chili from Hormel is a solid pick. However, we wish the meat used for it had a slightly more satisfying texture. This product may elevate Hormel's brand ranking slightly, but we still don't think it's the best out there.
7. Campbell's
When it comes to canned goods, Campbell's is easily one of the most popular brands. The company offers a staggering amount of different canned food products. This includes its classic Chicken Noodle Soup and New England Clam Chowder. Whenever we're in the mood for some Campbell's, we always prefer the company's "chunky" variety. These products feature heartier hunks of meat and vegetables, which are more satisfying. As such, we recommend Campbell's Chunky Chili With Beans.
Campbell's Chunky Chili With Beans is made from a combination of kidney beans, pork, beef, bell peppers, onions, and garlic. There are a few things about this product that we like, helping to elevate Campbell's above other canned chili brands. For starters, the kidney beans in this soup are tender and creamy. The chunks of beef and pork are smaller than the beans, but still big enough to chew. The base of the soup is made with tomato purée and spices, giving it a thick consistency. All of these qualities show that Campbell's, as a brand, is making some smart choices with its canned chili products.
Our main gripe is that the flavor of Campbell's Chunky Chili With Beans is too mild. We think that adding some additional seasonings would seriously help to better its taste. If this factor were improved, we could give Campbell's a higher spot in this ranking.
6. Stagg (Silverado Beef)
Since Stagg hit shelves back in 1956, the company has expanded its lineup to include a handful of different canned chili products. One of these is Stagg's Silverado Beef Chili. On Amazon, this product has a considerably high rating after over 3,000 reviews.
Each spoonful of this chili is loaded with tender chunks of meat. Unlike other chili brands that predominantly feature water or tomatoes in recipes, this canned chili puts the beef front and center. This should be music to the ears of all meat lovers out there. This chili also features two different types of beans, which adds some nice textural variety. The kidney beans offer some meaty denseness, while the pink beans are smaller and a little creamier. Stagg's Silverado Beef Chili also contains jalapeño peppers, which provide a pleasant amount of heat.
We think that this is some top-tier canned chili. But there are a few brands that produce a more fresh and dynamic taste than this one. For this reason, Stagg falls around the middle of our brand ranking.
5. Skyline
Like most types of food, chili recipes will differ by region. Cincinnati chili is a particularly famous regional chili style. It comes with unique additions that create a surprisingly delicious flavor profile. For example, this recipe calls for ingredients like cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and unsweetened dark chocolate. These items add a deeper layer of richness to chili. The problem is that when you're in the mood for Cincinnati chili, there aren't too many canned brands available to pick from. Skyline — a restaurant famous for its Cincinnati-style chili — has luckily filled this void.
Of course, some customers report that this canned chili brand isn't as good as the chili served in the actual Skyline restaurant itself. But that really shouldn't be too shocking. Anything canned is bound to be somewhat of a downgrade from a hot, fresh meal. Still, if you're outside Cincinnati and you want to taste a little sample of this style of chili, you'd be hard-pressed to find a canned version that does it better than this. We'd recommend warming this up and serving it over hot spaghetti noodles topped with shredded cheddar cheese. This unique recipe is how Cincinnati chili is often enjoyed.
However, we recognize that Skyline's flavors are not typical for chili, meaning their product isn't as universally appealing. We value this brand, but it's not useful in all situations when you want a can of chili.
4. Stagg (Dynamite Hot)
Stagg earns a coveted spot toward the top of our list. This is mostly thanks to its Dynamite Hot Chili With Beans. With a word like "dynamite" in the title, Stagg is setting up some high expectations in terms of the chili's spiciness.
This canned chili is indeed made with jalapeño peppers, habaneros, and Chile de árbol peppers. But the reality is that there's not really enough of them to make this chili as spicy as advertised. That said, the hot peppers give this canned chili a subtle, nuanced flavor. These ingredients also make this chili taste somewhat refreshing.
The beef and pork in this chili are also portioned into juicy little chunks, rather than the granular debris that some of Stagg's competitors resort to. The meat-to-bean ratio is also evenly distributed, which makes this chili extra hearty. Because this chili also has some chipotle pepper powder, there's a lightly smoky complexity lurking in the sauce. All in all, this is a flavorful canned chili. Even though it's not as spicy as advertised, this complex canned chili product helps to elevate our ranking of Stagg. If you're going to buy from this brand, go with Stagg's Dynamite Hot Chili With Beans.
3. Steak 'n Shake
Steak 'n Shake is a fast-casual restaurant that's well-known for its hamburgers and milkshakes. The restaurant also serves chili. You can order this as a side, on a loaded hot dog, over spaghetti noodles, and more. The chili at Steak 'n Shake is made with traditional chili ingredients like beef, kidney beans, cumin, and garlic.
What we like about this chili is how thick and hearty it is. The beef is quite juicy and chunky, and the beans are also plump and tender. Some customers even report this canned chili is strikingly similar to the one served at Steak 'n Shake's restaurants.
To get the full effect and maximize this chili's flavors, we'd recommend topping it with some chopped onions and shredded cheese. This is just how the restaurant serves it. There's no doubt that Steak 'n Shake makes one of the best canned chilis out there. However, it's best at being a replica of Steak 'n Shake's menu item, rather than a versatile product to add to your grocery list.
2. Amy's
Amy's makes a wide range of pre-made food products. The company's repertoire includes burritos, pizzas, and macaroni and cheese. The major advantage of buying from this brand is that Amy's uses fresh, organic, high-quality ingredients. You can really taste this difference. Among its tasty lineup are a variety of soups, including a few different types of canned chili.
Amy's spicy chili is definitely one of our favorites. This soup is made from red beans, onions, garlic, bell peppers, tofu, and jalapeño peppers. While it's true that this chili is vegetarian, you shouldn't mistake that as a sign that this chili isn't filling or satisfying. This chili is thick and robust, highly flavorful, and chock-full of fresh-tasting ingredients. Its broth is tasty, without being overly salty. The jalapeños add a pleasant hint of heat.
If you ask us, this is one of the best vegetarian canned chilis on the market, as well as one of the best canned chilis in general. Amy's also offers some low-sodium chili options as well as medium heat and black bean chili varieties. If you're buying canned chili, we highly recommend this brand.
1. Pacific Foods
Much like Amy's, Pacific Foods is another brand that raises the bar. This company offers high-quality products made with organic ingredients. It makes products like Carrot Ginger Bisque, Creamy Butternut Squash Soup, and Corn Chowder. Pacific Foods also produces a few varieties of plant-based chili. One of our favorites is the company's White Bean Verde chili.
This canned chili is so good that the brand skyrocketed to the top of our ranking. There are several qualities that make it tasty. This chili features tomatillos, a tangy and refreshing ingredient that you don't often encounter in similar products. Additionally, it's made with poblano peppers, which lend the product a subtle smokiness that seriously amps up its flavor. While this chili isn't necessarily spicy, it has a moderate heat level that's exciting.
This chili also features lime juice and apple cider vinegar, both of which provide acidity that cuts through the richness of its broth. This chili is even made with cilantro, which elevates it even more. At the end of the day, there's no doubt that this White Bean Verde is one of the freshest-tasting canned chilis we've ever had. This brand is of such quality, you will forget that what you're eating came from a can.