15 Best Canned Chili Options for Breezy Cooking

15 Best Canned Chili Options for Breezy Cooking

Some call it chili, some call it chili con carne. Whatever you want to call this spicy stew, chili will forever be warm, slightly spicy, and one of the most satisfying comfort foods ever. And with its versatility, you can have it on your favorite snack or as a complete meal! Truly, a healthy serving of chili can be a good pick-me-up when you’re feeling down. However, one must know that making a mouthwatering chili recipe may take hours of simmering on the stove. Luckily, the best canned chili options are just a store away from you.

These days, you can find several options for chili. In fact, you can choose between vegetarian or all-natural and beans or without beans. And it doesn’t stop there, you can even choose the type of meat you want. Available varieties include beef, turkey, and chicken! Aside from the selection of meat, you can also find several chilis in different kinds of beans.

However, considering the volume of choices you’ll have to choose from, we know finding the best chili for your snacks can be tough. Because of this, we’ve singled out the best products you may take a fancy to. And so we listed below 15 of the best canned chilis you can choose from!

Our Favorite Canned Chilis at a Glance

15 Best Canned Chili Choices You Can Buy

1. Best Overall Hormel: Compleats Chili with Beans, 10 Ounces (Pack of 6)

What We Love

  • Microwave-safe containers
  • Made with real ingredients
  • Preparation time only takes 60 seconds

Just because you’re buying canned goods doesn’t mean you’ll settle for something mediocre. Hormel Compleats’ chili with beans is all that you can ask for and more when it comes to canned chili. Specifically, their recipe consists of carefully selected beef, natural beans, aromatic spices, and more. And the best bit about this product is that it’s microwave-safe and comes in convenient packaging. So, you can take it anywhere for quick meals!

Even though pre-made chilis are canned and said to be easy prep, opening them can be cumbersome. Good thing that Hormel is dedicated to delivering real food to your dinner table real fast! Even their containers are easy to open. All you have to do is pop these into a microwave and you’ll have something to eat on your dinner table. Not to mention, a can of their chili has 17 grams of protein per serving which makes this a filling meal any time of the day! Pair it with this cornbread recipe and you’ll have one of the classic pairs for chili con carne.

2. Best with Beans: Hormel Chili With Beans 15 Ounce (Pack of 8)

What We Love

  • Easy–open can
  • Generous amount of protein per serving
  • No artificial ingredients
  • BPA-free can

What We Don't Love

  • No level of spice indicated

Are you team beans or without beans? Here is another product from Hormel that’s sure to satisfy your chili cravings. This one has the classic beef taste that we all love, with the addition of beans. In fact, Hormel chili with beans is well-known and loved by American consumers from coast to coast. Their slow-simmered recipe goes well with this mac and cheese recipe — another crowd favorite! We’re positive a pairing of these two can make one delicious meal for the whole family.

Additionally, this too features an easy-open can. Just pull the top and you’ll be able to enjoy a can of good chili instantly! No need for can openers. You’ll also love that it’s made with authentic ingredients. A bowl of Hormel Chili with Beans almost feels like eating an authentic homemade chili dish.

3. Best without Beans: Wolf Brand, Chili without Beans

What We Love

  • Made with all-natural beef and pork

What We Don't Love

  • Not easy-open can

Team no beans? No problem! The best canned chili does not necessarily mean it has to have beans. Texan chili lovers will agree to that. After all, they’re not exactly shy about how much they prefer not to have these legumes in their dish.

Furthermore, one of the best-tasting chilies you’ll find has no beans like this product that’s made from an authentic Texan recipe. It’s the perfect blend of seasoning and spice with a healthy serving of real beef. The only downside to this product is that it doesn’t come with an easy-to-open can. So, we’re afraid you’ll need a can opener for this one. Furthermore, the authentic Texan recipe of this canned chili complements nicely with these twice-baked potatoes with gruyere cheese.

4. Best Black Beans: Amy’s Organic Black Bean Chili

What We Love

  • Vegan
  • Gluten-free
  • Non-GMO
  • Easy-open can

What We Don't Love

  • Too much soy flavor

Another popular bean for chili is black beans. No wonder many canned chili manufacturers stock up on chili with black beans too! Amy’s is one of the few you’ll find selling it, but theirs are purely organic and are simmered along with tomatoes, peppers, and chiles in Mexican-style broth. Their recipe is full of flavor without the overwhelming spicy taste.

So, if you can’t handle heat very well, we recommend trying this chili. A dollop of Greek yogurt or this sour cream recipe might also help!

5. Best with Beef: Chilli Man Canned Chili With Beans, Lean Meat

What We Love

  • Contains real lean beef
  • Has 25 percent less fat

What We Don't Love

  • Not much options for spice level
  • Quite salty

Do you happen to love beef in your chili? Alas, it just so happens that most canned chilis have pitiful amounts of beef and there’s more fat than lean meat too.

Let us introduce you to this brand called Chilli Man, then. Chilli Man canned chili products have real lean beef. Yes, lean beef. That means you’ll have more of this protein-rich food to enjoy. Compared to their traditional recipe, this variant has 25 percent less fat, guaranteeing you only the best canned chili.

This chili with lean beef is perfect as a dip for snacks or as a topping for this homemade kettle chips recipe for your movie date night.

6. Best with Turkey: HMR Turkey Chili with Beans Entree

What We Love

  • Contains 20 grams of protein
  • Made with seasoned turkey
  • Low calorie

What We Don't Love

  • A little bland
  • No spice level indicated in the packaging

Sometimes a bowl of chili is all that it will take to make your day. After all, a hot and filling meal is exactly what we need when we’re feeling a little down. Possibly a bowl of chili with turkey can do the trick. If that’s the case, we urge you to try HMR’s Turkey Chili with Beans Entree for faster meal prep! Just pop them in the microwave for one minute and they’re good to go.

To add, their chili is made with seasoned turkey and pinto beans that make for a hearty meal. And it’s packed with 20 grams of protein too. If that didn’t get your attention, how about this? HMR chilis are also the low-calorie version of the chili recipe you love!

READ ALSO: 27 Movie Night Snacks For A Home Theater Experience

7. Best with Chicken: Hormel Natural White Chicken Chili with Beans

What We Love

  • Easy-open can for quick meal prep
  • 100 percent natural ingredients
  • BPA-free can

What We Don't Love

  • Too soupy

While there’s nothing more scrumptious than a bowl of chili with either beef or turkey, chicken is still higher in protein and lower in fat compared to these two. That is why chicken is popular with those watching their diet. With that said, another meat option you’ll find in your bowl of chili is chicken. One of the best canned chili with chicken is this product from Hormel made of white chicken and beans. We also love that this can of chili was made using natural ingredients. You can almost say you’re eating this Golden Corral-inspired chili recipe!

Without a doubt, nothing’s better than a homemade chili recipe. But in a time crunch, this canned chili will do and it’s quicker too. You won’t even need a can opener for it! Simply pull the top and pour on your favorite fries or nachos and you’ll have a good snack without all the tedious work.

8. Best Vegetarian: Chilli Man Canned Vegetarian Chili With Beans

What We Love

  • Made with all vegetarian ingredients
  • BPA-free

What We Don't Love

  • No other spice levels for the vegetarian variant

Just because you’re vegetarian doesn’t mean you’ll never have a good bowl of chili. And Chilli Man guarantees that! Their vegetarian chili is made with all veggie-friendly ingredients like beans, textured soy protein, select spices, and more! Plus, their award-winning recipe is so good that you wouldn’t even notice that it doesn’t have any meat ingredients in it.

Indeed, this vegetarian chili is solid food on its own. But it’s even better as a filling for your easy tortillas recipe!

9. Best Spicy: Stagg Classic Chili with Beans

What We Love

  • All-natural ingredients
  • Easy pull top can
  • Contains red kidney beans and pink beans

What We Don't Love

  • Slightly sweet
  • Mildly-spiced chili

On the lookout for spicy canned chilis? Then look no further than Stagg’s Classic Chili with beans! Their spicy chili is slow-simmered in a beef broth along with a handful of spices including jalapeño peppers, bell peppers, dehydrated chile de Arbol peppers, and paprika. Undoubtedly, a perfect blend of these spices makes this canned chili truly spicy. And, if you happen to love beans in your chili, Stagg’s also got it for you. Their can of chili also contains red kidney beans and pink beans.

One of the classic ways to enjoy this canned chili is with this staple dirty rice recipe (the “dirty” color is actually because of the small pieces of meat) from Creole cuisine. If you prefer, you can also pair with the more modern dishes like baked or mashed potato.

10. Best Organic: Amy’s Organic Chili with Vegetables, USDA Organic

What We Love

  • All organic ingredients
  • Vegan and gluten-free
  • Light in sodium
  • Easy-to-open can

What We Don't Love

  • Too much sodium

Here’s our pick for the best canned chili for those looking for organic options in the market. When it comes to organic, the first brand to look for will be Amy’s. Amy’s is dedicated to providing only the freshest and quality ingredients into their cans of chili. That means everything they put in is organic, from spices to chiles to their beans. Then they slow-simmer all the ingredients in Mexican-style broth. To add, we also love that they use light sodium for their recipe.

And although we all like a non-BPA can, we also look for easy-to-open cans that can save us the hassle. Thankfully, Amy’s canned chili features an easy pull top can.

11. Best for Hot Dogs: Castleberry’s, Hot Dog Chili Sauce, Classic

What We Love

  • Right consistency for chili hot dogs
  • Low calorie

What We Don't Love

  • Some ingredients are not all-natural.

We all love normal hot dogs, but chili-stuffed hot dogs are on another level! With the best canned chili, you’ll be able to transform your plain hot dogs into something more extraordinary without any hassles whatsoever. But what exactly is a good chili for a hot dog? To start, chilis for hotdogs shouldn’t be so overly chunky that you’ll have a hard time swallowing even a bite. You also might want to consider consistency. The best chili for hot dogs shouldn’t be runny and can sit right on a hot dog without creating a mess.

As it turns out, Castleberry checked all the boxes for their product, which we consider as the best canned chili for chili dogs. It has the right consistency and chunkiness one looks for in a chili hot dog. But note you can also use it beyond hot dogs. Use it as a filling or as a dip for this cheese quesadillas recipe.

12. Best Medium: Spicy BUSH’S BEST Canned Texas Recipe Chili Magic

What We Love

  • Plant-based protein and fiber

What We Don't Love

  • Do not contain meat

Not fond of overly spicy dishes? Other than topping it with Greek yogurt, you can give this medium spicy chili from Bush’s a try. They slow-simmered pinto beans with smoky chipotle peppers and mild green chiles for a milder spice kick! If for a real Texan, this spice level is next to nothing, it’s still a good place to start if you want to build your spice tolerance.

Be warned though, this product is made with plant-based protein and fiber. So if you’re looking for canned chili with meat, we’re afraid you have to look for another option in this list.

13. Best Green Canned Chili: Amy’s Organic Refried Beans, Mild with Green Chiles

What We Love

  • Vegetarian
  • Organic
  • Easy-to-open can

What We Don't Love

  • Too watery

Wondering what green chiles taste like in your favorite chili? Green chiles are spicy, smoky, and slightly sweet. Consequently, if you want your chilis mild, green chilies are definitely the way to go as their slightly sweet taste can balance the heat. And Amy’s is only one of the few brands that have them. In their recipe, they used classic refried beans and peppers, with the hint of heat coming from the green chiles.

14. Most Convenient: Campbell’s Slow Kettle Style Southwest-Style Chicken Chili

What We Love

  • Microwave-safe bowl
  • Convenient packaging
  • Made with all-natural ingredients

What We Don't Love

  • Not a lot of options for with beans or no beans
  • They only have chicken chili

Do you spend the majority of your time working and running around doing errands? Then you surely don’t have time to chop ingredients or slow-simmer chili in your own kitchen. Thankfully, Campbell’s snack cup packaging made the job easier and more convenient. Their Southwest-style chicken chili comes in microwave-safe bowls that you can take to work. It’s also a perfect packed lunch your kids can bring to school. We also have no doubts that adults into hiking and camping will love the convenient packaging.

This chili from Campbell is packed with authentic ingredients that it’ll feel like you’re eating homemade chili con carne! A pack of their chili contains corn, green peppers, tomatoes, black and pinto beans, and more.

15. Best Budget-Friendly: Stagg Silverado Beef Chili with Beans (Pack of 12)

What We Love

  • Easy pull top can
  • 100 percent natural ingredient

What We Don't Love

  • Bland taste

We don’t think you can find another brand as affordable as this one from Stagg that doesn’t compensate for taste and quality. A pack of 12 of their two-bean beef chili costs only a few bucks on Amazon. Besides, considering the features and ingredient list of this canned chili, you’ll definitely get your money’s worth with this one. Imagine, a can of chili that contains beef, pinto, and black beans yet remains affordable? Without a doubt, Stagg deserves a spot in your pantry!

To add to that impressive list of ingredients, it also contains 16 grams of protein per serving. Therefore, we’re sure Stagg won’t let you down nutrition-wise. And on top of that? Their can is easy-to-open too.

How to Choose the Best Canned Chili

a bowl of chili con carne, How to Choose the Best Canned Chili

Lost and confused? Don’t know where to start? Worry not! We know zeroing in on the best canned chili is hard, especially if you don’t know what you want and what to look for. This is why we listed down important factors to help you shop for a good can of chili. You never know, maybe you’ll find a pantry staple with this guide.

With Beans or Without Beans

One of the first few things you should consider when buying canned chili is the presence of beans. Now don’t panic! The absence of beans won’t affect your chili taste-wise. Although some beans are relatively milder compared to some.

When you rack the market for the best canned chili you’ll often find red kidney, pinto, pink, and black beans. These are the popular options, but you’ll also find two kinds of any of the beans previously mentioned in a can of chili.

Type of Meat

The classic meat for chili is ground beef. But the market for chili also extends to meat options such as turkey and chicken because they’re the healthier substitutes. Keep in mind though that the meat greatly affects the flavor of chili.

To add, you also have the option of getting ground meat or cubed meat. You’ll notice the word “chunks” on the can. Usually, you pick ground meat if you’re using your chili for hot dogs or as toppings for your Frito pie. On the other hand, chunky options are for enjoying chili on their own or with rice. That said, be certain of what you’ll use it for before picking the meat for your chili.

Spice Level

The spice level is another important factor you need to consider before buying the best canned chili to stock up on. But remember, as the name suggests, chili is always spicy. Nevertheless, there are three spice levels you need to keep an eye on. Specifically, there’s mild, medium, and spicy.

Blend of Ingredients

The best canned chili is only just as perfect as the blend of its ingredients. Moreover, it is important to pay attention to the list of ingredients in the can and look for three of the most important aspects of chili—meat, beans, and tomato.

You should also still keep a lookout for the type of pepper and spice used. Some popular ingredients that add heat and spice to your chili include chipotle, chili powder, jalapeño peppers, dehydrated chile de Arbol peppers, and paprika.

Want to share your favorite canned chili brands or recipes? Join the discussion about the 15 best canned chili options for breezy cooking in the Ingredients Spotlight forum section.

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Odette

Odette is a content writer and proofreader by day, and living her inner artist as a poet and singer by night. She's also a former member of a publication who she now mentors from time to time. She likes how sharing a tiny bit of her life and her journey can help others in return. And because she is a curl embassador, she finds joy in empowering fellow curlies to embrace their natural curls. She also loves doing random acts of service to people she loves by cooking for them during her free time. This girl loves anything pasta and French cuisine though she just went through her Japanese and Korean cuisine phase.