I’ve tried five different types of canned chili, and there’s only one I’d eat again

I tried chili from Hormel, Wolf Brand, Amy’s and Campbell’s brands.Abigail Abesamis Demarest

• I assessed five types of canned chili from the grocery store to find the tastiest option.

• The meat-free version from Amy’s was quite tasty, but the Campbell’s Chunky chili mac was my favorite.

• Yet none of these canned versions held a candle homemade chili.

Chile is warm, comforting and filling, but it requires quite a bit of chopping and simmering to build those complex flavors. So canned options offer a cheap and easy way to enjoy the classic meal.

I reviewed five types of canned chili – Hormel, Wolf Brand, Amy’s, Campbell’s Chunky and Campbell’s Well Yes brand – to find the best option.

I decided to compare the bean versions for consistency, and I heated each chili in the microwave according to the instructions on the respective cans.

Read on to see how these canned chilis stacked up.

Hormel’s version had what I would consider a classic canned chili flavor.

Hormel’s chili contained a lot of beans.Abigail Abesamis Demarest

When I think of canned chili, I think of Hormel’s, so I tried it first as a sort of control.

I followed the instructions on the can and heated the chili in a microwave-safe bowl for two to three minutes, stirring halfway through.

Hormel’s chili was the most progressive. Each bite consisted mainly of beans. The flavor was very mild and I couldn’t pick up much spice.

Wolf Brand’s chili had a smoother consistency and a lot more spice.

Wolf Brand’s chili works great with cheese to make a dip.Abigail Abesamis Demarest

I had to get out my can opener for this chili because it was the only one without a handy pull tab.

When I took it out of the microwave after two minutes, I noticed that a skin had formed on the chili. Luckily, when I mixed it in, it didn’t seem to affect the texture or flavor.

I have many more spices of Wolf Brand’s recording, but no heat. The spices were the dominant flavor, with the chili and beans adding a little texture but not much flavor.

This option was also much smoother than Hormel’s. I could see this pairing well with cheese for a delicious chili dip.

I didn’t even notice that the Amy’s chili was meat-free.

The Amy’s chili contains tofu chunks instead of meat.Abigail Abesamis Demarest

This meat-free take on chili contains chunks of tofu, but it’s so convincing I didn’t realize it was vegetarian until I read the can afterwards.

It was the prettiest chili of the bunch, with a thin, pourable consistency. I heated it up in the microwave for two minutes.

I could smell and taste the pepper, which gave the chili a nice, bright profile. There was a lightness to the flavor and texture that I enjoyed as well.

Amy’s version had a more homemade taste. It’s labeled as a medium chili, but I didn’t find it too spicy, despite having a low tolerance.

The Campbell’s Chunky chili mac was surprisingly good.

Campbell’s chili mac had a noticeable tomato flavor.Abigail Abesamis Demarest

Faced with the limited selection at the grocery store, I decided to throw this chili mac into the mix.

Like Amy’s chili, this Campbell’s Chunky meal had a pourable consistency and could easily be transferred to a microwave-safe bowl. I heated it for just under three minutes.

This chili tasted better than it looked.

The macaroni offered a surprisingly nice texture. Unlike some of the other options, which had a bean flavor, the soft pasta provided a lighter bite that required less chewing.

It was also the first chili I tasted that had a noticeable tomato flavor. It wasn’t gourmet by any means, but for canned chili it was pretty decent and had a nice, smooth flavor.

The Campbell’s Well Yes vegetarian chili would be a solid on-the-go option.

This Campbell’s chili comes in a microwave-safe container.Abigail Abesamis Demarest

This soup comes in a microwave-safe bowl, convenient to take with you on the go.

I heated it for a minute and 15 seconds and stirred it before digging in. The plastic lid was a little tricky to remove without touching the hot metal edge or spilling the chili.

This vegetarian chili was the thinnest of the bunch and reminded me more of minestrone soup. I liked that I could see the veggies, but it just didn’t scream chili to me.

It was the spiciest of the ones I tried, but not overpowering.

None of these canned options compared to the rich flavor of homemade chili, but some were quite tasty.

For great chili, you’re better off making a batch at home.Abigail Abesamis Demarest

If you’re a passionate chili fan, chances are the canned variety won’t impress you. As this taste test shows, these options generally sacrifice flavor and texture for convenience.

Although the organic chili from Amy’s had a nice, bright flavor and looked the nicest of the bunch, I kept going back to the Campbell’s Chunky chili mac.

I know pasta isn’t a traditional ingredient in chili, but let’s be honest: none of these canned versions held a candle to the homemade stuff.

For one microwave meal, the chili mac was quite tasty. It’s the one I’d actually like to eat again.

This story was originally published on February 2, 2022 and last updated on November 6, 2024.

Read the original article Business insider