Roadfooders, what is your favorite canned chili?

The idea for this came from the "best canned chili" thread. Maybe there is not a "best" but just a favorite? Chili tasts vary greatly across the country from Cincy to Texas to LA. OK, I know nothing beats a good homemade pot of chili but.... what is your favorite canned chili?
Joe

What's the difference between a chili someone thinks is the best and one that's his favorite?

semantics...?
is this a pop quiz?

Good qusetion Capt! If someone from Cinci thinks Skyline makes the best canned chili and someone from Texas thinks Wolf Brand makes the best chili, what is the best? Maybe there is not a best, just a favorite?
Joe

The one I like best, thus far, is Chilli Man.....

Ah, thanks Annapeeples! A vote for Chili Man. I have not tried it but now I plan to.

I think my vote at this time has to go to the Montana's Native Bison Chili. Campbell's Chunky no bean chili gets my favorite non Bison chili vote. But... so many I have not tried!!!
Joe

hubster says hormel...

Xannie, tell hubster Hormel is the best selling canned chili. A Hormel chili pie is being eaten at my house as we speak. I have about 10 cans in my pantry. I like the Hormel "Hot, no beans" best but I have all flavors. Has hubster tried Cambells?
joe

PapaJoe,
not yet but you have him
on a mission..he wants
to try all the different canned chili..
guess i won't have to cook for a while
dayle

Skyline for me, the only can chili I will eat. Here in AL I can only find it at Krogers.

As a Roadfooder who watches the waistline between outings, I opt for Morningstar Farms veggie chili in the can -- top with lowfat cheese, jalapenos, onions and some baked tortilla chips.

Sassy, I was hoping Skyline would come up. But, have you tried Campbells Chunky no beans? I am sure it is way diff from Skyline. I have not found it at any store here in north Texas.

Kaytee, nice option for a low fat vegie chili! I should probably try some! I will look for it.
Joe

I dont eat canned chili.
Well,except when I have eat some at work.

I should say, I dont buy canned chili.

I would rather take the time to make my own..

Wolfe Brand, no beans, with handful of sliced Japaleno's, diced onions and a sprikle of shredded cheddar. Great in a bowl or topping your favorite Dog

We actually like to mix a can of Wolfe Brand hot and a can of Hormel together...that was what was in the pantry one day and it sure turned out good.

Bush's in the Glass jar isn't too bad in a dire emergency. All the other stuff gags me. I make a large quanity of my own recipe and freeze it in different serving size containers. That way if I have a chili attack, or need to feed a different number of people,I just grab one out of the freezer and heat it up. No need to have canned chili in the house. Someone might accidently find a can and pollute themselves with that garbage!

Ok, one vote for Bush's. Foodb, your way is the best of coarse. I keep some homemade in the freezer also but always find a reason to save that for later.

Oh, my vote is for Campbell's Chunky no beans. I would vote for the Bison Chili I mentioned in the "best" thread but it is kinda hard to get.
Joe

I agree completely with Roossy, no canned stuff for this big boy. I've tried a bunch in the past and they all sucked. I now make up a big batch and freeze a bunch of it in the vacumn seal bags. I do the same for coney sauce. When I get a hankerin for chili its as close as the freezer and nuker.

MikeS.

I can't stand canned chili. It's not that hard to make our own.

My dad likes Stagg and Wolfe's.

hubster likes whatever has a pop top.

While I do prefer my own home made, sometimes your just in the mood with out the time or ingrediants to make fresh. Hormel Hot both with and w/o beans is in the pantry, a quick run thru the nuc'er and lunch is ready. I do like to add extra browned meat (The Mrs brings it home from work for spagetti sauce) Ive even on occasion used a can or 2 in my homemade as an extra flavoring Of course the hurricane kit has a couple or 12 cans..

Dreamz, I do like the Hormell hot better than the regular. I have never tried mixing Wolf and Hormell as Big suggested but I plan to.

For those of us who do eat canned chili, Hormell, Wolf, Austex, and Campbells are each verry different. The Campbells is most like homemaid IMHO.

I would like to try the Chili Man.
Joe

hormel is ok in a pinch
Bush's is better
Wolf is good
Stagg is good
skyline sux - I have the real thing right down the street
dixie brand - yuck toooooo greasy
The canned coney sauces

I guess I should try mixing them.
I like cooking a big pot and vaccum packing bags for later.

I do not work for Campbell's and probably would have never tried their chili if they had not been giving out free samples at the State fair of Texas last year. Kinda gutsy thing to do in Texas I thought. I was snoopin around the booth and the guy asked me what I was doin. I said I was lookin for the pot yall cooked that batch of chili in.

I swear the "chunky no beans" tasts real close to home made and like some pots I made while trying to duplicate Benny Binion's recipe. No tomatos in Benny's chili.

Amarillo Slim once said that if Joe tells you a knat can pull a house... go find a little tiny harness and hitch him up.

I guess I am the only one here who has tried the Campbells.
Joe

quote:

Originally posted by PapaJoe8

I keep some homemade in the freezer also but always find a reason to save that for later.

Joe

I am just exactly the opposite. I keep some Wolf on hand as emergency rations but I nearly always have some home-made in the freezer and that's what I'll use first. When I run out, I make more, usually two pots at a time with different recipes.

I bought some Austex recently -- pretty awful stuff. Also picked up some Hormel Chunky, no beans, but haven't tried it yet and it may be months before I get around to it.

The day I can't make better chili than the canned stuff is the day I'll be contacting an assisted living facility and planning a garage sale with all my pots and pans .

Olth, having read your chili posts, but never tasting your chili, I am willing to bet that you make some great chili! I am sure none out of a can could compare. No need to contact that assisted place! Austex, kind of a different type of chili. I grew up snacking on it, and Wolf Brand, and somethimes have a hunger for it. I think it is an aquired taste and would not suggest it for that reason. I doubt that I would like it if I was trying it for the first time. I doubt that you will like the hormell. Even though Hormell is the best selling canned chili, it tasts nothing like any homemade I have ever had. Campbells Chunky no beans, on the other hand, does taste like homemade to me. I have added extra garlic, cumin, and black pepper and I like it better that way. They must keep it kinda bland for most folks I think. After topping w/ some chopped onions and jalapeno, it ends up not a bad bowl of fast chili.

I am hoping someone here, who has not tried Campbells, will try it and tell me I'm crazzzy, or???

Please don't get me wrong, nothin better that a pot of homemade chili, however you like to make it.
Joe

Joe

Just for you I will go to the store and find some campbells chili

I will let you know in the next day or so.

Donald
aka Cajunking

Wow, thanks Donald, that is so nice! I hate for you to make a special trip, maybe just next time you go. Your taste test will be highly respected! It is the "chunky no beans" I liked. Besides that kind, I have only tried their steak chili and did not like it. Sorry Campbell's, I am sure some folks like the "steak". It sounded good but...
Joe

I am at wally world seems like a million times a day with my job so it is not that far out of the way to run in and grab a can.

Campbells make some good soups, I like chunky's clam chowder when i dont have time to make my own, and have tried most of the other ones too.

Yep I like the chunky soups also. I guess the chili is just a chunky soup chili. Wally has most of them I think.
Joe

I bought the campbell's chili when I realized I was out of time to make my own. I added garlic, cumin, onions, tomato and some heat. Fooled the entire crew. Thank god they didn't look in my recycle bin. Though I did confess...after the game.

I am too old and too fat to do the cancan. I will not buy any of them. My main gripe is that every single one of them is loaded with way too much salt. A proper chili does not need much salt as real chili should have the most flavorful ingredients on earth.

Salt is cheap though and the processed food industry is counting on your addiction to it.

I love chili, but always make my own with real ingredients. I just can't do that cancan dance.

Thanks Score for maybe keeping folks here from thinking I went completly crazy. Neat story! I havn't tried adding tomatoes but I will, Rotell maybe.

Grey, I have not looked at the salt content. What would be a good salt level? I know, none.
Joe

When I want chili, I make it from scratch. For me, canned chili is not worth eating.

My $0.02 worth.

Score, thanks for maybe keeping folks here from thinking I went completly crazzzy. I havent tried the tomatoes but I will, maybe rotell.

Grey, always best to make your own. And those food industry folke ARE sneaky.
Joe

I blow them off. I don't need all the salt I've seen in any of them. While all of us, including me, have had better, this isn't bad for a 20 minute dinner.

• Nuke a pound of ground beef in a 2 quart bowl for one minute.
• Flip the beef over.
• Repeat the above two steps until all the pink's gone.
• Drain the grease off, saving the cooked blood for the family dog.
• Chop the meat into small pieces with the side of a spoon.
• Pour a 14 oz. can of rinsed beans (I can dry beans. That's another recipe. Many of you know it, but E-mail me if you want it.), some chili spices, a 14 oz. can of diced tomatoes (I've recently been introduced to Ro*tel: http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=16025&whichpage=2 , but never used it) and a 6 oz. can of tomato paste. This is a good time for some chopped onions or peppers if you like 'em. I sure do!
• Mix this mess up.
• Nuke for one more minute to warm it up.
• Serves two if it's me and the Mrs. and we save some for lunch the next day.

We share the bowl and all I have to clean up is one bowl and two spoons. Can't beat that for convenience, and NO SALT (assuming you have no salt tomatoes and beans, of course), which even the healthiest prepackaged choices can't avoid!

Life is too short to eat canned chili.

Admittedly, I haven't tried too many, but I sure do like the cans of chili from Tony Packo's.

none, only homemade or from a good restaurant

So, Tony Packo's, Wonder how I can get some?

And yes yall, homeaide is of coarse best but... there are times canned comes in handy.
Joe

PapaJoe8-
If you don't live in or plan on visiting Northwest Ohio soon, you can order cans of chili and other good things off their website.

http://www.tonypackos.com/

Thanks Buffet! I might just do that. If it comes up right and you happen to try some "Campbell's Chunky no beans" let me know how it compares to Tony's.
Joe

quote:

Originally posted by Greyghost

I am too old and too fat to do the cancan. I will not buy any of them. My main gripe is that every single one of them is loaded with way too much salt. A proper chili does not need much salt as real chili should have the most flavorful ingredients on earth.

Salt is cheap though and the processed food industry is counting on your addiction to it.

I love chili, but always make my own with real ingredients. I just can't do that cancan dance.

Canned chili has a lot of salt and fat. I enjoy Hormel and Skyline but I just can't eat it often after reading the label.
I usually buy Hormel turkey chili or vegetarian chili now to cut back on the fat and calories.

PapaJoe8-
You got a deal! I will look for it tomorrow morning when I am at the grocery store. Sounds like just what I need for a cold day inside watching college football.

Thanks sooo much Buffet! I am eagerly awaiting the review.
Joe

Howdy,

I'm required to use pre-prepared Chili (read: canned) on my cart here in NW Louisiana, about 2 hours East of Papajoe8. Since I live across the street from Wal-Mart, I've settled on Hormel (no-Beans) and my customers approve. Funny thing is, we don't sell many Chili Dogs! I should advertize my Nachos better, as they're really profitable with Chili added..
I'd like to try some of these "exotic" Chilis, like Skyline, et al. The Hot Dog "bidness" is exciting.

LarryRickenbacker
PS: Papajoe8, next time I visit Big D, I'll visit your Hot Dog place as a I pass Terrell :)

Larry, I have not been to La. since you opened. I plan to come say hi and have a dog when I do. Glad to hear your busness is exciting!

That is not my hot dog stand in Terrell, I remember it is at the Tanger mall on I-20. Who has that stand??? I made a fast look but could not find his posts. I plan to go say hi to him also.
Joe

There's a health food company called Light Life. They make a product called Smart Chili. I don't know how they do it, but it's really good. They have it in refrigerated packets at Food Lion, Martins, etc...

It's really good with some cheese and chips. And by doing that you blow all pretenses of it being health food right out the window, but hey, what are friends for.

Route, LOL and thanks for the tip. Some folks do need a healthy chili, probably me included but.....

While we are waiting for Buffet's review on Campbell's chunky no beans... has anyone had Wolf Brand and Campbell's that would like to compare them? I like them both. I like Wolf for Frito pie and Campbell's better to eat plain w/ pickled jalapenos added. Anyone else tried both?
Joe

There is no good canned chili available in my area- I have tried a couple that have been absolutely disgusting-pastey texture. So, I vowed not to waste money on canned chili when too tired to cook- just go to Wendy's and pick up a large chili. It is almost cheaper to purchase than the canned variety too.

There are a lot of canned chillis out there. The best of these are Rays' Brand (www.rayschilli.com) originated six blocks from my home - but, long before I was born. Owned by my friend and fellow chilli cook, Jay Nichole; Chilli Man, originated by my friend Joe DeFrates and now owned by Faribault Foods - who have been mucking about with Joe's recipe ... which is why they are demoted to my personal second place (www.chilliman.com) and Bush's No Beans in the glass jar with a pinch of cumin added (www.bushbeans.com/products/homestylechili).

Wolf Brand taste like it has been through the wolf at least once. Hormel is barely a cut above Armour and my thoughts on Stagg are not for a family style forum.

Cactus Annie's and Aldi's Rangemaster are pretty good - or were when they were being contract canned at the Milnot plant in Litchfield, IL. Haven't tried them lately. Perhaps someone else on here has and can report.

Howdy, thanks for the reviews. Chiliman was mentioned on page 1. I think? Your fav, rays is a new tip for this thread, I think. Have you treid Campbell's Chunky no beans? Hmmm, what was that "stand up chili" that I liked? It's on page 1. I think?

Most Texas kids grew up on Wolf so it my be an aquired taste for us.
Joe

I tried Wolfs chili finally and thought it was fine for the use intended-chili dogs.While I wouldnt go out of my way just to buy it,we had no complaints..

Ann, I agree. I like Wolf for dogs and Frito pie, that about it. Oh, over some canned tamales works also. Bryan makes a good tamales, as does Hormell, the hot ones, and Austex. Yall can disagree on the tamaly thread, hmmm where is that thread? Ok, here if you like then,
Joe

quote:

Originally posted by PapaJoe8

Have you treid Campbell's Chunky no beans?

Yeah, I've tried it. It's sort of a mildly spicy mystery meat stew with little to no chilli flavour. It can be rescued with the addition of garlic, cumin, some ground ancho and a bit of cayenne. But, hell, if I'm going to go to that much trouble I might as well make a pot of my own red.

Canned/jarred/boxed (Slagg) chilli should be at least tolerable and able to be told as chilli right from the container.

Most canned ones I've eaten are poor substitutes for the real thing, but one that is a little bit better than others is the beef chili sold at Trader Joes. I think its made in Canada. Has lots of beef and good flavor

For an acceptable lower-fat canned chili, I'm partial to Trader Joe's turkey chili w/beans. It's very meaty and flavorful, although you'll need to add your own heat. I sometimes add corn kernels and/or serve over pasta.

quote:

Originally posted by xannie_01

hubster likes whatever has a pop top.

He probably likes the easy opening screw cap wines as well????

quote:

Originally posted by Foodbme

quote:

Originally posted by xannie_01

hubster likes whatever has a pop top.

He probably likes the easy opening screw cap wines as well????

You say that like screw cap wines are a bad thing.

BTW - Ray's Chilli is available in a pop-top, peel & heat can. It be good stuff, Maynard!

I usually make my own but if I have to use a canned Chili then it would have to be Hormel. Is anyone out there interested in starting an EBay Chili Auction?

I had a can of chili last night that was surprisingly good, mainly because it had the V word in the product description. I was hard up for a quick meal of something, so I opened a can of Safeway Select Vegetarian Chili, provided by my sister in her yearly sack of healthy food wherein she tries to change my evil ways and usually never succeeds because I end up ignoring most of the no fat this and vege that.

I'll be making this stuff a habit. Score one for mi hermanita!

The low fat "saltines" she sent along went in the bird food bowl I'm happy to admit. Let them peck those tasteless, saltless, cardboardy nasty things to death.