Not Reviewed

Hormel Chili No Beans

Not reviewed since it contains wheat.

Armour Star Chili with Beans

Not reviewed since it contains wheat.

Campbell’s Chunky Chili with Beans 

Not reviewed since it may contain traces of wheat.

Five Gluten Free Chili Brands

Beetnik Organic Chili Made with Grass-Fed Beef

The meal is perfect if you are Paleo since it does not contain beans and only has 15 grams of carbs. It’s made with organic grass-fed beef, raised without hormones or antibiotics. Beetnik is an award-winning family business from Austin, Texas. And we know Texas knows how to do chili! While many of the ingredients are surprising such as chicken stock, organic honey, and cocoa powder, it has an authentic chili flavor with cumin, onions, and chili powder. The tomato-based sauce has a thick texture and the jalapenos give it a slight kick. It’s a filling meal with 24 grams of protein. Beetnik also makes great Shepherd’s Pie (https://liveglutenanddairyfree.com/meat-pies-and-veggie-loaf/).

Allergens listed: none

Bush’s Chili Red Beans Mild Chili Sauce

Whereas Beetnik Chili contains meat but no beans, Bush’s contains beans but no meat. Slow-simmered with tomatoes, garlic, cumin, and chili peppers, the beans are flavorful and tender. It’s perfect for vegans who like the chili flavor but don’t eat meat.

In addition, the beans can be prepared as a side, with rice, or can be used as a chili starter. Their website has a recipe for Chili Beans Chili which is made with ground beef but I’m sure you can use a meatless substitute like Gardein Beefless Ground (https://liveglutenanddairyfree.com/meatless-monday/).

Allergens listed: none

Amy’s Vegan Chili Mac and Cheeze

This is one of my favorite chilis because it contains two hearty comfort foods, chili, and mac ‘n cheese. It is so good, I don’t miss the meat. It’s made with rice pasta, cheddar cheeze (vegan cheese), red beans, green chilies, jalapenos, and smoked paprika. The meal is thick and rich and has a real cheeze flavor. It’s the marriage of two great meals. And it’s gluten, dairy, and nut-free.

Allergens listed: soy and sunflower seeds

Hormel Chili with Beans

This is probably the first chili I ate as a kid and I remember it nostalgically as thick and satisfying.  The ingredients include beef, pork, chili powder, and jalapenos. Unlike the Hormel Chili with No Beans, it does not contain wheat. This brand tastes the most like conventional chili.

Allergens listed: soy

Kingsford Smoky Chili with Beans

If like me, you fancy yourself an amateur grill master, this chili is for you. From the famous grill and charcoal makers, this chili is thick with a great smoky flavor.

The chili contains beef, pork, red beans, chili powder, smoked paprika, and mesquite smoke flavor. It doesn’t contain MSG, preservatives, or gluten. Leave it to Kingsford to find a way to make chili that tastes like it was simmered for hours on a charcoal grill.

Allergens listed: none

Conclusion

These five chili brands have so many options: no beans, no meat, vegan mac ‘n cheese, traditional, and even smoky. They are all delicious and in their own way represent what makes chili such a hearty comfort food.

Fun Food Fact

In 1977 the chili manufacturers of Texas successfully lobbied the Texas legislature to have chili proclaimed the official state food of Texas.

Did You Know

Five alarm chili is extremely pungent or hot. For instance, a five-alarm chili recipe usually contains 5 different sources of spiciness such as jalapeno, chipotle, chili powder, cayenne, and ancho.

Quote

Will Rogers called chili a “bowl of blessedness.”

If You Know Beans About Chili, You Know That Chili Has No Beans
by Ken Finlay, written in 1976

You burn some mesquite and when the coals get hot, you bunk up some meat and you throw it on a pot.
While some chile pods and garlic and Comino and stuff, then you add a little salt till there’s just enough.
You can throw in some onions to make it smell good.
You can even add tomatoes if you feel like you should.
But if you know beans about chili, you know that chili has no beans

If you know beans about chili, you know it didn’t come from Mexico.
Chili was God’s gift to Texas (or maybe it came from down below).
And chili doesn’t go with macaroni, and dammed Yankee’s don’t go with chili queens; and if you know beans about chili, you know that chili has no beans.