Best Chili Mix
Bowls of classic chili laden with pozole, cheddar cheese, fajitas, and a slew of other toppings are a winter favorite in many parts. And in the summer, chili seasoning is a great substitute, especially as a mouth-watering topping on nachos and hot dogs.
If your love for chili goes beyond those two seasons, you don’t have to settle for canned chili; you can create your own! This is where the chili mix comes in!
Chili mixes blend all your seasonings and spices in one packet, so you’ll only be left with adding corns, ground beef, tomatoes, beans, or whatever your heart desires!
Since there are many chili mixes available in the market, you may get overwhelmed looking for the right one. To help you choose the right seasoning, we have reviewed the six best chili mixes of 2020.
Different Styles Of Chili Mix
Whenever people think about traditional chili mix, they imagine a tomato-based broth filled with beans or beef chunks. However, if you’re bored of the same old and want to try something different, go for one of these:
Vegetarian Chili
If you want to avoid meat completely, you should try this vegetarian chili mix recipe. It’s a healthy, hearty chili mix loaded with vegetables, rice, and beans.
Turkey Chili
Skip the beef for the turkey! It’s appetizing, healthy, and can be ready in less than 30-minutes.
White Chili
This chili is made using white beans, dairy mix-ins like milk or cream cheese, green chilies, and chicken, without which the chili is incomplete.
Extra Ingredients For Seasoning Chili
If you want to add more taste to your chili, consider adding seasonal boosters to it. Here are a few of the basic ingredients you can add to your seasoning chili mix for increased flavor:
Peanut Butter
This spread is made from dry-roasted peanuts and contains several ingredients that elevate your meal’s texture and taste. It goes as well with vegetarian chili as it does with meat chili.
Adding this ingredient to your chili seasoning mix means opening the door to a multitude of creamy, rich, and nutty flavors without the excessive use of salt or sugar.
Molasses
Molasses or black treacle can also be added to your chili for added flavor; it is slightly smoky, a bit sweet, and dark. The go-to kind is un-sulfured molasses, or in case you prefer a stronger and more powerful flavor, choose dark molasses.
However, make sure you don’t choose blackstrap since it’s a slightly bitterer variety.
Vinegar Or Brine
Add two to three tablespoons of pickled jalapeno brine in your chili mix (feel free to choose any other pickles brine). This will add a unique zing to your chili!
You can also use white vinegar if you don’t have pickle brine at home; make sure to top it off with a few tablespoons of apple cider or balsamic vinegar as a finishing touch of sweetness to your chili.
Best Chili Mixes
Here are the best chili mixes to provide a healthy pot of food for your entire family.
1. Best for Home Cooking: Carroll Shelby’s Original Texas Chili Mix
Jardine’s Texas Chili bag is a delight for those looking for a taste of home-cooking no matter where life finds you. Jardine’s chili mix includes a variety of peppers, onion, garlic, red pepper, celery, and masa corn flour. This makes their ‘Bag O’Fixins’ a fantastic base for tailoring your chili seasonings to taste. Jardine’s also comes with its spices separated by type, which means you can combine them in whatever way you like most. Although expensive when compared to other chili seasonings this is absolutely a case of quality triumphing above all else. Jardine’s sits in the middle-heat range of chili seasonings, so if you’re looking for a milder taste then you’ll want to make sure to adjust the seasonings appropriately.
Pros
- Spices can be mixed to taste right out of the bag
- Medium heat chili flavor, but can easily be cranked up
- Gluten-free
- Authentic Texas-style flavor
- 3 lb bag
Cons
- Expensive
2. Best budget-friendly: Lawry’s Spices & Seasonings Chili
Enjoy chili seasoning in bulk without paying over-the-top with Lawry’s Spices and Seasonings Chili. It features a blend of spices and herbs: cumin, paprika, oregano, and chili peppers.
Plus, it comes in twelve-packets of high-quality chili mix!
With this seasoning from Lawry’s, you can keep your meals flavorful without spending too much time in the kitchen. Whether Asian stir-fry or Italian bolognese, this chili mix adds a kick to your meals you didn’t know you needed!.
It’s the ideal go-to seasoning to keep around the kitchen as it provides your family with a uniquely flavorful meal every time.
We especially loved this chili mix because it takes your meal from the stove to the plate in minutes!
Moreover, Lawry’s chili mix has more uses apart from being just a chili seasoning; it can be used to marinate your meat, as a garnish, or as an all-purpose spice blend!
Why Buy This?
Buy this chili seasoning for its rich blend of paprika, cumin, chili pepper, and oregano. It comes in 12-packs of flavorful seasoning; in addition to that, you can use it with turkey, ground beef, or chicken. It provides zesty and bold flavors and gets your meal ready in an instant.
Pros
- Ready to eat
- 12 packs of serving
- High on flavors
Cons
- Some complaints about it being low on spice
3. Best Mild Heat: Chugwater Chili Wyoming State Championship Blend
Chugwater Chili mix and taco seasoning has been a 12-spice tradition since 1986 when it won State Champion. Since then, Chugwater Chili has upped their game by offer organic, gluten-free with no MSG or preservatives, and proudly homegrown in the USA. Chugwater uses a combination of red chili peppers, masa harina corn flour, onion powder, garlic powder, brown sugar and those 12 secret spices. This chili seasoning specializes in a milder flavor profile than a traditional Texan chili. If you’re looking for heat that can peel the chrome off a bumper, then Chugwater may not be for you. With that said, this is a fantastic all-arounder for those looking for a little taste of Wyoming wherever you are.
Pros
- Mild to medium heat chili flavor
- Gluten-free
- 1 lb bag
- Great customer service
Cons
- Much milder than traditional Texan chili seasoning
- Some consumers report that it’s too salty
4. Best for tacos: Frontier Co-op Salt Free Taco Seasoning
Frontier’s Co-op’s salt free taco seasoning is an eco-conscious, healthy taco and chili seasoning. One of Frontier’s big draws is their commitment to organic products – including all the spices in this mix. The fact that it’s also salt-free is a huge bonus for those watching their sodium intake. And besides, you can always season with extra salt if you’re looking for a cheat-day. As the name implies this taco and chili seasoning specializes in the frontier feeling of the US-Mexico border, with a focus on Mexican flavors and spices. Frontier Co-op loads their seasoning mix up with chili peppers, garlic, paprika, tomato, oregano, cayenne pepper, and the like. With that said, this blend is definitely milder than some of the other options on this list.
Pros
- Spices are all organic from top to bottom
- Ecologically conscious
- Mild heat chili flavor
- Gluten-free
Cons
- Needs slight modifications to work as a traditional chili seasoning
5. Best salt-free chili mix: Dash Salt-Free Seasoning Mix
If you’re looking for a salt-free solution to spice your everyday meals, choose the Dash chili seasoning mix. With Dash salt-free seasoning, you can spice not just your favorite chili but everyday meals as well.
Each seasoning packet, blend, or marinade includes several spices and herbs, which allows you to enjoy a delicious savory dish without adding salt.
It’s an incredible addition to vegetable and meat chili. Moreover, it comes in all-natural flavors.
We loved the Dash chili mix because it ensures healthy, hearty meals every day without compromising taste. Plus, it’s easy to make and inexpensive.
Therefore, if you’re pressed for time but want to have a delicious, salt-free meal, look no further than the Dash seasoning mix.
Why Buy This?
Most people avoid chili seasoning because of its high salt content, which is bad for health. However, this isn’t the case with the Dash seasoning mix; add a few tablespoons to your meal, and enjoy your unique creation, made with spices and herbs. Plus, it’s made from organic ingredients.
Pros
- Salt-free chili seasoning
- Easy to use
- Made from organic ingredients
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Few complained that the product lacks flavor
6. Best ready to eat: McCormick Chili Seasoning Mix
If you want to make your chili nights effortlessly delicious, choose the McCormick original chili mix. It mixes paprika, onion, chili pepper, cumin, and garlic to deliver a delicious yet adequately spicy flavor.
It’s made using the original McCormick spices and carries no MSG or artificial flavors. Additionally, it allows you to adjust your meal’s heat- factor by letting you choose how much you add.
Furthermore, it’s one of the easiest mixes to make food with. You can cook a meal in just about 20 minutes with this seasoning mix.
We liked this seasoning mix because it’s not only used for chili, but you can also add it to burgers, baked beans, or dip!
Why Buy This?
Buy this chili mix because it’s simple to make, taking less than 20 minutes to make flavorful chili. Moreover, it’s MSG-free, contains no artificial flavor, and can also be added to other foods as a versatile tastemaker!
Pros
- Simple to make
- MSG free
- No artificial flavors added
Cons
- Dull chili flavor
FAQ
How much seasoning do I need per pound of meat?
Classic chili recipes tend to use 2 tablespoons of spice mix per pound of meat. This is often offset with a 1 teaspoon each of any extra spices you’d live to add. Keep in mind that every chili powder spice mix if different – some will already include cayenne pepper and cumin for instance.
What is the difference between taco seasoning and chili seasoning?
Taco seasoning and chili seasoning use a lot of the same base ingredients, but can vary widely when it comes to the spice ratios. Chili seasoning prioritizes higher amounts of chili powder and paprika varieties. Meanwhile taco seasoning tends to have a lot more cumin, and derives its depth from the dual shock of vinegar and brown sugar. Some chili seasonings, especially those from certain regions of South America, also prize cocoa powder and dark chocolate as a way of deepening flavor.
How can I make chili seasoning mix by myself?
Making chili seasoning at home means you need dried chilis plus more than a few extras. Chili powder is made through grinding a variety of spices together, including a little bit of light toasting. The three most common chilis for this are ancho, guajillo, and arbol. To begin, you’ll need to toast your chilis in a pan until aromatic then grind them in small batches. This is often the baseline for a chili powder, especially in South America.
Bottom Line
Stocking up on chili mix is the best gift to give your family this year, especially if you’re stuck at home! Use one of our recommended options to provide a spicy twist to home-made burgers, tacos, salads, and dips.
And with a seasoning mix in the cupboard, if you want a hot bowl of chili, you won’t have to stand in front of the stove for hours!
However, keep in mind that each chili mix listed here carries a different flavor and variation. If you choose a mix that doesn’t settle well with you or your family’s taste buds, it can ruin everyone’s day!.
Head over to a nearby store to buy the chili mix of your choice; choose one from our recommended mixes as they are certain to put a smile on your face!
Additional resources:
https://sousvideguy.com/recipe/crispy-chili-lime-chicken-thighs/
https://sousvideguy.com/recipe/recipe-sous-vide-vegetarian-chili-garlic-tofu