# How to 'fancy-up' canned chili **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [January 17, 2024, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-fancy-up-canned-chili/996196 "2024-01-17T00:39:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2024, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-fancy-up-canned-chili/996196/61 "2024-01-19T01:53:48Z")
> [@salinqmind1](#): > > Similar to the Rotel-Velveeta-breakfast sausage hot dip that was in vogue a few years ago. Still might be. Still is in my house! One of the few dishes I can prepare without the possibility of a major catastrophe. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2024, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-fancy-up-canned-chili/996196/62 "2024-01-19T06:01:28Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Why not try my dentist’s chili? Because you probably gotta pay for anything he puts in your mouth. ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2024, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-fancy-up-canned-chili/996196/63 "2024-01-19T15:12:52Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > To me cream cheese is better than Velveeta and/or sour cream. I just think the flavor and consistency are much better. It also holds up well to reheating later if you have any leftovers. Can’t really argue with that. They sure want a lot of money for those silky blocks of Philly these days though! ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2024, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-fancy-up-canned-chili/996196/64 "2024-01-19T15:16:43Z")
> [@Common\_Tater](#): > > They sure want a lot of money for those silky blocks of Philly these days though! I may be wrong but I have been disappointed in blocks of Philly Cream cheese lately. I suspect they are a victim of shrinkflation (or whatever you call trying to make your product with ever less expensive ingredients). So much so I looked into making my own and it doesn’t look too difficult (although I have not tried yet). ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2024, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-fancy-up-canned-chili/996196/65 "2024-01-19T15:58:41Z")
> [@Common\_Tater](#): > > They sure want a lot of money for those silky blocks of Philly these days though! If there is a store brand available get that, I do when I can because at least in a dish like this it isn’t going to make that much of a difference. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2024, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-fancy-up-canned-chili/996196/66 "2024-01-19T16:06:13Z")
Hah! Seriously though… he’s a two-time Terlingua champ, and his chili recipe is solid and pretty easy. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2024, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-fancy-up-canned-chili/996196/67 "2024-01-19T22:15:02Z")
Maybe I missed it being mentioned, but when I have it available I will add crumbled corn bread in lieu of corn chips. Not as spicy as Fritos, but adds the corn flavor. I also used to occasionally eat at a restaurant that served beef stew in bread bowls, and chili in cornbread bowls. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2024, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-fancy-up-canned-chili/996196/68 "2024-01-19T22:26:58Z")
> [@LurkMeister](#): > > Maybe I missed it being mentioned, but when I have it available I will add crumbled corn bread in lieu of corn chips. Not as spicy as Fritos, but adds the corn flavor. Corn bread is magical when paired with chili. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2024, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-fancy-up-canned-chili/996196/69 "2024-01-19T22:44:32Z")
Agreed. ---
**Author:** ![tjb1965](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cab0a1/32.png) [@tjb1965](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tjb1965)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-fancy-up-canned-chili/996196/70 "2024-01-20T01:00:49Z")
It might sound strange but a square of chocolate or even a Hersheys Kiss is a good add to chili. We also sometimes toss in a few cashews. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-fancy-up-canned-chili/996196/71 "2024-01-20T01:29:11Z")
> [@salinqmind1](#): > > Canned chili has its own overwhelmingly ‘canned’ taste and texture. It’s not terrible, it can hit the spot. Putting other stuff on it might make it better/different, but it’s still canned chili.- I was just going to say the exact same thing. Homemade is so easy and takes so little effort. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-fancy-up-canned-chili/996196/72 "2024-01-20T02:48:02Z")
I just remembered being at the range in Basic and being fed a pile of rice with chili plopped on top. I enjoyed it a lot, but I don’t know how much of that was because I was ravenously hungry. My famous chili consisted of browning hamburger, then covering it with Hormel until it bubbles, then adding crushed Cheez-its. ---
**Author:** ![Disinfectus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/disinfectus/32/11085_2.png) [@Disinfectus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disinfectus)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-fancy-up-canned-chili/996196/73 "2024-01-20T13:54:56Z")
When I take the canned route (which isn’t very often), my go to is Stagg’s Dynamite Chili. It isn’t quite a spicy as I would prefer though, so I add a twist of freshly ground Ghost Chilis from Trader Joes (sold in a pepper grinder). It has some serious kick, and a pretty decent taste, all things considered. But yeah, making chili from scratch is my preferred choice. And not with ground beef. I prefer something with chunks of beef. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-fancy-up-canned-chili/996196/74 "2024-01-20T14:44:01Z")
> [@Disinfectus](#): > > When I take the canned route (which isn’t very often) The time I bought a can of chili (out of curiosity) I was reminded of low-end canned dog food. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-fancy-up-canned-chili/996196/75 "2024-01-20T18:45:33Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I was reminded of low-end canned dog food. So you normally eat the high-end stuff? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Disinfectus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/disinfectus/32/11085_2.png) [@Disinfectus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disinfectus)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-fancy-up-canned-chili/996196/76 "2024-01-20T19:27:13Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > The time I bought a can of chili (out of curiosity) I was reminded of low-end canned dog food. That’s certainly the vibe I get from most canned chili, but Stagg’s is better, and more expensive. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-fancy-up-canned-chili/996196/77 "2024-01-20T21:49:49Z")
I usually add some cumin and maybe throw in some chopped Hatch chilis from a jar. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2024, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-fancy-up-canned-chili/996196/78 "2024-01-21T00:54:14Z")
I haven’t made chili from scratch in years, but I was famous for mine in my old SF/ST club. We had annual potluck dinners and I always made a double batch due to te high demand, and it was rare that there were any leftovers. When I left Chicago I had to give one of the other members my recipe so they wouldn’t go into withdrawal. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2024, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-fancy-up-canned-chili/996196/79 "2024-01-21T04:10:30Z")
> [@salinqmind1](#): > > I got a bag of Trader Joe’s - do you mean Organic Elote flavor? Ow, I found them too much! I picked up a bag of these this week and tried them tonight. They’re not Fritoish like I expected but puffy and a different corn flavor. It sort of reminds me of breakfast cereal, Golden Grahams? But the heat is really nice and smoky-subtle and a lot of it. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2024, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-fancy-up-canned-chili/996196/80 "2024-01-22T17:04:26Z")
> [@Disinfectus](#): > > That’s certainly the vibe I get from most canned chili, but Stagg’s is better, and more expensive. Yeah, Stagg’s is good, and my wife recently bought a can of Marie Callender’s chili which was also pretty decent for a canned chili. Though I still prefer Stagg, personally. I get the cheaper chili when it’s an ingredient in something and the more expensive chili when I just want to eat chili. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-fancy-up-canned-chili/996196.md?page=3)