The Fan-Favorite Chili You Should Consider Picking Up At Costco - The Daily Meal (2024)

From its humble beginnings in 1976 to its vast global operation worth billions, Costco is the membership-based retailer renowned for its delectable fresh produce and attractive bargains on a vast range of items. Where else could you purchase a 72-pound wheel of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and a casket at the same time? While the skies are seemingly the limit, one item that's made the rounds as a fan favorite for Costco lovers is its beef chili.

Ready to be heated and served, Costco's Beef Chiliis made of tomato sauce combined with beef and beans, and topped with shredded cheese. It's a whopping 4-pound tub that costs $3.49 a pound. Beef chili for days! On a recent thread on Reddit titled "The Costco beef chili is incredibly good!!!!" a huge amount of support was garnered from online users sharing their love for the tub. One user even said, "Great chili, even though I'm lactose intolerant, I'll still make the sacrifice." Now, if that doesn't say fan-favorite, what does?

Costco's Beef Chili appears to have stolen the limelight, or so it would seem. But does the resurgence and the love for this dish also open old debates?

Costco's Beef Chili is not for everyone

If you follow the Costco chili scene closely, you may recall back in October when the re-release of beef chili caused quite a storm. The comments on the @costcohotfinds video on TikTok opened the age-old debate surrounding the inclusion of beans in chili. Texas chili usually doesn't contain beans, and this debate split the online community, as one user demonstrated the other side of the argument: "There's no beans in chili ... I don't know what that is, but it's not chili."

So, has this sentiment faded since October? Or are bean enthusiasts still at large? In the Reddit post mentioned above, there is a lack of disagreement about the presence of beans in chili. However, there was discussion on the seasoning, with some users claiming it was too salty and others saying it was underseasoned.

Outside of Reddit, reviewers on TikTok have also highlighted potential issues with the tub. While floridamomof3discussed the lack of chili powder affecting the authentic essence of the chili, balancingval'shusband discussed how the texture of the beef felt gooey, as if it had been overworked. However, while their suggested improvements were noted, both reviewers thought this was a tasty dish.

What to pair with Costco's Beef Chili

The Fan-Favorite Chili You Should Consider Picking Up At Costco - The Daily Meal (3)

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Whether you're a die-hard Costco Beef Chili fan or still yet to be convinced, one thing that may sway you is the vast number of pairings this chili works with. Chili alone is a fantastic dip, and Costco's version is undoubtedly fit for this purpose. Choose your scoop: Will it be crunchy tortillas or crispy crackers? Why not layer it with sour cream, fresh guacamole, or spicy salsa, too?

Beyond dips, this chili could also be smothered onto hot dogs for a convenient and quick cheesy chili dog (great for game day) or served alongside freshly baked cornbread. One user — or perhaps genius is a better label — noted on the acclaimed Reddit thread that the chili could even be combined with a Costco Mac & Cheese for a hearty and bulky chili mac and cheese. It is a mash-up dish that's sure to be a delicious blend of creamy cheese, meaty beef, and rich tomato sauce that simultaneously delivers a much-needed bite from the pasta.

The Costco Beef Chili has earned considerable praise from Costco enthusiasts, yet without trying it firsthand, how can you determine if it suits your taste? There is only one way to find out.

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The Fan-Favorite Chili You Should Consider Picking Up At Costco - The Daily Meal (2024)

FAQs

Is Costco's chili any good? ›

“We love their chili! We serve it over rice and our family of 5 eats it for 2 meals,” another wrote. The heat-and-eat chili costs $3.50/pound and is full of ground beef, beans, tomato sauce, and seasonings, all topped with shredded cheese. However, the inclusion of beans is what makes it controversial to some people.

What is the chili sold at Costco? ›

Ready to be heated and served, Costco's Beef Chili is made of tomato sauce combined with beef and beans, and topped with shredded cheese.

What are the ingredients in Costco's chili? ›

Kirkland Signature Chili, which comes in a four-pound tub, is made up of what many would consider to be the “usual suspects” — beef, onions, cheese, and a wide range of spices. But the controversial addition that's truly gotten some heat? Beans — kidney and pinto beans, to be exact.

Is Costco bringing back chili? ›

Costco's chili is back — along with age-old debate over controversial ingredient. Costco just brought back a popular item — beef chili — which has been received to great fanfare, but has also reignited a fierce food debate because of one controversial ingredient.

What's the best chili to eat? ›

The Best Canned Chili
  • Best Canned Chili with Beans: Hormel Chili with Beans.
  • Best Canned Chili without Beans: Hormel Chili No Beans.
  • Best Vegetarian Canned Chili: Hormel Chili Vegetarian with Beans.
Oct 19, 2023

Is Costco chili seasonal? ›

One such item is Costco's seasonal chili, which is typically released during the fall to keep customers warm during the, well, chillier months.

What is the most chili chili? ›

Certified super-hot record holders
CultivarCapsicum speciesScoville units
Carolina ReaperC. chinense1,641,183
Trinidad Scorpion Butch TC. chinense1,463,700
Naga ViperC. chinense × C. frutescens1,382,000
Trinidad Moruga scorpionC. chinense1,200,000
3 more rows

Why is Cincinnati chili so good? ›

Cincinnati chili has a flavor all its own

The unique spice blend, texture, and toppings are the three elements that set Cincinnati chili apart from the rest. According to Simply Recipes, many soup and stew dishes get their flavor from the caramelization that occurs when you sear the protein featured in the dish.

How many calories are in 1 cup of Costco chili? ›

Costco Beef Chili (1 serving) contains 40g total carbs, 23g net carbs, 20g fat, 34g protein, and 450 calories.

Does chili have a lot of sodium in it? ›

However, soups, stews and chilis can be very high in sodium, fat and calories. This can promote weight gain and high blood pressure, thus increasing risk for chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease.

Is there a lot of calories in chili? ›

Chili Nutrition Facts

A 100-gram portion of chili made with meat and beans has 157 calories, 9.8 grams of fat, and 12.6 grams of protein. While not considered to be a low-fat meal, chili is relatively low in calories and provides a great serving of protein, thanks to the meat and beans it contains.

Why is Costco hot food so cheap? ›

It's branding,” said Scott Mushkin, a retail analyst at R5 Capital. The $1.50 deal helps create customer loyalty, he said. “It reminds customers of who Costco is.” Costco loses money selling more than 100 million hot dogs every year, but the company offsets these losses by raising prices on other goods it sells.

What happened to the hot dogs at Costco? ›

And for anyone who got confused by the change, Costco assured fans it would still be offering its hot dog and soda combo for $1.50 — a price that hasn't changed since 1985. From this point, the company signaled that frank options would go back to being all-beef.

What hot dog brand does Costco use? ›

Luckily, Costco answers this question with a 100% beef dog. Rest assured, you won't find any other meats in the chain's Kirkland Signature food court dogs. Costco used to use Hebrew National's wieners for its food court hot dogs. But eventually, the brand switched to the in-house Kirkland wiener.

How good is the Costco hot dog? ›

It is “uniform with a nice sweat going” and “thinner than the others, the Kate Moss of this tasting.” It has a “good snap, but the casing is more on the rubbery side,” one taster complained. Nevertheless, an incredibly solid dog. Costco's Kirkland Signature Beef Hot Dog.

What is special about Cincinnati chili? ›

Traditional red chili often includes cumin, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder, though it's not limited to these spices. Cincinnati chili, on the other hand, has a sweeter edge with spices like cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice. Some recipes also use cocoa powder.

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