Transform Canned Chili With Just This One Crispy Topping

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There's little else to satisfy quite like a bowl of hearty chili. You can make it with beef, turkey, veggies, or beans (or no beans), and it will appeal to a wide range of palates, with every spoonful more fulfilling than the one before it. When time is of the essence, there are a number of perfectly portioned canned chili brands to make your indulgence all the more convenient. If you want to amp up this canned food with even more pleasing taste and texture, add a generous helping of crumbled crispy cooked bacon on top.

Crumbled bacon is one of the best toppings for better chili for its natural smoky flavor and versatility. With so many different styles of bacon to choose from, this cured meat is the answer to enhancing a basic bowl of canned chili with even more complementary essence. No matter what brand of the canned stuff you're enjoying, there's a batch of crisped-up bacon that will make the ultimate pairing to it.

You can prepare your favorite type of bacon in the oven, on the stovetop, or even in the air fryer depending on your time and desired level of effort. Making sure that the bacon has reached a properly crunchy consistency is vital to using it as a topping. This will both add more flavor to your canned chili and provide a crave-worthy variance in texture against the tenderness of the chili ingredients. This tip works with just about any chili and bacon duo you can imagine.

It's a good idea to let the flavor and style of your chili inform your choice of bacon. For a traditional beef chili, try a thick-cut peppered applewood smoked bacon. If you like a little heat, a spicy bacon crusted with black pepper would make an excellent addition as a topping. Remember to cook thicker pieces of bacon a little longer to get them to that sweet spot of crispy consistency before crumbling them over your canned chili.

If you prefer something lighter, like a turkey or vegetarian chili, there is a suitable bacon topping that will pair well with either one of these choices. Turkey bacon is an obvious choice for a turkey chili, which you can crisp to your liking, keeping in mind that it will be considerably leaner than its pork counterpart. For a plant-based chili, try vegetarian-friendly bacon or even store-bought crumbles, such as McCormick Bac'n Bits.

Depending on your protein preferences, you can also mix and match your meats. For example, add turkey bacon to a beef or pork chili or use plant-based bacon crumbles on top of a turkey chili for a small addition of vegetable proteins. For a mix of sweet and savory tastes, try topping your chili with candied maple bacon. Any way you choose to use crispy bacon as a topping, it will make your canned chili that much more special.