Gluten free diets are becoming increasingly popular, with many people adopting them due to celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. For those who love chili, this can pose a challenge, as many pre-made chili seasoning packets contain gluten. Thankfully, there are some great gluten free options on the market. In this comprehensive guide, we will look at the most popular chili seasoning mixes and evaluate which are gluten free and which contain gluten.
Why Does Chili Seasoning Often Contain Gluten?
Many chili seasoning mixes contain gluten because they use flour or other wheat-based ingredients like maltodextrin as thickeners and binders. Flour helps thicken the chili sauce while also acting as an anti-caking agent, preventing the fine spices from clumping together. Maltodextrin, a highly processed wheat product, also helps absorb moisture and bind ingredients together in evenly dispersed blends. For those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, these additives can cause adverse reactions and must be avoided.
McCormick Chili Seasoning Packets
McCormick is one of the largest spice brand names in the United States. Here is a rundown of which McCormick chili seasoning mixes are gluten free and which contain gluten:
McCormick Chili Seasoning Mix – Original
Gluten Free Status: NOT GLUTEN FREE
The original McCormick chili seasoning mix contains wheat flour and maltodextrin. The flour helps thicken the chili sauce while the maltodextrin prevents caking. Those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance should avoid this blend.
McCormick Chili Seasoning Mix – Mild
Gluten Free Status: NOT GLUTEN FREE
Like the original blend, McCormick’s mild chili seasoning contains both wheat flour and maltodextrin as primary ingredients. It is not gluten free.
McCormick Chili Seasoning Mix – Hot
Gluten Free Status: NOT GLUTEN FREE
McCormick’s hot chili mix also contains both wheat flour and maltodextrin, making it unsuitable for gluten free diets.
McCormick Chili Seasoning Mix – Southwest Chipotle
Gluten Free Status: GLUTEN FREE
The McCormick Southwest Chipotle chili seasoning blend does not contain any gluten ingredients. It uses rice flour instead of wheat flour as a thickening agent. This variety is a good gluten free option.
Lawry’s Chili Seasoning Packets
Lawry’s is another very popular brand of chili seasoning mixes. Here is the gluten free status of their main blends:
Lawry’s Chili Seasoning Mix – Original
Gluten Free Status: NOT GLUTEN FREE
Like McCormick’s original blend, Lawry’s classic chili seasoning contains both wheat flour and maltodextrin as primary ingredients. It is not gluten free.
Lawry’s Chili Seasoning Mix – Mild
Gluten Free Status: NOT GLUTEN FREE
Lawry’s mild chili mix also contains both wheat flour and maltodextrin, making it unsuitable for gluten free diets.
Lawry’s Chili Seasoning Mix – Spicy
Gluten Free Status: NOT GLUTEN FREE
Lawry’s spicy chili seasoning blend contains wheat flour as the second ingredient listed, so it is not gluten free.
Kroger Brand Chili Seasoning Packets
Kroger is a popular grocery store chain that offers store brand versions of many spices and seasonings. Here is the gluten status of their chili seasoning mixes:
Kroger Chili Seasoning Mix – Mild
Gluten Free Status: NOT GLUTEN FREE
Kroger’s mild chili seasoning contains wheat flour as the second ingredient listed. It is not gluten free.
Kroger Chili Seasoning Mix – Spicy
Gluten Free Status: NOT GLUTEN FREE
Like the mild version, Kroger’s spicy chili seasoning also contains wheat flour. It is not gluten free.
Kroger Chili Seasoning Mix – Southwest Chipotle
Gluten Free Status: GLUTEN FREE
The Kroger brand Southwest Chipotle chili seasoning does not contain any gluten ingredients. It uses rice flour instead of wheat flour as a thickener. This variety is gluten free.
Badia Chili Seasoning Packets
Badia is a brand specializing in spices and seasonings used in Latin cuisine. Here is the gluten status of their main chili seasoning offerings:
Badia Chili Seasoning Mix – Mild
Gluten Free Status: GLUTEN FREE
Badia’s mild chili seasoning blend does not contain any gluten ingredients. It uses rice flour instead of wheat flour. This mix is gluten free friendly.
Badia Chili Seasoning Mix – Medium
Gluten Free Status: GLUTEN FREE
Like the mild blend, Badia’s medium heat chili seasoning also does not contain any gluten. It is another good gluten free choice.
Badia Chili Seasoning Mix – Hot
Gluten Free Status: GLUTEN FREE
Badia’s hot chili seasoning is made without any wheat-based ingredients. It is gluten free.
Mrs. Dash Chili Seasoning Packets
Mrs. Dash is a popular salt-free seasoning brand. Here are their main chili seasoning blends:
Mrs. Dash Chili Seasoning – Original
Gluten Free Status: GLUTEN FREE
The original Mrs. Dash chili seasoning mix does not contain any gluten ingredients. It uses rice flour instead of wheat flour. This blend is gluten free.
Mrs. Dash Chili Lime Seasoning
Gluten Free Status: GLUTEN FREE
Mrs. Dash also offers a Chili Lime blend that combines chili spices with lime juice and flavor. Like the original, it does not contain gluten and is safe for gluten free diets.
Wick Fowler’s Chili Seasoning Mix
Wick Fowler’s is another leading brand of pre-made chili seasoning blends. Here are their main offerings:
Wick Fowler’s Original Chili Seasoning Kit
Gluten Free Status: NOT GLUTEN FREE
Wick Fowler’s original chili kit contains wheat flour as a primary ingredient. It is not gluten free.
Wick Fowler’s 2-Alarm Chili Kit
Gluten Free Status: NOT GLUTEN FREE
Like the original, Wick Fowler’s 2-Alarm chili seasoning also contains wheat flour. It is not suitable for gluten free diets.
Simply Organic Chili Seasoning Packets
Simply Organic makes a chili seasoning mix blend using only natural, organic ingredients. Here is its gluten free status:
Simply Organic Chili Seasoning
Gluten Free Status: GLUTEN FREE
The Simply Organic chili seasoning blend does not contain any gluten ingredients. It uses potato starch instead of wheat flour as a thickener. This mix is gluten free.
Spicely Chili Seasoning Packets
Spicely is a spice and herb brand that emphasizes organic ingredients. Here are their chili seasoning options:
Spicely Organic Chili Seasoning Mix
Gluten Free Status: GLUTEN FREE
Spicely’s organic chili seasoning blend does not contain any gluten ingredients. It relies on potato starch instead of wheat flour. This mix is gluten free.
Spicely Smoky Chipotle Chili Seasoning
Gluten Free Status: GLUTEN FREE
Spicely’s smoky chipotle chili seasoning is also made without any gluten containing ingredients. It is another good gluten free choice.
Louisiana Brand Hot Sauce Chili Seasoning
Louisiana Hot Sauce makes a chili seasoning kit. Here is its gluten free status:
Louisiana Hot Sauce Chili Seasoning Kit
Gluten Free Status: GLUTEN FREE
Louisiana Hot Sauce’s Chili Seasoning Kit does not contain any wheat or gluten. It relies on rice flour as a thickener instead. This brand is gluten free friendly.
Tones Chili Seasoning Packets
Tones is a smaller spice brand, but is widely available online and in some grocery stores. They make the following chili seasoning mixes:
Tones Low Sodium Chili Seasoning
Gluten Free Status: GLUTEN FREE
The Tones Less Sodium Chili Seasoning blend does not contain any gluten ingredients. It uses rice flour instead of wheat flour. This mix is gluten free.
Tones Red Chili Seasoning
Gluten Free Status: GLUTEN FREE
Tones traditional Red Chili Seasoning is also gluten free. It does not contain any wheat ingredients.
The Spice Hunter Chili Lime Seasoning
The Spice Hunter makes the following chili lime seasoning blend:
The Spice Hunter Chili Lime Seasoning
Gluten Free Status: GLUTEN FREE
The Spice Hunter Chili Lime Seasoning relies on potato starch as a thickener instead of wheat flour. It does not contain gluten and is safe for gluten free diets.
Stonewall Kitchen Chili Seasoning
Stonewall Kitchen is a specialty food brand that makes the following chili seasoning mix:
Stonewall Kitchen Chili Seasoning
Gluten Free Status: GLUTEN FREE
Stonewall Kitchen’s chili seasoning blend does not contain any gluten ingredients. It uses rice flour instead of wheat flour. This mix is gluten free friendly.
Conclusion
When shopping for pre-made chili seasoning packets, check the ingredients carefully, as many popular brands contain wheat flour or maltodextrin. Thankfully, there are still plenty of good gluten free options available. Brands like Badia, Mrs. Dash, Simply Organic, Spicely, Louisiana Hot Sauce, Tones, The Spice Hunter, and Stonewall Kitchen all make high quality chili seasoning mixes without any gluten containing ingredients. With so many delicious gluten free chili blends on the market, people who eat gluten free don’t have to miss out on flavorful chili. Be sure to examine ingredient lists thoroughly and look for chili seasoning mixes that use rice flour, potato starch, or other gluten free thickeners and binders.
