McCormick Dark Chili Powder, 20 oz – All-Purpose Seasoning for Busy Home Cooks and Office Lunches
McCormick Dark Chili Powder, 20 oz – All-Purpose Seasoning for Busy Home Cooks and Office Lunches
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Why you'll love it
- Slightly sweet and noticeably hotter profile delivers richer, deeper flavor than standard chili powder
- Made from whole, ripe peppers rather than pre-processed blends for more authentic taste
- Versatile across cuisines, proteins, and vegetarian dishes, reducing the need for multiple spices
- Larger 20 oz and 1.25 lb sizes suit frequent cooks and reduce repurchase hassle
- Compatible with vegan, vegetarian, low-carb, and kosher diets without reformulating meals
- Trusted McCormick brand heritage removes guesswork around pepper sourcing and freshness
- Deemed a winter staple when local stores don't carry it
- Bold chili color and flavor when used on many different foods
- Has 'zip' (more kick) than competitor brands like Tones
- Can be used as a versatile base to customize by adding more garlic, cumin, or other spices
- Fresh product with 'best by' date nearly a full year out
- Long-lasting 20 oz. container that lasts a long time even with frequent use
Perfect for
- Seasoning a pot of Southwestern-style chili
- Rubbing onto beef, pork, or chicken before grilling
- Sprinkling into Tex-Mex tacos, burritos, and fajitas
- Boosting flavor in vegetarian bean soups, stews, and meatless dishes
- Blending a custom spice mix for slow-cooked or smoked meats
- Seasoning fajita chicken
- Adding to soups and stews
- Blending into sauces and marinades
- General all-purpose seasoning on a wide variety of dishes (not just chili)
Product Information
McCormick Dark Chili Powder always starts with whole, ripe peppers
A robust blend of ripe peppers, garlic, salt and spices
Slightly sweet flavor that is just a little hotter than our regular chili powder
Adds rich earthy flavor and deep color to Southwestern chili and Tex-Mex tacos
Rub Dark Chili Powder on beef, pork or chicken before grilling
While Texans lay claim to the invention of chili powder, everyone agrees that using chili powder is a lot easier than choosing the right chili peppers to dry, toast and grind. At McCormick, we�ve done that for you � our dark chili powder always starts with whole, ripe peppers that we expertly blend with garlic, salt and spices. McCormick Dark Chili Powder has a slightly sweet flavor that is just a little hotter than our regular chili powder. It gives rich earthy flavor and deep color to Southwestern chili and Tex-Mex tacos. This chili powder is a natural for the grill. It makes a delicious rub for beef, pork or chicken. Perk up the flavor of meatless dishes, bean soups and stews with a sprinkling of robust dark chili powder.
Ingredients
Chili Pepper, Spices, Salt, Silicon Dioxide (Added to Make Free Flowing), and Garlic.
Items Details
Coin Variety 1: Chili
Item Form: Powder
Diet Type: Kosher
Specialty: Kosher, Vegan, high-fructose-corn-syrup-free, low-carb, vegetarian
Produce Sold As Format: Pre-packaged
Global Trade Identification Number: 00052100106212
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use this as an all-purpose seasoning so I stop buying ten different spice jars?
Yes. It is designed to be versatile enough to cover Tex-Mex, BBQ, soups, stews, eggs, and vegetables, which lets many home cooks consolidate their spice shelf around one or two go-to blends.
Will the 20 oz jar actually last, or will I run out fast?
Even with frequent cooking, a 20 oz jar lasts most households several months because you only need a tablespoon or two per dish. It is one of the slowest spices to go stale.
Does the long best-by date mean I can buy in bulk for meal prep?
Yes. The best-by date is typically close to a full year out, so buying the 1.25 lb size for batch cooking and weekly meal prep is a safe bet with very little waste.
Can I blend it into marinades ahead of time for the week?
Absolutely. It mixes cleanly into oil-and-acid marinades for chicken, steak, tofu, and vegetables. Make a jar on Sunday and you are set for the week.
Is it strong enough to flavor a big batch of chili for the slow cooker?
Yes. It is built for exactly that. A few tablespoons in a slow-cooker pot of chili, stew, or pulled pork delivers consistent flavor without having to re-season at the end.
I cook for my family every night. Will this make weeknight cooking faster?
Yes. Because it works across proteins, vegetables, soups, and Tex-Mex dishes, you can rely on one jar instead of swapping between five. That alone saves a few minutes per meal.
Can I use it for meal prep lunches that still taste good on day three or four?
Yes. The roasted-pepper flavor deepens overnight and holds up well in the fridge, so grain bowls, burrito bowls, and chili taste just as good mid-week as they do fresh.
Is it good for seasoning fajita chicken quickly on a busy weeknight?
It is one of the best shortcut seasonings for fajita chicken. Toss sliced chicken with oil and a couple teaspoons of the powder, sear, and you have fajitas in under 15 minutes.
How does McCormick Dark Chili Powder compare to a cheaper store-brand chili powder for productivity?
The flavor is bolder and less dusty, which means you actually use less per dish. For a busy cook, that translates to better results with the same amount of effort.
Is it better than buying a separate chili powder, cumin, and garlic powder?
For most home kitchens, yes. The garlic and spice blend is already built in, so you can skip the extra jars for weeknight Tex-Mex. Hardcore cooks can still add more cumin or garlic on top.
I work long hours and only have 30 minutes to cook. Is this realistic for me?
Yes. Sprinkle it on chicken before pan-searing, stir it into canned beans with lime, or mix into ground beef for tacos. It is built for low-effort, high-flavor cooking.
Will the bold flavor clash with delicate weeknight dishes like eggs or pasta?
Used in small amounts, it is actually wonderful in scrambled eggs, omelets, and tomato-based pasta sauces. Just start with a pinch and build up.
What if I am not a confident cook and am worried about over-seasoning?
Start with one teaspoon per pound of protein or per pot of soup. You can always add more, but you cannot take it away. The 20 oz size gives you plenty of room to experiment.
Is the 1.25 lb size worth it for a household of two?
It is if you cook four to five nights a week. You save money per ounce, cut down on reordering, and the long shelf life means you will use it well before it goes stale.
Can I use it to replace taco seasoning packets for taco night?
Yes. Use about two tablespoons per pound of ground beef, plus a splash of water, and you have taco filling that tastes fresher and less salty than the packets.
How much McCormick Dark Chili Powder should I use per pot of chili?
A good starting point is two to three tablespoons per pound of meat, or about one tablespoon per cup of beans and liquid. Taste as you go and adjust up for a bolder pot or down for a milder family-style chili.
Can I use it as a dry rub, and how long should the rub sit on the meat?
Yes, it works well as a dry rub on beef, pork, chicken, and even tofu. Coat the meat generously, let it rest at room temperature for 15 to 30 minutes, then cook. For deeper flavor, you can refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before grilling or smoking.
What is the best way to store it to keep it fresh?
Keep the lid tightly closed and store it in a cool, dry pantry away from direct sunlight and the stove. Properly stored, it stays fresh well past the printed best-by date, which is typically close to a year out.
Is this compatible with vegan, vegetarian, low-carb, and kosher diets?
Yes. The blend contains no animal products, no added MSG, and is kosher-certified, so it fits vegan, vegetarian, low-carb, and kosher eating patterns without modifying your recipes.
Does it work in slow cookers, Instant Pots, and other appliances?
Yes. It dissolves cleanly into liquids, so it works in slow cookers, Instant Pots, stovetop pots, and sous vide bags. Add it early in the cook for stews and chilis, or at the end for a brighter top note on fajita fillings.
What is in the container when it arrives?
You receive a single canister of McCormick Dark Chili Powder in your chosen size, sealed for freshness. No additional accessories are required to use it. You may want a small measuring spoon if you prefer precise portions.
Is this product safe to consume past the printed best-by date?
Like most dried spices, it is generally safe well past the best-by date if stored properly, though flavor and color will gradually fade. For the best taste, we recommend using it within the printed window.
Does it contain any major allergens like dairy, wheat, or soy?
No. The standard formulation does not contain dairy, wheat, soy, or tree nuts, making it suitable for most common allergen households. Always check the current label for the most up-to-date allergen information.
What is the difference between chili powder and a chili seasoning blend?
Chili powder is a roasted-pepper-based ground spice, while chili seasoning blends often include additional starches, thickeners, and salt for a one-step chili mix. McCormick Dark Chili Powder gives you the pure pepper base so you can build your own flavor and control salt levels.
