Chili is hearty enough to be a meal on its own, but the right side dish turns a bowl into dinner. The classics are cornbread, baked potatoes, rice, coleslaw and tortilla chips: something starchy to soak up the sauce and something fresh or crunchy to balance the heat. Below are 19 easy side dishes that go with chili, plus quick picks for white chicken chili, chili dogs and chili for a crowd.
1. Grilled Cheese
If you’re a fan of cheeses and different tasty snacks, this will also help you put together a side dish for chili. There’s a ruddy crust on the outside and a benign cheese mass inside. Both you and your guests can poke these toasted sandwiches in tomato chili and get maximum flavor.
2. Soft Pretzels
Pretzels are crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside and one of the best appetizers for chili. It’s a snack that goes beyond the season and goes great with chili. You can make them in the traditional pretzel shape or make them in a more exciting shape.
3. Sweet Potato Fries
Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of vitamin A and fiber, plus they complement the chili. Deliciously sweet and creamy, sweet potatoes offer the perfect sweet and savory combination in this delicious appetizer. You can also serve baked sweet potatoes as a side dish to any hot dish. You can do it with a spoonful of thick yogurt and chopped green onions.
4. Sweet Potatoes
The sweet potato is a valuable vegetable crop native to Central and South America, from where it has spread worldwide. It can be roasted, baked, added to soups, and mashed. Undoubtedly, sweet potatoes will only benefit those who adhere to a healthy diet. Moreover, they can be served as a side dish to chili con carne.
5. Baked Potatoes
Oddly enough, the most straightforward recipes somehow become the tastiest and healthiest. Therefore, these potatoes are great as a side dish to chili. To make delicious baked potatoes, bake them in a crust of salt, which will draw out the excess moisture. Then, the finished dish can be sprinkled with fresh herbs just before serving.
More: 10 Fall-Inspired Baked Potato Recipes
6. Bread Sticks
This is a favorite Italian appetizer with various soups or hot chili. Luckily, they are easy to make, last a long time, and are great to eat. Sometimes the spices are added to the dough itself, and sometimes they are sprinkled on top. You can also make a garlic butter filling, make them vegan, or make them with cheese.
7. Tacos
To many, a familiar Mexican fast-food dish, tacos, has also popped up on our list. Today, small corn or wheat tortillas with different toppings are sold in every small street food stand. Mexican cuisine is interesting for its combinations of spices, so there are many recipes for this snack. The main thing here is to keep a balance of spices and not forget that authentic Mexican food is always different shades of flavors and energizing.
8. Coleslaw
Coleslaw salad is suitable for any time of the year and is traditional for American cuisine. You can put your favorite vegetables like fresh cucumber, for example, in the composition of the salad. Moreover, a special sauce gives the dish a uniquely delicate, slightly spicy, and creamy taste.
9. Chips & Guacamole
Everyone’s favorite guacamole is great as a quick and easy snack. The pleasant, creamy texture of the avocado will please your guests and cool you down while you enjoy the chili spice. Its aroma, unique flavor, and freshness make this snack popular on different continents.
10. Cornbread
Cornbread is the classic side for chili: slightly sweet, crumbly and perfect for soaking up the sauce. It’s pretty easy to make, and it’s a great addition to soups or chili con carne. Cornmeal itself is naturally gluten-free, so if you need a gluten-free side, look for a recipe made with 100% cornmeal (most cornbread recipes also include wheat flour). You can even bake cornbread in a multicooker.
11. Nachos
Nachos is another standout in Mexican cuisine that consists of just three simple ingredients. To make it at home, you’ll need tortilla chips, peppers, and melted cheddar cheese. The best part is that it can easily be made into a complete dish and complemented with different favorite ingredients.
12. Rice
Rice is among the oldest grains and still finds the most widespread use today. Rice grains are used to make dietary systems, medicines, and unique dishes. Considering that chili con carne is a high-protein dish, it’s okay to supplement it with carbs. It also goes great with beans and white chicken chili.
13. Chips and Queso
This is a famous sauce made of chili peppers, tomatoes, melted cheese, and various spices. It is mainly consumed with corn chips and is served in Tex-Mex restaurants. Plus, queso goes great with a big bowl of chili.
14. Fresh Salad
Vegetable salads are of interest to healthy eaters and vegetarians. If you can’t choose what to serve with chili, you can’t go wrong with a simple, fresh salad. Salads are usually healthy fresh vegetables and can be adapted to whoever you’re treating.
More: 7 Under 100 Calorie Salad Recipes
15. Drinks
Keep in mind that chili is a hearty dish, and you certainly need drinks. Sweet drinks are best, or traditional ones like the popular Mexican beers, margaritas, sangria. All of these will complement the taste of the main course favorably.
16. Onion Rings
Onion rings are a super delicious appetizer. Even those who do not like onions will eat these crispy onion rings with great pleasure. Onion rings are excellent with fast food and as a side dish for chili. Especially since crispy onion rings are quick to make and don’t require much financial outlay.
17. Cheesy Potato Skins
These small, delicious skins are crunchy and go great with chili con carne. Cheesy potato skins seasoned on the outside with the delightful aroma of garlic butter are guaranteed to please your guests. What’s more, they can be served alongside sour cream and herbs.
18. Quesadillas
Quesadillas are one of the most famous Mexican dishes. The compulsory component of the quesadilla filling is the stretchy cheese. However, true foodies who like to experiment in the kitchen can serve them along with their favorite chile con carne without a doubt. The result is an awesome crunchy appetizer.
19. Apple Salad
Juicy, flavorful apples almost always go well with spicy Mexican dishes. Use them as a stand-alone dessert or an utterly healthy snack when dieting. Fresh salads based on apples provide complete metabolic processes in the body. Moreover, they can be served before the main dish to improve appetite.
What to Serve with Different Kinds of Chili
White chicken chili
White chicken chili is milder and creamier than classic beef chili, so pair it with something bright or crunchy: cilantro-lime rice, chips and guacamole, a fresh salad with a lime dressing, or a wedge of cornbread.
Chili dogs
Chili dogs call for classic diner sides: onion rings, sweet potato fries, creamy coleslaw or a bag of potato chips.
Chili for a party
Feeding a crowd? Set up a chili bar with nachos, chips and queso, soft pretzels and cornbread muffins, plus bowls of toppings: shredded cheddar, sour cream, sliced green onions, jalapeños and lime wedges.
Lighter sides for chili
If you want to keep dinner light, serve chili with a fresh salad, an apple salad or baked sweet potatoes instead of bread or chips.
Whether your chili is spicy or mild, beef or chicken, pick one starchy side and one fresh one and you have a complete meal. What’s your favorite side to serve with chili? Share it with us in the comments!
