Most chilis work well with a side dish. So what to serve with chili? Here are 22 chili side dishes plus topping ideas to make pairing easy!
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We all love a comforting bowl of chili on a cold winter day. Classic homemade chili is perfect for a weeknight meal because it can be easily prepared in minutes. You’ll only need a few ingredients like kidney beans, tomatoes, tomato paste, and onions and you’re all set. Of course, chili would not be complete without spices such as chili powder and cumin.
With its thick and smooth sauce and tender beans, chili is simmered to perfection to produce a complex, smoky and spicy flavor that everyone loves. Considered as a traditional winter comfort food, chili is filling and hearty enough to warm you from the inside and out. And, chili is even more delicious as a leftover meal the next day.
While a pot of chili is often filling enough to be a meal by itself, adding delicious sides to your favorite chili recipe will definitely give your dinner a boost and it simply tastes amazing to have such a medley of flavors going on. If you have been wondering about what to serve with chili, we’ve listed some of the best side dishes you can add. From cornbread, rice, and bread, we have a variety of options to suit your preference.
Best Chili Toppings
Cheese: Shredded cheddar cheese, crumbled feta cheese or even parmesan cheese can make an excellent chili topping. It melts right into a warm bowl of chili and who doesn't find melted cheese comforting?
Sour cream: A dollop of sour cream, whether conventional or of the vegan variety, can add a nice cooling factor to balance out any heat a chili may have. Greek yogurt or cashew yogurt work great, too.
Tortilla chips: Grab a handful of tortilla chips and crumble them in your hands before topping off a bowl of chili for that lovely crunchy texture that offers a nice contrast to the soft nature of chili.
Green onions: Sliced green onions add a bit of freshness, flavor and crunch to a good chili.
Avocado: Sliced avocado or avocado in the form of guacamole usually melds well with the flavors in a chili, adds a cooling component and a dose of healthy fats.
Salsa: If you like to add some freshness or additional spice to a chili, add a dollop of salsa before digging in.
Hot sauce: A drizzle of hot sauce on a bowl of chili is usually a match made in heaven for the true spice lovers!
Crackers: Much like tortilla chips, crumbled crackers are excellent over a bowl of chili for that crunch factor.
What Kind of Sandwich Goes with Chili?
Hands down, grilled cheese is the best sandwich to accompany chili. Many people serve chili with some shredded cheese and some bread of some sort. Why not get it all in one go?
What Bread Goes Well with Chili?
Cornbread is the classic chili accompanying bread, however, a good dinner roll or biscuit is a close second.
What to Serve with Chili - 22 Chili Side Dish Recipes
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