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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!
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 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, green salad, 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 works 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 chili, and adds a cooling component and a dose of healthy fats.
Salsa: If you like to add some freshness or additional spice to 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 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
Egg Salad Avocado Boats – Calm Eats
Egg Salad Avocado Boats make for a perfect lunch or even snack if you’re looking for something filling, low in carbs, and nutritious.
This easy and delicious gluten-free cheese bread made with tapioca flour, has its roots in Ecuador. Pan de Yuca will become a dinner table staple in no time!
These Air Fryer Baked Potatoes have perfectly crisp exteriors with soft and fluffy centers. They are the perfect baked potatoes and could not be easier to make!
These spicy sweet potato fries are spiralized and baked for the ultimate crispness and seasoned to a spiciness of your liking. Gluten-free, vegan, & paleo.
These super easy Air Fryer Potato Wedges come out perfectly crispy every time! These air fried potato wedges use only a few simple ingredients, yet pack a big punch of deliciously smoky flavor. They make a perfect quick appetizer or snack when the cravings hit!
How to Make Tortillas (2 Ingredients, Oil-Free!) – Minimalist Baker
Our love for Mexican food is real, and it was only a matter of time before we started making our own corn tortillas from scratch since store-bought can be
Super easy, healthy and delicious 5-ingredient Chickpea Flour Crackers with the perfect sea salt touch! These delightfully crunchy crackers are gluten-free, vegan, nut-free and are packed with protein + fiber!
Healthy Red Cabbage Slaw Recipe – Little Sunny Kitchen
Red cabbage, jalapeno, and carrots are dressed with a bright sweet and spicy dressing in this easy red cabbage slaw recipe. Perfect for BBQs or healthy meal prep.
These easy, healthy Gluten-Free Vegan Zucchini Fritters are made with chickpea flour for added nutrition and depth. Packed with the perfect blend of spices, these delightful vegan fritters are beyond DELICIOUS, too!
Incredibly quick and easy 5-Ingredient Baked Garlic Pepper Polenta fries! This vegan gluten-free snack or appetizer is full of healthy and crispy deliciousness!
Cheesy Air Fryer Loaded Nachos (5 Minutes!) – Aleka’s Get-Together
These Air Fryer Loaded Nachos are hands down, the quickest party snacks I have on my blog thanks to the speediness of my air fryer. Ready in just 5 minutes, nothing could be easier or more delicious!
Healthy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Chips makes the perfect easy & crispy snack! You only need three simple ingredients to make these air fried veggie chips in a snap!
Black Bean and Corn Quesadillas – i Heart Vegetables
These easy black bean and corn quesadillas are a healthier twist on the cheesy classic! A little crumbled feta adds a salty flavor while the beans and corn help bulk up this meal and make it hearty and delicious!
This creamy vegan take on a classic coleslaw salad recipe is rich, creamy, refreshing, crunchy, healthy and bursting with big flavor! This easy vegan coleslaw is perfect as is, or served in addition to your favorite summer meals. Keto diet friendly!
Kristen is a writer, photographer, recipe developer, and certified functional nutrition expert. She is also the author of Fermented Hot Sauce Cookbook, Vegetarian Family Cookbook, and Hot Sauce Cookbook for Beginners. Her work has been featured in various print and online publications including Elle, Chicago Sun-Times, Martha Stewart, MSN, Healthline, and many more. Kristen is also a syndicated writer for The Associated Press.
