16+ Best Side Dishes To Serve With Chili For Fabulous Family Meals! (2024)

What to serve with chili collection includes all my best and favorite dishes for a family get together, pot lucks, cookouts, or any occasion! Whether you cook it with beans or no beans, there are a variety of options that will complement your favorite chili recipe perfectly! Best of all, they're all kid-approved, family favorite side dishes!

Best Sides For Chili Dinners

When chili is done right, it's a warm and comforting dish. When watching the Superbowl, tailgating, hosting a cook-off, or throwing a backyard party, many people serve their chili with sides, bread, and appetizers in addition to the main dish.

While chili is filling enough to be served on its own, no meal is complete without a few delectable side dishes to balance things out. Whether it's sweet cornbread or a zesty green salad, there's an unlimited list of options for serving with chili that will impress and delight you, your family, and your guests.

15+ Best Side Dishes for Chili

Here are 15 of the best side dishes to serve with chili to elevate an ordinary meal to something special:

1. Cornbread

It may look ordinary, but cornbread is incredibly addictive. Cornbread is moist but also has a delicate, crumbly texture and is very versatile and simple to make. It goes really well with soups and stews but can be enjoyed by itself with just a drizzle of honey on top.

Whether you want a cornbread that is sweet, savory, or even spicy, the options are nearly unlimited. Cornbread is definitely one of the most popular sides to serve with chili.

2. Sweet Potato Fries

People of all ages love sweet potato fries. They're very tasty as well as a healthier option over French fries, especially if baked. In addition, sweet potato fries are an excellent way to get people to eat more vegetables. You can dip them in garlic aioli or even just plain ketchup.

3. Nachos

You can always count on nachos to be a hit, whether you're serving them to guests or just the family for dinner. Nachos can be done simply with queso or with as many toppings as you choose.

With so many toppings to choose from, nachos make a great side dish to go with chili!

4. Grilled Cheese

A hearty meal of grilled cheese and chili is a fantastic and delicious option if you're searching for something filling. Also, who can resist an excellent crunchy, buttered bread with delightful melted cheese to accompany their chili?

Grilled cheese can be made with American cheese or any other cheese you prefer. Plus, it's fun to dip it!

5. Mexican Rice

You can serve Mexican Rice as a delicious side with chicken, seafood, steaks, and many other entrees, especially chili. Mexican rice can be made by simply sautéing white rice with other ingredients such as tomatoes, garlic, and onions.

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6. Coleslaw

A zesty coleslaw is a perfect companion to a hearty and delicious chili, as it can definitely help balance out the flavors of the dish. It's cool and creamy, the perfect side to counteract warm, meaty chili.

In only a few minutes, you can create your coleslaw at home, and it's very inexpensive.

7. Onion Rings

Crunchy on the outside and deliciously tender on the inside, this side dish is a crowd-pleaser. You can serve them during the Super Bowl with your best chili, and your guests will be very impressed.

They're a classic crispy snack and a favorite among individuals of all ages.

8. Salad

Salads have an infinite number of possibilities and options. When you eat them, you get fresh greens and a guilt-free experience. You can go with plain greens dressed in olive oil and lemon juice, or you can go for a salad loaded with extras.

Salads are great since they go well with almost everything, even chili.

9. Chips and Guacamole

Tortilla chips and guacamole are always a great combination. Crispy, salty, and surprisingly easy to make, they pair perfectly with chili. Because everyone loves chips and guacamole, you'll frequently see them at gatherings.

10. Tacos

Everybody loves tacos because they can be loaded with almost anything from meat to seafood, they can even be vegetarian. Tacos can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and pair well with just about any dish.

They're wonderful, and they pair perfectly with chili!

11. Quesadilla

One of Mexican cuisine's most popular appetizers, the quesadilla is a tortilla stuffed with cheese and sometimes other ingredients before being fried on a griddle or stove. Traditionally, corn tortillas are used.

However, you can also use flour tortillas if that is what you prefer. They're wonderful with chili and can be served anytime throughout the year.

12. Baked Potato

The combination of a perfect meal is a big warm bowl of chili with a buttery baked potato on the side. It's impossible to resist a perfectly baked potato with crispy skin and fluffy insides, and dinner is not complete with them.

You're baked potatoes are also great when topped with ingredients like bacon, sour cream, and chives.

13. Fried Pickles

Fried pickles are utterly irresistible. Salty and crispy, you won't be able to stop eating them. They're great as a game-day snack or to pair with chili, but make sure you make plenty because your guest will surely keep coming back for more.

14. Fajitas

A fajita is a wonderful grilled meat dish that is served with flour or corn tortillas along with grilled peppers and onions. When served as an accompaniment to a chili bowl, fajitas are much better than they are on their own.

Fajitas can be elevated when topped with guacamole and pico de gallo.

15. Potato Skins

Whether it's game day, birthday, or sleepovers, potato skins are another great crowd-pleasing snack. Serve these alongside chili, and your guests will undoubtedly enjoy themselves.

You can even choose any toppings you like and be creative with them. Finally, potato skins are very simple to make.

16. Quesadillas

I love serving up some crispy quesadillas on the side of a big bowl of chili! Try my fajita quesadillas (linked below). Or check out my steak quesadillas, chicken quesadillas, or corn tortilla quesadillas.

Tips For Picking The Perfect Pairing With Chili

Everything on this list is excellent on its own, but even better when served next to a steaming bowl of chili.Given the robust flavors of chili and the fact that virtually any dish can complement it, there are an plenty of possibilities for side dishes you can consider.

When serving chili, choosing the right side dishes and snacks can enhance your meal and balance the flavors. Here are some great tips for doing just that:

1. Contrasting Textures: This is generally a thick and hearty dish, so you may want to pair it with something that provides a contrast in texture. For example, a crispy, crunchy, cornbread with a hint of sweetness or tender baked potatoes for a creamy texture.
2. Neutralize the Heat: If your chili recipe is particularly spicy, consider sides that can help to neutralize the heat. Dairy-based sides like sour cream or a cheese quesadilla can help tame the fire, as can serving the chili over rice with a lime wedge.
3. Complement the Flavor: If your chili is heavy on cumin and chili powder, you may want to serve it with a side of Spanish rice or a batch of homemade cornbread.
4. Consider Freshness: A fresh wedge salad or a helping of Southern coleslaw can help to lighten up the meal and provide a refreshing counterpoint to the heavy, rich flavors in the chili.
5. Don't Forget the Dips: Chili dinners are also perfect for dip-type snacks. Guacamole, salsa, or a creamy queso dip can be great choices.
6. Sweet Treats: If you want something to contrast with the savoriness of the chili, consider a sweet side. This could be something as simple as a Greek yogurt fruit salad or as indulgent as cinnamon-sugar dusted churros.
7. Beverage Pairings: Consider pairing your chili dinner with a cooling drink, like a fruity sangria or my refreshing pink vodka lemonade to contrast the heat.
8. Thematic Consistency: If you're serving a Tex-Mex style chili, stick with sides in that theme like corn on the cob, refried black beans, or Mexican-style rice.

Remember, the goal is to create a well-rounded meal that your whole family will enjoy. Don't be afraid to get creative and try new combinations!

I hope with this help, you've come up with the perfect accompaniments for what to eat with chili! If there are any sides that I didn't mention here you like to have with your chili, drop a comment below and tell me about it!

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