What to Serve With Chili: Easy Sides for Dinner or a Party

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Chili is filling enough to be a meal on its own, but the right side dish can add freshness, crunch or something delicious for soaking up the sauce. Cornbread is the classic choice, but biscuits, baked potatoes, Mexican street corn, cabbage salad and crunchy party snacks also work well.

I like my chili spicy, but when I serve kids, I keep the chili mild and place jalapeños, hot sauce and other spicy toppings on the side. This lets everyone adjust the heat in their own bowl.

Delicious over the top chili with beans, corn, and smoked meatPin

For a quick answer, serve one warm bread or potato side and one fresh or crunchy side. These ideas work with beef, turkey, vegetarian and white chicken chili, as well as my over-the-top chili.

Table of Contents

What Goes Best With Different Types of Chili?

The best side depends on the type of chili and how you plan to serve it.

  • Beef or smoked chili: Southern cornbread, Mexican street corn, red cabbage salad or onion rings
  • White chicken chili: Cheddar biscuits, Mexican street corn or a simple green salad
  • Turkey chili: Cornbread, baked potatoes or crisp cabbage salad
  • Vegetarian chili: Baked potatoes, cornbread, mac and cheese or a fresh salad
  • Game-day chili: Pretzel bites, loaded potato slices, jalapeño poppers or pickle chips
  • Family chili dinner: Cornbread, baked potatoes or mac and cheese
  • Chili bar: Baked potatoes, tortilla chips and a selection of toppings

Best Side Dishes to Serve With Chili

Choose one or two sides based on how rich your chili is and how many people you are feeding. Bread and potatoes make the meal more filling, while salads, corn and tangy snacks help balance a rich bowl of chili.

1
Finished Mexican street corn with cotija, cilantro, and Tajín.

Mexican Street Corn (Elotes)

Creamy Mexican street corn adds sweetness, lime and a little spice beside a smoky bowl of chili. It works especially well with beef chili, turkey chili or Tex-Mex-style chili.
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2
Golden homemade pretzel bites with coarse salt beside warm cheese dip.

Easy Homemade Pretzel Bites Recipe with Yeast

Warm, salted pretzel bites make an easy game-day side and are sturdy enough for dipping into thick chili. Serve them alone or add beer cheese dip when preparing a larger appetizer spread.
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3
Red Cabbage Carrot Salad

Red Cabbage and Carrot Salad

Crisp red cabbage and carrots add freshness to a rich chili dinner. The bright dressing provides acidity, which helps balance smoky meat, beans, cheese and sour cream.
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4
air fryer loaded potato slices platted 5

Air Fryer Loaded Potato Slices

Crispy potato slices topped with bacon, cheddar and chives make a filling side for game day. Serve them beside the chili or add a small spoonful of chili on top of each slice.
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5
Baked macaroni and cheese with crispy breadcrumbs and parsley

Easy Lager Mac and Cheese

Lager mac and cheese is a rich option for a cold-weather dinner or game-day menu. Its creamy cheese sauce pairs especially well with smoky or moderately spicy chili.
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6
A plate of baked crispy pickle chips with sauce.

Baked Crispy Pickle Chips

Tangy baked pickle chips cut through rich chili, melted cheese and sour cream. They are a good game-day choice when you want something lighter than a traditional fried appetizer.
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7
Southern Cornbread

Southern Cornbread

Skillet cornbread is one of the most traditional sides for chili. Its crisp edges and tender center are ideal for dipping into a thick bowl of beef, turkey or bean chili.
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8
Cheddar Cheese Biscuits
urbanfarmie.com

Cheddar Cheese Biscuits

Flaky cheddar biscuits add a mild cheesy flavor without competing with the chili. They are especially good with thick chili because the tender layers soak up the sauce.
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9
Instant Pot Baked Potatoes
atasteofmadness.com

Instant Pot Baked Potatoes

Baked potatoes are useful when feeding a crowd because guests can eat them on the side or turn them into chili-topped potatoes. Set out cheese, sour cream and green onions for serving.
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10
Spicy Jalapeno Poppers
uniquecooks.com

Spicy Jalapeno Poppers

Jalapeño poppers add crunch, creaminess and extra heat to a chili party. If the chili is already very spicy, serve the poppers with a cooling ranch dip.
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11
Crispy Onion Rings
cookwithkushi.com

Crispy Onion Rings

Crispy onion rings provide texture beside a soft, hearty bowl of chili. Their mild sweetness also works well with smoky beef and tomato-based chili.
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12
Rustic Gluten-Free Cornbread
strengthandsunshine.com

Rustic Gluten-Free Cornbread

This gluten-free and vegan cornbread gives guests with dietary restrictions a classic bread to enjoy with chili. Serve it warm so it can soak up the flavorful sauce.
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Easy Toppings for a Chili Bar

When serving a crowd, I like to keep the chili mild and place the toppings on the side. This lets everyone customize the flavor and level of heat in their own bowl.

  • Shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
  • Sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
  • Diced red or white onion
  • Sliced jalapeños
  • Chopped green onions
  • Diced avocado
  • Lime wedges
  • Tortilla chips or corn chips
  • Hot sauce

More Chili Recipes

Planning another cozy dinner? Start with my over-the-top chili for a smoky beef chili or try this smoked green chili for a different flavor. If you have extra chili after dinner, these creative leftover chili recipes will help you turn it into another meal.

The best chili side does not need to be complicated. Choose cornbread, biscuits or potatoes when you want a filling dinner, or add salad, corn or a tangy snack to balance a rich bowl of chili. For a party, offer two or three sides and let everyone choose their favorite toppings.

April Zeiher is the original founder and former owner of Chaos & Wine. She created many of the recipes and family-focused articles published during the site's early years while raising four boys. April remains credited as the original author of the content she created. Chaos & Wine is now owned and managed by Marina Sestan.

6 Comments

  4. So many great ideas. I make chili a lot in my Instant Pot. I love the idea of putting into a baked potato. The cornbread and biscuits look so yummy. And those margaritas are so festive! I like my chili over rice (how I remember having when lived in UK) or cauliflower rice OR Cincinnati style over spaghetti.

    Reply

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