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Ever wondered what to serve with chili? These tasty sides will complement perfectly no matter what your taste, whether you’re looking for savory, sweet, or fresh!
Chili is inarguably the best, if not the heartiest, comfort food of all time.
It’s also the perfect dish to serve to guests on game night.
What’s amazing about chili is just how versatile it is; there are many different ways to prepare it.
There’s also a wide range of toppings that taste wonderful with chili!
And if you’re looking for side dishes that will go well with chili, you’d be happy to know that the possibilities are endless.
There are so many unique and fun side dishes that taste truly magical with chili.
Let’s take a look at some of the best side dishes for chili!
Here are our favorite sides for chili that will complete your meal:
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These cheddar biscuits are my go-to sides for my meal, especially with chili.
They’re made from flour, milk, butter, and cheddar cheese, resulting in cheesy and fluffy bites.
Pro tip: If you want those melt-in-your-mouth, flaky, fluffy biscuits, invest in high-quality ingredients, mainly with your butter and cheddar cheese.
What goes well with chili?
A bowl of coleslaw!
This dish isn’t the typical coleslaw you’d usually consume.
It’s mayo-free!
It also features a flavor punch coming from celery seeds, cabbage, kale leaves, carrots, onions, cider vinegar, and mustard.
Apart from chili, this recipe goes along with your sirloin steak or any of your BBQ favorites.
This salad pairs up quite nicely with a bunch of dishes, including your favorite chili. It offers a creamy flavor profile and crunchy texture that matches the taste of your entrée.
The key to this recipe is to refrigerate it before serving, as this process changes its flavor. Add crispy bacon, hard-boiled eggs, and grilled chicken chunks for recipe customization.
Potato chips and chili is a classic combo you shouldn’t miss.
The crispiness of the chips makes your chili heartier and extraordinary.
You don’t need to limit yourself to salt and pepper.
Experiment with the flavor and include those spices that suit your taste buds.
Season the chips with ground cumin, minced herbs, or ancho chili powder.
So if you love the flavors of eloté (the corn, cumin, the cilantro or parsley, the cheese and mayo), I think you’ll really enjoy this recipe for pasta salad that brings them all together. You can leave out the fresh jalapeño, or just chop and keep it on the side for everyone to garnish their own.
Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread
It is difficult to beat having a slice of a hot and buttery piece of cornbread with, well, pretty much anything. Then if you add some cheddar cheese and a hint of jalapeño, you have something seriously darn tasty and filling, and relatively easy and cheap to make.
Cowboy Caviar
It is made with a mix of beans, sweet corn, and crunchy vegetables tossed in a tangy marinade. It can serve as a dip or topping on grilled meat or a side dish.
Honey Butter Biscuits
A quick brush of warm honey glaze glosses the tops so they smell of browned butter and bloom golden at the edges. I love how the crumb stays soft enough to pull apart, yet sturdy enough to sop up pan juices or jam.
Skillet Fried Corn
Now, this isn’t southern fried corn, which takes bacon grease and sometimes milk. To serve as an easy side dish, cook until a golden brown color, with just a touch of moisture left in the kernels.
Cheddar Bacon Ranch Biscuits
That’s where these Cheddar Bacon Ranch Biscuits come in—crispy center-cut bacon, shredded cheese and ranch seasoning. Starting with frozen Grands Biscuits, this is truly an easy biscuit recipe for a lazy weekend breakfast or a last-minute brunch.
Mexican Street Corn
Elote is a Mexican corn dish that is made with sweet corn, spices, mayo, lime, and cotija cheese. The best part is that you can serve this as a side dish or an appetizer.
Butter Dip Biscuits
These butter dip biscuits offer the comfort of homemade baking with minimal effort. Made from a few pantry ingredients, they come together quickly, with no kneading required.
Jiffy Corn Casserole
This easy side dish is a simple combination of pantry ingredients, baked and enjoyed at my Thanksgiving table for years. I bring it if I’m going to someone else’s house because it’s rich with cream cheese, sweet, satisfying like cornbread, and goes perfectly with ham or turkey.
Skillet Creamed Corn
This skillet creamed corn is a rich, comforting dish that comes together right on the stovetop. It’s the perfect way to take a simple bag of frozen corn and turn it into the star of the show.
Easy Guacamole
So Renee’ has crafted this guac to incorporate ripe avocados, fresh tomato, onion, lime and cilantro but no jalapeños. It’s got big pieces of everything so you get a mouthful on every chip.
Slow Cooker Creamy Corn
Wildly different from the “creamed corn” that comes in a can, this creamy sweet corn in the slow cooker is lush and rich from the cream cheese and butter. This Crock Pot Creamy Corn is ideal for holidays, potlucks, or weeknight dinners.
Pumpkin Biscuits
Just picture it-warm, buttery, flaky homemade biscuits infused with pumpkin. You can serve them drizzled with honey or with apple butter.
Slow Cooker Cornbread Casserole
The cornbread mix binds everything into a soft, custardy texture, while a small amount of cheddar adds depth without making it taste overtly cheesy. It’s rich, sweet, and balanced — exactly what a holiday corn casserole should be.
Air Fryer Tortilla Chips
There is something so nice about having freshly made chips on hand. If you are having a party and you have made your favorite dip, serving it with some homemade chips is just a nice touch.
Chipotle Corn Salsa (Copycat)
It’s the perfect balance of sweet and tangy, and just the right amount of crunch, heat, and brightness to really tie together a meal.
Apple Carrot Slaw
This sweet apple carrot coleslaw recipe is just such a recipe: the right balance of sweet and tangy crunch. We served it beside a meatloaf for one meal, and next to dumplings for another.
The bottom line
I hope you enjoyed reading this guide on what to serve with chili!
Do try all the side dishes!
I’ve mentioned above, as each one has its unique texture and flavors that will go seamlessly with chili.
