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    The Heirloom Pantry » Recipes » Roundups

    What to Serve with Chili: 20 Best Side Dishes

    Published: Sep 17, 2022 · Modified: Nov 19, 2023 by Kathleen Higashiyama · The following content may contain paid links. When you click and shop the links, we receive a commission.

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    20 recipes to serve with chili.

    Wondering what side dishes to serve with chili? Below we list all of our favorite chili side dishes, including cornbread, crispy tortilla strips, and scrumptious veggies.

    Recipes to serve with chili, including crunchy tortilla strips, cornbread, potatoes, and quesadillas.

    A big bowl of chili is one of our favorite comfort food. When the temperatures drop, we love to make a big batch for a few nights in a row and pair it with one fo the below sides. Each of these 20 dishes will pair deliciously with chili so you know exactly what to make next time you want to make chili.

    If you are looking for a hearty chili recipe, try our Turkey Chili. It takes just 45 minutes to make and features lean turkey, corn, kidney beans, and bell pepper.

    Our chili makes enough for 3 to 4 nights so it is a great option for weekly meal planning. Our recipe also includes instructions for Crispy Tortilla Strips and a healthy Greek yogurt mixture to top the chili!

    1. Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread with Miso

    Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread with Miso sliced on plate with butter and honey.
    Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread with Miso
    Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread with Miso is a moist, tender, and cheesy side. It’s a little sweet, has a hint of spice, and goes perfectly with a cozy bowl of chili.
    Get the Recipe

    2. Crispy Baked Tortilla Strips

    Crunchy Garlic Tortilla Strips
    Crispy Baked Tortilla Strips
    Crispy Baked Tortilla Strips are a fast and flavorful gluten-free garnish. They only take 15 minutes to make and add a nice crunch to the chili.
    Get the Recipe

    3. Healthy Corn and Zucchini Fritters

    Healthy corn and zucchini fritter stacked and topped with greek yogurt, roasted corn, and basil.
    Healthy Corn and Zucchini Fritters
    Healthy Corn and Zucchini Fritters are a quick and easy way to enjoy vegetables with your chili. Top them with Greek yogurt, fresh basil, and roasted corn for extra flavor and texture!
    Get the Recipe

    4. Homemade Seasoned French Fries

    Classic seasoned french fries with garlic powder, dried basil, paprika, and ketchup on a baking sheet with parchment paper.
    Homemade Seasoned French Fries
    Homemade French Fries are crispy, fluffy, and delightfully flavorful. They are perfect for smothering in chili or dipping and are made with just a few simple ingredients.
    Get the Recipe

    5. Elotes Style Corn with Furikake

    Elote-style corn with furikake and kewpie mayo on a plate flatlay.
    Elotes Style Corn with Furikake
    Elotes Style Corn with Furikake is inspired by Mexican street corn and flavored with Japanese ingredients. Enjoy it on the cob, cut into smaller servings, or cut off the cob and served as a salad or added to the chili. Regardless of how you prepare it, it will add a delicious umami crunch to your chili dinner.
    Get the Recipe

    6. 10-Minute Sautéed Broccolini (Broccoletti)

    Easy delicious charred broccolini/broccoletti on a plate with seasoning, lemon wedges, and chili flakes.
    10-Minute Sautéed Broccolini
    Sautéed Broccolini is a nutrient packed, tender version of broccoli that goes well with just about everything and takes only a few minutes to make. Simply cook the broccolini in olive oil and toss it with garlic, red chili flakes, and lemon juice then enjoy!
    Get the Recipe

    7. Cheese Quesadilla with Pan Roasted Vegetables

    Cheese Quesadilla with Chipotle Mayo on a sheet pan.
    Cheese Quesadilla with Pan Roasted Vegetables
    Cheese Quesadilla with Pan Roasted Vegetables is a flavorful side or snack that comes together in less than 30 minutes. Learn how to make a cheese quesadilla with golden toasted tortillas, melted cheese, and your favorite add-ins.
    Get the Recipe

    8. Parmesan Frico (Cheese Crisps)

    Montasio parmesan frico cheese crisps on a baking sheet with rosemary and black pepper.
    Parmesan Frico Crisps
    Parmesan Frico (Cheese Crisps) are light, crisp, and flavor-packed. Make them with just 3 ingredients in less than 10 minutes and enjoy as a crunchy addition to your chili.
    Get the Recipe

    9. Bacon Cheddar Hasselback Potatoes

    Bacon cheddar hasselback potatoes topped with sour cream, bacon, and chives on a parchment paper-lined board for serving.
    Bacon Cheddar Hasselback Potatoes
    Bacon Cheddar Hasselback Potatoes are the perfect savory chili side. They feature crispy and fluffy potatoes, cheddar, bacon, creme fraiche, and chives. It's simple, but all of the flavors meld together to make a rich combination!
    Get the Recipe

    10. Harvest Salad with Quinoa and Arugula

    Harvest Salad with Quinoa and Arugula and lemon slices on plate.
    Harvest Salad with Quinoa and Arugula
    Harvest Salad with Quinoa and Arugula is a hearty, healthy, salad recipe that can be enjoyed all year long. It's adorned with fall flavors, including dried cranberries, toasted walnuts, and sharp goat cheese. It also only takes 25 minutes to make and can be enjoyed as a healthy chili side or appetizer.
    Get the Recipe

    11. Sautéed French Green Beans with Furikake

    Sautéed Green Beans with Furikake with lemon wedges on plate.
    Sautéed Green Beans with Furikake
    Sautéed Green Beans with Furikake are a robustly flavored side. The lemon juice brightens the fresh green beans while the furikake adds umami flavor. If you are looking for a quick, healthy side dish to pair with chili, these Sautéed Green Beans are perfect.
    Get the Recipe

    12. Pan Fried Potatoes with Herbs

    potatoes roasting in a pan with spoon
    Pan Fried Potatoes with Herbs
    Pan Fried Potatoes with Herbs are buttery, herbaceous, and pair seamlessly with chili. All you need are waxy potatoes, seasoning, and olive oil to make this healthy one-pan side.
    Get the Recipe

    13. Pear and Prosciutto Rocket Salad

    Pear and prosciutto rocket salad on a serving platter with sliced pears, crispy prosciutto, shallots, walnuts, arugula, and a maple balsamic vinaigrette vinaigrette.
    Pear and Prosciutto Rocket Salad
    Pear and Prosciutto Rocket Salad is a delightfully sweet and savory salad. It features crispy prosciutto, sliced pears, walnuts, shallots, shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano, and peppery arugula tossed in a maple balsamic vinaigrette.
    Get the Recipe

    14. Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan

    Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan and Lemon on plate.
    Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan
    Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan is an easy and flavor-packed side. Not only is it bright and flavorful, it only takes a few minutes of prep, and requires minimal effort.
    Get the Recipe

    15. White Rice

    Spicy Tuna Onigiri made with rice and nori and formed in small triangles.
    White Rice
    Steamed white rice is surprisingly delicious in chili. It has a light flavor and firmness that compliments the chili perfectly. You can make rice with a rice cooker or on the stovetop while you cook the chili.
    Get the Recipe

    16. Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Pancetta

    Maple Brussel Sprouts with Pancetta in bowl flatlay.
    Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Pancetta
    Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Pancetta are dressed with olive oil and maple syrup, then roasted and tossed with pancetta. They make the perfect hearty side for chili.
    Get the Recipe

    17. Oven Roasted Onions

    Oven roasted onions with herbs baked and served on a Heath Ceramics platter.
    Oven Roasted Onions
    Oven Roasted Onions are a no-fuss vegan side that's flavor-packed and easy to make. We caramelize sweet onions are roasted in olive oil, salt and pepper, thyme, and rosemary until tender. Just pop them in the oven while you wait for the chili to cook.
    Get the Recipe

    18. Oven Roasted Butternut Squash

    Oven roasted butternut squash on a serving platter with herbs.
    Maple Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Carrots
    Oven Roasted Whole Butternut Squash is a delicious vegetable packed with warm fall flavors. Our fool-proof method results in perfectly tender and caramelized butternut squash loaded with flavor. It pairs perfectly with a cozy bowl of chili. 
    Get the Recipe

    19. Miso Mashed Potatoes

    Closeup shot of miso mashed potatoes with sage, chives, and butter in a bowl.
    Miso Mashed Potatoes
    Miso Mashed Potatoes are a rich and creamy side. They feature flavorful homemade miso butter, garlic, and sage and go perfectly with gravy or au jus. Add these crowd-pleaser potatoes to your weeknight dinner rotation!
    Get the Recipe

    20. Vegetable Wild Rice

    Vegetable Wild Rice in bowl.
    Vegetable Wild Rice
    Vegetable Wild Rice is a versatile and easy chili side. It features scrumptious vegetables, a wild rice blend, hearty broth, and herbs for seasoning. Mix the chili with the wild rice or enjoy the rice separately.
    Get the Recipe

    Top Tips

    • Since chili usually take from 30 minutes to 2 hours to cook, time it so your sides are finished cooking at the same time as your chili. You can also make your sides ahead of time and reheat them when your chili is ready.
    • Enjoy just cup of chili instead of a whole bowl and make a couple of these sides for a complete meal.
    • For salad sides, make ahead of time and dress when you are ready to serve your salmon so the lettuce leaves don’t wilt or get soggy.

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    Did You Like This Recipe?

    Love these chili sides? Please leave a 5-star rating in the recipe card below and leave a comment below. Thanks!

    Sign up for THP's newsletter and keep in touch on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, TikTok, and YouTube. If you made any of these recipes, tag #theheirloompantry so we can see your tasty chili side dish!

    📖 Recipe

    Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread with Miso sliced on plate with butter and honey.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    5 from 2 votes

    What to Serve with Chili: 20 Best Side Dishes

    Jalapeno Cheddar cornbread is our go to chili side . It is sweet, spicy, and has the perfect tender crumb.
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Cook Time25 minutes mins
    Total Time40 minutes mins
    Course: Side Dish, Sides
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 9
    Calories: 285kcal
    Author: Kathleen Higashiyama

    Equipment

    • 1 Mixing bowls
    • 1 spatula
    • 1 whisk
    • 1 8×8 baking pan
    • 1 chefs knife

    Ingredients 

    • 1 cup cornmeal
    • 1 cup all-purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • ¼ cup brown sugar
    • ½ cup butter melted at room temperature 1 stick
    • 1 cup milk
    • ½ cup grated cheddar
    • 1 tablespoon miso paste
    • 1 tablespoon  jalapeños chopped, plus more for garnish
    • 1 egg
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Heat oven and prepare pan - Heat oven to 400°F. Line an 8x8" square pan or 9" round baking pan with parchment paper or grease the pan.
    • Mix ingredients - In a large mixing bowl, beat egg, milk, butter, and miso paste. Add in flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and brown sugar and use a spatula to fold in ingredients just until mixed. Fold in grated cheese and jalapeños.
      1 cup cornmeal, 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ¼ cup brown sugar, ½ cup butter melted at room temperature, 1 cup milk, ½ cup grated cheddar, 1 tablespoon miso paste, 1 egg, 1 tablespoon  jalapeños
    • Prepare to bake - Pour batter into baking pan and gently smooth with an offset spatula or spoon. Add additional grated cheese and place jalapeño slices if desired.
    • Bake - Place in oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the top of the bread is golden brown. Remove from the oven. Allow the bread to cool and slice into 9 squares.

    Notes

    Storage
    • Store leftover cornbread in an air-tight container for up to 3 days. The air-tight container retains the cornbread's moisture. To reheat, place on a sheet pan or a baking sheet and warm at 300°F for 8 minutes or until warmed.
    Top Tips
    • Be sure to fluff the flour before you measure it so you don't use too much.
    • Do not overmix the cornbread or it could get too dense.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 285kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 55mg | Sodium: 381mg | Potassium: 139mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 450IU | Calcium: 119mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @theheirloompantry or tag #theheirloompantry!

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    About the Author

    Kat Higashiyama and Alec Totto are recipe developers, food photographers, and the authors behind The Heirloom Pantry. Since 2017, they have shared recipes inspired by their Japanese and Italian heritage and California and Hawaii roots. They reside in San Jose with their two dogs, Peeps and Paisley. Read More…

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    Alec and Kat with Paisley and Peeps on the beach

    We're Kat and Alec, the culinary duo behind The Heirloom Pantry, where family recipes from our Italian and Japanese heritage meet fresh California ingredients and Hawaiian sunshine. Our chef-tested dishes help you conquer weeknights and wow guests with effortless entertaining. Join us on this delicious journey – let's cook up confidence, together!

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