Chili con carne is a flavorful and hearty dish that is sure to please any crowd. But what about the side dishes? Here’s 35+ tasty sides to serve with it!
In this post, I’ll break down some of the best side dishes to serve with chili con carne so that you’ll have an easy and delicious meal.
The side dishes mentioned in this post, such as baked potatoes, simple salads, cornbread, rice, and refried beans, are all crowd pleasers and can be made ahead of time, making them perfect for when you’re serving chili con carne.
Here are all of the best options.
The BEST Sides for Chili con Carne
Mexican Street Corn Salad
This Couscous Corn Salad puts a salad twist on Mexican Street Corn. Smoky grilled corn, a creamy cumin-lime dressing, and pearl couscous combine to create this delicious salad.
Mexican Street Corn Salad
Air Fryer Sausages
This Air Fryer Sausages recipe teaches you the easy and hands-off way of cooking your favorite sausages: in the air fryer! This method works for any type of sausage, from Italian sausages to chorizo to frozen breakfast links, and takes less than 15 minutes.
Air Fryer Sausages
How to Make Tortilla Strips
Learn how to make tortilla strips at home with just 3-ingredients! They’re the perfect crunchy topping for chili, soups and salads.
Tortilla Strips
Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
Learn how to make the BEST Instant Pot Corn on the Cob. This pressure cooker corn on the cob recipe uses a simple, secret ingredient to guarantee that your corn is sweet, tender and delicious!
Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
Air Fryer Shoestring Fries
These Air Fryer Shoestring Fries come out exactly like your favorite fast food fries! They’re crispy, golden on the outside and perfectly fluffy inside. SO much better than deep frying or baking! Plus, you can cook different types of fries – waffle fries, steak fries and more!
Air Fryer Shoestring Fries
Instant Pot Rice
With these tips you’ll see it's simple to learn how to cook perfect rice using the Instant Pot rice setting. The result is fluffy & flavorful rice that’s easy to prepare with minimal measuring.
Instant Pot Rice
Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
Air Fryer Zucchini Fries with Lemon Tarragon Aioli are perfect for snacking. Strips of zucchini, coated in panko cook up perfectly crispy in the air fryer. Dip them in an easy-to-prepare creamy aioli flavored with tarragon and lemon.
Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
How to Cook Canned Corn
Learn how to instantly turn an ordinary vegetable into an extraordinary side dish with this easy canned corn recipe! It covers everything, from how to cook canned corn on the stovetop to how to dress it up with seasonings and flavor boosters to what to serve with it for a meal to remember.
Canned Corn
Vegetarian Kale Caesar Salad
This Kale Caesar Salad is topped with crispy homemade croutons and parmesan cheese. Massaging the creamy garlic dressing into the kale makes it extra tender and delicious.
Kale Caesar Salad
Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
Learn how to make Air Fryer Baked Potatoes with crispy skins! They cook up easily in your air fryer with perfect, crispy & salty skins.
Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
Air Fryer Flour Tortilla Chips
These 3-ingredient Air Fryer Tortilla Chips are quick and easy to make, super crunchy, and light. They’re perfect for dunking in salsa, guacamole, hummus, and more! Made with flour or corn tortillas.
Air Fryer Flour Tortilla Chips
Mexican Street Corn Potato Salad
Creamy potato salad meets smoky street corn in this easy Street Corn Potato Salad. It’s the ultimate Mexican-inspired side dish for summer picnics, backyard BBQs, and everyday dinners. Serve it with grilled meats, tacos, and more.
Mexican Street Corn Potato Salad
Blistered Shishito Peppers
These Blistered Shishito Peppers are the perfect finger food. They’re so easy to make too. Lightly seasoned and slightly smoky, you’ll find that most are mild… one out of every ten might surprise you.
Blistered Shishito Peppers
The BEST Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Roasted Sweet Potatoes are a salty, crispy, savory, and slightly sweet side dish you can pair with almost anything! Lightly spiced and so simple, this easy recipe is a total crowd pleaser and a must-have for weeknight dinners.
Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Arugula Salad
This Arugula Salad recipe with red wine vinaigrette is my go-to green salad. The arugula has a peppery bite to it which pairs wonderfully with the acid in the vinaigrette. It’s the perfect salad for pairing with rich dishes.
Arugula Salad
Shirazi Salad
This simple Shirazi Salad recipe features fresh cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, and crisp red onion. Dressed with plenty of fresh herbs and tossed with a tangy dressing made with lime juice and olive oil. Every bite is bursting with refreshing flavors!
Shirazi Salad
Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes cook up quicker than in the oven and they’re deliciously fluffy and creamy every time! Learn how to make the BEST sweet potatoes in the pressure cooker in just about 30 minutes!
Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
Mediterranean Tomato Cucumber Salad
This Tomato Cucumber Salad features fresh cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, and crisp red onion. Dressed in a tangy homemade red wine vinaigrette, every bite is bursting with refreshing Mediterranean flavors!
Tomato Cucumber Salad
The BEST Instant Pot Refried Beans
Instant Pot Refried Beans require no presoaking. Plus, they're virtually fat free and can be made vegetarian or vegan with some simple swaps.
Instant Pot Refried Beans
Pasta Chips
Pasta Chips are the latest TikTok food trend. Made with cooked pasta that's coated with parmesan, garlic powder and Italian seasoning. Then air fried (or baked in the oven) until crispy, crunchy & delicious!
Pasta Chips
Pretzel Bites with Cheese Sauce Recipe
Pretzel Bites with Cheese Sauce are the perfect snack for tailgating. Soft, chewy and bite size with a golden crust, they're perfect for dunking into a rich cheese dip that can be customized 3-ways.
Pretzel Bites
Crockpot Baked Potatoes
Learn how to make perfect slow cooker baked potatoes with minimal effort. Just season the potatoes with a bit of olive oil and salt, wrap in foil, and cook in the crockpot. Serve them with your favorite toppings like cheese and sour cream, or chili. Or, host a Baked Potato Bar.
Crockpot Baked Potatoes
Homemade Baked Tortilla Chips
These Baked Tortilla Chips are made using store-bought corn tortillas. Just cut them into wedges, season them with Mexican spices, spray with oil and bake for a perfectly crispy, dippable chip!
Baked Tortilla Chips
How to Make Crostini
Crostini are easy to make at home using just 3-ingredients – bread, olive oil and salt. This simple crostini recipe is the perfect appetizer for parties. You can make them ahead of time and serve them with a variety of toppings.
Crostini
Duchess Potatoes
Duchess Potatoes are a fancy piped potato side dish that must make an appearance at your next dinner party. Rich, creamy, and cheesy with just a subtle crisp, these elegant baked mashed potatoes are unlike anything else!
Duchess Potatoes
Grilled Bell Peppers
Learn how to make perfectly tender and blistered Grilled Bell Peppers at home! It’s one of the best and easiest side dishes you can add to burrito bowls, fajitas, or pair with grilled meats.
Grilled Bell Peppers
Instant Pot Mexican Rice
Inspired by the flavors of the classic Mexican restaurant side dish, this Instant Pot Mexican Rice is perfect with enchiladas, fajitas, tacos, and more. It’s a foolproof recipe made entirely in your pressure cooker!
Mexican Rice
Air Fryer Buffalo Wings
These Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings cook up amazingly crispy and juicy without deep frying. Then they’re tossed with a spicy buffalo wing sauce that can be made mild to hot, depending on your taste preference.
Air Fryer Buffalo Wings
Garlic Bread
This restaurant-quality Garlic Bread is crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and slathered with homemade garlic butter and melted parmesan. It’s the perfect pairing for your pasta dinner!
Garlic Bread
Italian Radicchio Salad
This delicious Italian Radicchio Salad is dressed in a creamy lemon-vinaigrette and tossed with buttery calvestrano olives, tasty breadcrumbs and nutty parmesan cheese. And, a special tip ensures that your radicchio won't be bitter!
Radicchio Salad
Crispy Instant Pot Baked Potatoes
Learn how to make Instant Pot Baked Potatoes with crispy skins! They cook in just 12 minutes in your pressure cooker. Then, finish them off under the broiler for perfect, crispy & salty skins.
Instant Pot Baked Potatoes
Kung Pao Brussels Sprouts
Kung Pao Brussels Sprouts are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and covered in a sweet and spicy kung pao sauce. Toss with roasted peanuts and red chilis for a crazy delicious spin on a classic roasted vegetable.
Kung Pao Brussels Sprouts
Fried Green Beans with Dipping Sauce
Crispy Fried Green Beans are baked in the oven for a healthy, delicious treat. Served up with three dipping sauces – green goddess, honey mustard & creamy sriracha. A secret ingredient makes them extra delicious! Air Fryer directions included.
Fried Green Beans
Cherry Tomato Salad with Roasted Lemons
This Cherry Tomato Salad with Roasted Lemons is the perfect side dish. Sweet tomatoes combine with a tangy vinaigrette and delicious roasted lemons.
Cherry Tomato Salad
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders cook up golden & crispy on the outside, but juicy inside. The best part is they can be made in under 20 minutes with just 6-ingredients.
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Easy Smashed Potatoes
These Easy Smashed Potatoes with Mojo Sauce are the most delicious side dish! Crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
Smashed Potatoes
Watermelon Sticks
This easy-to-follow watermelon cutting hack will show you How to Cut Watermelon Into Sticks and Cubes with almost no mess! Enjoy the sticks for snacking and the cubes in a salad. It’s the ultimate summer treat!
Watermelon Sticks
Topping Ideas
- Sour Cream
- Jalapeño peppers
- Crushed Tortilla Chips
- Diced Avocado
- Green Onions
- Fresh Cilantro
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese
How to Make Ahead and Store
Many of these chili con carne side dish recipes can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for a few days or even in the freezer. Simply check the individual recipes for full storing instructions and details on how to make ahead.
More Side Dish Recipes
Did you Make Any of These Chili con Carne Sides?
Please leave a comment and rating below, if you loved this round up of what to serve with chili con carne. Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.
HUNGRY FOR MORE? For more great Platings & Pairings recipes, be sure to follow me on Pinterest, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
Full Recipe
What to Serve with Chili con Carne: 35+ BEST Sides
Wondering what to serve with Chili con Carne? Here's 35+ great options. Find the perfect side dish here. Pair them with this this Beef Chili recipe! A hearty one-pot chili that’s rich, spicy and perfect for game day.
Print
Pin
Serves 4 people
Equipment
- Slow Cooker (optional)
- Instant Pot (optional)
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 onion (diced)
- 1 Tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup beer (dark or light)
- 1 15-ounce can kidney beans (undrained)
- 1 14.5-ounce can can petite diced tomatoes (undrained)
Toppings
- Sour Cream
- Cheddar Cheese (grated)
- Jalapenos
- Fresh Cilantro (minced)
- Tortilla Strips
- Tortilla Chips (crushed)
Instructions
Stove Top Directions
- Cook ground beef and onion in a large pot on medium-high heat, stirring occasionally until browned (about 4 minutes). Drain fat.
- Stir in seasonings, beer, beans and tomatoes. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Serve with your favorite toppings and enjoy!
Slow Cooker Directions
- In a large skillet, saute the ground beef and onion until browned. Drain the fat.
- Add the ground beef and onion to your slow cooker and stir in the seasonings, beer, beans and tomatoes.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or HIGH for 2-3 hours. Enjoy with your favorite toppings!
Instant Pot Directions
- Turn your instant pot to SAUTE.Once hot, brown ground beef with diced onions. Hit CANCEL.
- Add in your liquid, beans, tomatoes and chili seasonings and scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. This is important–if you don’t scrape off the browned bits, the Instant Pot may not come to pressure.
- Cook on MANUAL high pressure for 20 minutes. Turn the knob to vent and quick release the pressure before removing the lid. Enjoy with your favorite toppings!
Notes
- To Store: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- To Reheat: Gently reheat on the stove over medium-low heat until hot. You can also microwave the leftovers.
- To Freeze: I like to portion the leftover chili into freezer bags in individual serving sizes and place them on a cookie sheet to freeze. Once frozen, I stack them in the freezer making for an easy individual lunch! You can freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Calories: 336kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 80mg | Sodium: 695mg | Potassium: 419mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 660IU | Vitamin C: 2.1mg | Calcium: 51mg | Iron: 3.5mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!
Leave a Reply