What to Serve With Texas Chili: 15 Best Side Dishes

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Enhance your Texas chili with these delightful side dishes that elevate its bold flavors. Southern Skillet Cornbread's crispy crust offers a comforting touch. Enjoy the melty goodness of a Grilled Cheese Sandwich. A fresh Chopped Salad balances the richness, while creamy Guacamole adds a tangy twist. Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread and Cornbread Muffins bring a spicy and sweet contrast. Lighten things up with a vibrant Corn-and-Tomato Salad or enjoy the savory twist of Broccoli Cornbread. Mexican Corn bursts with vibrant flavors, and Grilled Cheese & Tomato Roll-Ups are a playful addition. Each dish adds something special to your meal. Discover more and elevate your chili experience!

Southern Skillet Cornbread

deliciously crispy cornbread recipe

Southern Skillet Cornbread is the quintessential side dish to serve alongside Texas chili. With its moist texture and slightly sweet flavor, this classic cornbread recipe is baked in a cast-iron skillet. It features a crispy crust that perfectly complements the bold flavors of chili. Whether crumbled on top or served on the side, this Southern food favorite adds a comforting and rustic touch to your meal.

This cornbread is a crowd-pleaser, ideal for gatherings, potlucks, or cozy family dinners. Its simplicity and versatility make it a go-to recipe for any occasion. The rich aroma of freshly baked cornbread wafting through your kitchen is sure to whet everyone's appetite.

Grilled Cheese Sandwich

cheesy comfort food classic

A grilled cheese sandwich, with its golden-brown crust and melty interior, serves as a delightful companion to Texas chili. This comforting duo offers a quick and delicious meal for chili night.

The cheesy element of the sandwich complements the chili's flavors, making it a satisfying option. Its warm and crispy texture provides a classic pairing that enhances the overall dining experience.

Chopped Salad

colorful vegetables in bowl

Chopped salad provides a fresh and light accompaniment that perfectly balances the rich, hearty flavors of Texas chili. This healthy side dish bursts with vibrant colors and textures, enhancing the meal's overall presentation.

It can be veggie-focused or include ham and is a great make-ahead option, allowing you to focus on enjoying your chili without last-minute prep.

Guacamole

delicious and creamy dip

Another excellent side dish that complements the robust flavors of Texas chili is guacamole, adding a creamy and tangy element to the meal.

This versatile side dish enhances the chili's bold flavors and offers a satisfying texture contrast.

Perfect for dipping with chips or as a topping, guacamole brightens the meal and provides a revitalizing balance to the rich, spicy chili.

Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread

spicy cornbread with cheese

Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread introduces a delightful combination of spiciness and cheesy goodness, providing a perfect complement to the hearty flavors of Texas chili.

This flavorful side dish, cooked in a cast-iron skillet, offers a rustic touch and a bold kick. Its spicy notes and cheesy richness make it an ideal accompaniment, enhancing the overall dining experience with its unique and bold flavors.

Microwave Baked Potato

quick and easy meal

Complementing the bold flavors of Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread, microwave baked potatoes offer a quick and convenient side dish option for serving with Texas chili.

These easy-to-prepare potatoes can be topped with chili or enjoyed on the side, providing a hearty and filling addition to your meal.

Perfect for scooping up chili, they add a warm, comforting element to your Texas chili dinner.

Broccoli Cornbread

healthy and delicious side dish

Broccoli Cornbread, featuring a secret ingredient of cottage cheese, offers a moist and fluffy variation on traditional cornbread that pairs excellently with Texas chili.

This unique twist brings comforting flavors while adding a healthy and nutritious element with broccoli.

As a creative side dish, broccoli cornbread not only complements the richness of Texas chili but also provides a delightful and wholesome dining experience.

Cheese Sauce

macaroni and cheese recipe

For an added layer of indulgence, cheese sauce serves as a rich and creamy companion to Texas chili, elevating the dish with its robust flavors.

This flavorful, indulgent topping enhances chili and chips, adding a creamy touch that delights the palate.

Versatile and satisfying, cheese sauce can be drizzled or used as a dip, making it a delicious addition to any chili night.

Cornbread Salad

delicious southern summer dish

Cornbread Salad offers an invigorating and light side dish option that pairs beautifully with the robust flavors of Texas chili.

This layered salad introduces a unique twist on traditional cornbread, making it a revitalizing side dish. Ideal for special occasions, Cornbread Salad elevates the dining experience with its delightful combination of flavors and textures, providing a creative touch to your meal.

Fried Mashed Potato Balls

delicious crispy potato bites

Complementing the light and invigorating Cornbread Salad, Fried Mashed Potato Balls offer a crispy and creamy side dish that pairs perfectly with the robust flavors of Texas chili.

These delicious bite-sized snacks are made from mashed potatoes, fried to perfection. They provide a fun and tasty finger food option, making them a crowd-pleasing addition to any chili feast.

Corn-And-Tomato Salad

fresh summer salad recipe

Brimming with vitality, Corn-And-Tomato Salad offers a tender and flavorful complement to the hearty richness of Texas chili.

This light and invigorating side dish enhances the robust flavors of the chili, making it an excellent choice to serve.

The combination of sweet corn and juicy tomatoes provides a vibrant, colorful, and satisfying addition to your meal, balancing textures and tastes beautifully.

Cornbread Muffins

delicious homemade comfort food

The delightful sweetness of cornbread muffins, derived from buttermilk and sugar, perfectly balances the spicy heat of Texas chili.

This side dish offers an ideal individual serving size, making portion control easy.

Their golden brown color adds visual appeal to your meal, while their tender, moist texture provides a satisfying contrast to the hearty chili.

Cornbread muffins truly elevate the dining experience.

Mexican Corn

spicy street food favorite

Bursting with vibrant flavors, Mexican Corn, also known as elote, makes an excellent companion to Texas Chili. This classic street food features grilled corn on the cob slathered with mayonnaise, cotija cheese, chili powder, and lime juice.

The combination delivers a delightful mix of salty, sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors, adding a taste of Mexican cuisine that elevates any meal.

Hot Potlikker Cornbread

soulful southern comfort food

Hot Potlikker Cornbread is a Southern staple that introduces a unique blend of flavors to your Texas chili experience. This comforting cornbread recipe incorporates collard greens and potlikker, resulting in rich, flavorful fritters that are crispy and golden brown.

The combination adds a rustic touch and Southern flair, making it a perfect side dish to complement the bold, hearty flavors of Texas chili.

Are the Best Side Dishes for Cuban Sliders similar to the ones for Texas Chili?

When it comes to the best Cuban slider side dishes, they may differ from the ones for Texas chili. While Texas chili is often paired with cornbread, coleslaw, or macaroni and cheese, Cuban sliders are commonly served with yuca fries, plantain chips, and black beans and rice. Each dish complements its main course perfectly.

Grilled Cheese & Tomato Roll-Ups

cheesy tomato roll up goodness

Grilled Cheese & Tomato Roll-Ups introduce a playful twist to your chili night, providing both convenience and a cheesy complement to the hearty Texas chili.

These comforting roll-ups make dipping easy and enjoyable, adding a fun element to your meal. Perfect for kids and adults alike, they are simple to prepare while your chili simmers, enhancing the overall dining experience.