food
By Katherine Gillen
•
Published Jan 19, 2022
Chili season is in full force, friends. (Have you tried our turkey chili with avocado?) In our opinion, the meaty, spicy stew is hearty enough to serve on its own, but then again, no dinner is complete without a few tasty accompaniments to balance things out—think healthy side dishes like tangy cole slaw and guacamole salad, cornbread recipes and family favorites like mac and cheese bites. Still wondering what goes with chili? With these 40 side dishes, you can transform a humble dinner into an absolute feast.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
1. Buttermilk Skillet Cornbread With Tomatoes And Scallions
It’s a little bit fancy, but still just as tasty (and easy to make) as the original.
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Photo: Jon Cospito/Styling: Erin McDowell
2. Pimento Cheese Stuffed Shish*to Peppers
Only four ingredients to deliciousness. Swap the shish*tos for jalapeños if you’re feeling…spicy.
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Erin McDowell
3. One-pot Mac And Cheese
We’re not drooling, you’re drooling. Bonus: There are basically no dishes to worry about.
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National Honey Board
4. Chilaquiles With Poached Eggs And Spicy Honey
A drizzle of spicy honey cuts the richness of the eggs and fried tortillas for a beautifully balanced dish. It’s filling, so serve your chili in smaller portions if you’d like.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
5. Savory Monkey Bread
The flavor is infinitely adaptable (mozzarella today, Swiss tomorrow). Plus, this pull-apart bread is perfect for dunking.
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Ana Cuba/The Modern Cook's Year
6. Kale And Brussels Sprout Caesar Slaw
Our favorite cold-weather veggies strike again, this time in a crisp, refreshing take on slaw.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
7. 15-minute Microwave Mashed Potatoes
Some people serve chili over baked potatoes, but we’re fans of spuds in all forms. And, when they’re ready in almost no time, how can you resist?
Get the recipe
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
8. Gluten-free Cheese And Cauliflower ‘breadsticks’
Cauliflower is a regular guest star in our kitchen and it’ll forever hold a special place in our heart. It’s the healthy-ish side you never knew you needed.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
9. Avocado Rice
We’re in the mood for some Tex-Mex tonight. Don’t skimp on the freshly squeezed lime juice.
Alexandra Stafford
10. Veggie-loaded Stuffed Bell Peppers
They’re colorful, bursting with flavor, vegetarian and totally customizable.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
11. Rainbow Vegetable Skewers
Throwing your vegetables on the grill to get them nice and charred is totally worth it for the boost of flavor. (Psst: Looks aside, sticking to one veggie per skewer results in each one cooking more evenly.)
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
12. Baked Gorgonzola Bites
All you need is five ingredients to make this melty, cheesy, pull-apart recipe.
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Kristin Perers/Round Ours
13. Smoky Barbecued Corn
Let’s keep grilling season going all year round (and top all our vegetables with grated Parm).
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Robert S. Cooper/A Real Southern Cook
14. Sprightly Biscuits
Surprisingly, these flaky cuties get their light texture from citrus soda. No, there will not be leftovers for breakfast.
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ERIN KUNKEL/MALIBU FARM SUNRISE TO SUNSET
15. Malibu Farm’s Vegan Chop Salad
There’s a reason this classic salad is still popular. Make it plant-based to balance out your meaty bowl of chili.
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Aubrie Pick/Cravings: Hungry for More
16. Garlicky Cauliflower ‘rice’
Five cloves of garlic sounds like a lot, but one bite and you’ll know it’s just the right amount.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
17. Tater Tot Nachos
Add your favorite salsa, sour cream, green onions and cilantro and you have yourself a spectacular side dish.
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Taylor Peden and Jen Munk/Cook This Book
18. Green Beans With Garlicky Pistachio Vinaigrette
Gone are the days of mushy, lukewarm green beans. The garlicky dressing pairs surprisingly well with chili.
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Eva Kolenko/Bread Toast Crumbs
19. Spicy Broccoli Sauté
It’s six ingredients including salt and olive oil, and it’s blanketed in garlicky breadcrumbs. Cool if we have seconds?
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Photo: Tyler Mauk/Styling: Anne Mauk
20. Corn And Tomato Salad With Feta And Lime
Swap the feta for halloumi or cheddar, add jalapeño, go wild.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
21. Cheese And Bacon Baked Potatoes
Giving your spuds the Hasselback treatment means there’s extra surface area for toppings. Brilliant.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
22. Mango Guacamole
Sweet and spicy, just the way we like it.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
23. Spiralized Winter Vegetable Gratin
Put that farmers market haul to good use.
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Power Plates
24. Quick Guacamole Quinoa Salad
It happens to be vegan, but no one will suspect a thing.
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Photo: Eric Moran/Styling: Erin McDowell
25. Zucchini ‘fries’
With these on our plate, we don’t miss potatoes. (Can you believe we said that?)
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
26. Cheesy Polenta Bites With Brussels Sprouts And Pancetta
It’s all about mixing highbrow with lowbrow, people.
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Eva Kolenko/Bread Toast Crumbs
27. No-knead Peasant Bread
Homemade bread sounds intimidating, but once you try this version, you’ll never go back to canned crescent rolls.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
28. Baked Mac-and-cheese Bites
You take a total crowd-pleaser and make it mini, and suddenly everyone is giving you a round of applause.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
29. Easy Dinner Rolls
You: 1. Bakery: 0.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
30. Easy Zucchini Chips
They’re best eaten by the handful.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
31. Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Step away from the frozen onion rings. This side is great on its own, or smothered in chili (and a handful of shredded cheese).
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Amanda Frederickson/Simple Beautiful Food
32. Roasted Sweet Potatoes With Sriracha And Lime
We almost don’t want to call this brilliance a side dish.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
33. ‘everything Bagel’ Cauliflower Rolls
They’re low carb so, yeah, we’re eating three.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
34. Beer Margarita
It’s as refreshing as it is potent, not to mention a cinch to make.
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Katherine Gillen
35. Cast Iron Cornbread
Using a cast iron skillet is the key to crispy, golden-brown edges. We can’t recommend it highly enough.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
36. Avocado And Black Bean Pasta Salad
Proof that pasta salad isn’t just for picnic potlucks (and doesn’t have to be made with mayo).
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
37. Mini Nachos
Honey, we shrunk the nachos, and we’re actually pretty proud of ourself.
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Erin McDowell
38. The Best Frybread
It’s crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside and the ideal thing to dip into a bowl of chili.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
39. Light And Tangy Cole Slaw
Buy your cabbage pre-shredded (and thank us later).
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40. Julia Turshen’s Skillet Cornbread With Cheddar And Scallions
The ultimate chili side dish? Spicy, cheesy cornbread, of course.
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Katherine Gillen
Senior Food Editor
Katherine Gillenis PureWow’s senior food editor. She’s a writer, recipe developer and food stylist with a degree in culinary arts and professional experience in New York City...
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