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What to Serve with Chili - 21 Tasty Ideas

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For game days, potlucks, parties, or chili dinners, here are 21 tasty appetizers, sides, and desserts to serve with chili that are all gluten-free!

A bowl of chili topped with avocado and black pepper.

Whether it's game day or chili night, the perfect accompaniment to a pot of chili makes the meal. Here you will find the best side dishes, best appetizers, and best desserts to serve with your pot of chili.

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Types of chili

The types and variations of chili can cause debate among some, but in our eyes, they are all delicious! No matter your favorite chili recipe, most are made with simple ingredients that result in a satisfying, hearty meal. Common types include:

  • Chili con carne
  • White chicken chili
  • Vegetarian chili
  • Chili verde
  • Texas chili
  • Black bean chili
  • Turkey chili

What do you serve on top of chili?

Once you have your warm bowl of chili, load it up with your favorite toppings. Here are some great options to have out on the dinner table or to serve alongside as garnish for a party or for your friendly neighborhood chili cookoff:

  • Sour cream
  • Guacamole
  • Avocado slices
  • Shredded cheese
  • Diced onion
  • Corn chips
  • Tortilla chips
  • Green onions
  • Jalapeno peppers
  • Yellow chili peppers
  • Fresh cilantro
  • Hot sauce

21 Tasty sides and desserts

Finding the perfect pairing to a spicy chili makes this kind of best comfort food even better. From appetizers to an easy side dish, to dessert, we've got it covered.

Cornbread

Classic cornbread is probably a given, but it's a perfect match for a hearty chili. Variations on homemade cornbread keep things interesting and are sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Cornbread
Made with sweet potatoes and naturally sweetened with maple syrup for a healthy addition to any table.
Make this Recipe

Cheese bread

Whether you are dairy-free or not, cheese bread of all kinds will make a great side dish. From cheesy breadsticks to garlic bread with melted cheese to pão de queijo (Brazilian cheese bread), try one of these easy pairings.

Vegan Brazilian Cheese Bread
This recipe uses tapioca starch, potato, olive oil, and spices to make a dairy-free pão de queijo. Gluten-free.
Make this Recipe
Cheesy bread rolls spread out on a piece of parchment paper.

Fries

French fries and fries of unique flavors and ingredients like sweet potato fries, play well with this simple dish. Go with the classic or try something new.

Baked Polenta Fries
A crispy outside and creamy inside, this Baked Polenta Fries recipe is the perfect snack, appetizer, or side dish. Gluten-free and vegan.
Make this Recipe
Crispy polenta fries in a blue dish on a blue tablecloth.

Jalapeno poppers 

The creamy and crunchy texture of jalapeno poppers strikes just the right balance with the main dish. Pick your favorite jalapeno popper recipe and serve it as an appetizer or side dish.

Vegan Jalapeño Poppers
Using a dairy-free cream cheese filling with garlic, spices, and potato chips for an easy appetizer in just 30 minutes. Gluten-free and vegan!
Make this Recipe
Jalapeños with cream cheese and crushed potato chips on a white plate.

Totchos

Tater tots plus nachos equal totchos! The little potato puffs are loaded with your favorite toppings and complement the flavors of chili powder and spice in all the best ways.

Totchos
This Totchos recipe is made with a green salsa cashew cheese sauce and loaded with vegetarian toppings. Easily customize with your favorite toppings! Gluten-free and dairy-free.
Make the Recipe
Tater tot nachos loaded with toppings on a pan.

Tater tots

This easy finger food is quick and easy and even delicious as a topping on a big bowl of chili!

Baked Zucchini Tater Tots
Made with fresh zucchini and russet potatoes, these 4-ingredient zucchini tots are sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Gluten-free, vegan.
Make the Recipe
Baked Zucchini Tater Tots make for a veggie-friendly side dish, appetizer, or snack. Made with fresh zucchini and russet potatoes, these 4-ingredient zucchini tots are sure to be a crowd-please. Gluten-free, vegan.

Queso

You can't go wrong with melted cheese! Use as a side with chips or drizzled on top of your hearty bowl.

Vegan Queso Blanco
This queso is perfect for sharing. Made with cashews, spices, and hatch chilis, it is a delicious white cheese dip that is totally dairy-free! Gluten-free.
Make the Recipe
queso blanco with tortilla chips

Dip

A cool and creamy dip and potato chips are a delicious partner to a warm bowl.

Cold Spinach Dip
This can be whipped up in minutes and will be a total crowd favorite! Serve with vegetables or chips!
Make the Recipe
Creamy spinach dip in a white bowl with a potato chip sticking out the middle served with a platter of potato chips, peppers, and celery.

Onion Rings

Salty, savory, and a little crunchy, baked or fried, they make a great pairing.

Gluten-Free Onion Strings
This recipe is baked, not fried. Made with white rice flour, dairy-free buttermilk, and spices, these won't last long! Vegan.
Make the Recipe
onion strings on plate

Green salad

A fresh green salad is a great cool and crisp compliment to a rich bowl of chili.

Kiwi Avocado Salad
Bright, fresh, and easy, this recipe is topped with a simple, sweet, and tangy kiwi fruit dressing. Gluten-free, vegan, and refined sugar-free. 
Make the Recipe
Quick and easy, this Kiwi, Avocado, and Tomato Salad recipe with Kiwi Dressing is sure to please. Gluten-free and vegan.

Grain salad

Grain salads can be made with rice, quinoa, millet, buckwheat, or other easy-to-cook grains. Easy to transport and serve for parties and cookouts.

Millet Tabbouleh Salad
Fresh Millet Tabbouleh Salad recipe featuring whole grain cooked millet instead of traditional bulgur.
Make the Recipe

Pasta salad

Pasta salads work well as a side and are a total crowd-pleaser.

Dairy-Free Ranch Pasta Salad
This Gluten-Free Ranch Pasta Salad is made with a creamy vegan dressing and fresh broccoli, peppers, and mushrooms! A perfect vegetarian side dish. 
Make the Recipe
gluten-free ranch pasta salad in white bowl

Vegetables

Roasted vegetables, sauteed vegetables, or fresh vegetables all add color, flavor, and texture.

Carrot Fries
Oven Baked Carrot Fries tossed with olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and parsley for a deliciously healthy snack recipe. Just add your favorite dipping sauce! Gluten-free, vegan.
Make the Recipe
Oven Baked Carrot Fries tossed with olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and parsley, for a deliciously healthy snack recipe. Gluten-free, vegan.

Ice cream

From plain vanilla to more exotic flavors, this is a great way to finish a meal.

No Churn Vegan Chocolate Tahini Ice Cream
Made with almond milk and coconut milk and naturally sweetened with maple syrup. A healthy dairy-free ice cream recipe to enjoy year round!
Make the Recipe
chocolate ice cream

Sorbet

Fruit sorbets are a wonderful palette cleanser, but did you know that there is such a thing as chocolate sorbet?! Either way, a cool and refreshing way to end the meal.

Chocolate Sorbet
Fruit sorbets are a wonderful palette cleanser, but did you know that there is such a thing as chocolate sorbet?! Either way, a cool and refreshing way to end the meal.
Make the Recipe
chocolate frozen sorbet in a glass dish

Cobbler

From apple cobbler to peach cobbler, this comfort food dessert completes a chili meal perfectly.

Blueberry Cobbler
This Gluten-Free Blueberry Cobbler is loaded with fresh blueberries, a hint of lemon, and topped with soft, lightly sweetened biscuits. A dairy-free and vegan cobbler recipe.
Make the Recipe
Freshly baked blueberry cobbler in a white baking dish and a scoop of blueberry cobbler in a white bowl with a vanilla scoop of ice cream.

Homemade Dole Whip

Like sorbet, this pineapple coconut dreamy treat is fresh and cool.

Homemade Dole Whip
An easy frozen treat that is gluten-free and vegan.
Make the Recipe
Creamy Homemade Dole Whip

Popsicles

Popsicles come in a variety of flavors and are a super simple dessert option.

Lemonade Popsicles
An easy, 2-ingredient lemonade popsicle recipe naturally sweetened with honey. Gluten-free, refined sugar-free, and with a vegan option.
Make the Recipe
lemonade popsicles with raspberries

Brownies

Who doesn't love a brownie? A great option to bring to potlucks and parties.

Gluten-Free Brownies
Decadent and rich brownies make for an easy dairy-free, grain-free, and refined sugar-free treat. 
Make the Recipe
Freshly cut chocolate brownies on white parchment paper.

Chocolate chip cookies

With melty morsels and a buttery bite, is there anything more satisfying than a chocolate chip cookie?

Olive Oil Chocolate Chip Cookies
Made with only five main ingredients and one bowl, you'll have these in the oven in under 10 minutes. Gluten-free and vegan.
Make the Recipe

Peanut butter pie

Cool and creamy, salty and sweet, peanut butter pie will be a total crowd-pleaser.

Vegan Peanut Butter Pie
Made with a creamy dairy-free filling in a chocolate almond flour crust. A gluten-free frozen dessert recipe made healthy. 
Make the Recipe
A frozen pie with a chocolate crust set on a marble round and a gray linen tea towel.

FAQs

Should chili be thick or watery?

Chili should be thick and hearty and not brothy. Some may prefer a little extra liquid and that is okay too.

What can you do with leftover chili?

There are various ways to repurpose leftover chili. Serve on hot dogs, over rice, or smother a baked potato.

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