What Goes Good With Chili? The Amazing Answer Might Surprise You

If you love chili, you might have asked yourself this question, "What goes good with chili?" I asked my friends the same thing, and I got different answers! It was then that I realized there are different accompaniments you can choose, from beverages to bread and pasta.

To help those with the same concern, I gathered all useful information and summed them up in this article. If you're serious about your chili and curious to know, keep reading!

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A Brief History About Chili

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Chili is a type of stew usually mixed with beans, meat, peppers, and spices. Its origins can be traced back to the 17th century when Spanish nun Sister Mary made the first chili recipe of chili. It was in the early 1800s that America learned about this spicy stew.

Here's a demonstration on how to make chili by Greg's Kitchen.

Historically, they made chili for those who couldn't afford decent meat cuts. And since then, several variations were created in different regions.

In Texas, they make chili with plenty of cayenne pepper sans the beans, while chili with cheese and beans is a favorite spaghetti topping in Cincinnati.Bread And Crackers.

So, What Goes Well With Chili?

Breads

Interestingly, chili goes well with a lot of foods, including bread and crackers. If you like to highlight the chili spices, then you need to try cornbread which has a pleasant texture and a slightly sweet flavor.

In Texas, cornbread is perfect with chili because cornbread is also easy to prepare. You can bake it from scratch without a lot of waiting time spent for the bread to rise. If you're in a pinch, you can go to your nearby bakery and select fresh bread.

For a bit of crunch, try toasted garlic bread, French bread, or Italian bread. These three all have a crusty texture that tastes perfect when dipped in chili. Saltines, buttery snack crackers, or oyster crackers also go well with chili when crumbled or slightly crushed.

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Corn Chips

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There are various corn chips that you can try, but blue corn chips are considered by many as chili's best partner. You can either dip the chips into the spicy stew or pour the chili on the chips.

If you want a bit of salty flavor, try cheese and jalapeno chilies which you can garnish on top of a chili bean soup.

Pasta And Rice

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In some regions, like Cincinnati, they use chili as a topping for spaghetti with cheese. You can also add a dollop of Greek yogurt and a slice of scallions for a perfect comfort food during the winter. Here's a chili with pasta recipe that you can try at home!

You can also try elbow macaroni to give a better texture to your chili. All you need to do is to combine the chili mixture with the cooked macaroni. For more details, check this quick skillet dish recipe here.

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It's also a good idea to mix rice with chili. The rice will highlight its spicy and savory taste. To serve, just add rice into a bowl and top with the chili or combine rice and chili as shown in this video.

Beverages

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Chili will always go well with rich-tasting beverages. Wine is one of the most popular drinks that goes well with chili. Wine steward Cara Patricia recommends any GSM Red Blend with moderate alcohol.

You want some fresh fruits to complement the chilies and some tannin to tenderize and flavor the meat. Any wine with a lot of texture suits well with cornbread and chili.

Red wine is preferred by many because of its multitude of benefits, such as proper digestion and prevents cholesterol buildup in the body.

Tip: Did you know that coconut juice counters the spiciness of hot peppers and chili? You might want to keep some in the fridge for “emergency purposes”!

Why not a mug of cold beer and fruity wine punches? Both go great with chili! For kids, you can serve them with lemon ice tea or any carbonated drinks.

Final Thought

What goes good with chili? Well, pasta, some drinks, rice, corn chips, bread, and crackers go well with chili. My personal favorites are blue corn chips, corn bread, and cold beer!

Have you tried any of these foods with chili? What other foods have you enjoyed with it? Let us know in the comments! And please don't forget to share this article for fellow chili lovers!

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