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What Kind of Bread to Serve with Chili? (17 Breads)

When it comes to your chili, you want to make sure that you serve it with the perfect bread.

What Kind of Bread to Serve with Chili

In this blog post, we’ll tell you what kind of bread to serve with your chili and help you choose the best one for your next dinner party.

See Also:

What Kind of Bread to Serve with Chili? (17 Breads)

breads

When you’re serving chili, you want to make sure you’re serving the perfect kind of bread.

Sure, it’s all about the chili, but a great bowl of chili is only as good as the side dishes that accompany it.

And if you want to serve something that will really get your guests talking, we’ve got just what you need!

Here are our recommendations for the perfect bread to serve with chili:

1. French Bread

French bread makes for the perfect companion to any bowl of chili.

In fact, it’s one of our go-to sides for when we’re making chili at home—it’s simple to make and goes great with all kinds of toppings (think cheese and sour cream!).

We also like to use French bread in place of tortillas when making tacos or quesadillas.

It’s just as versatile as any other kind of bread out there!

So how do you make this wonderful French bread?

It’s easy!

Here are some ingredients: flour, yeast, salt, sugar, water and oil (we recommend olive oil).

All those ingredients come together in just three steps: mix everything together with your hands in a large bowl; let it rise for two hours; then bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit until golden brown on both sides.

The result?

A crispy outside layer with a soft center—perfect for sopping up chili!

2. Naan Bread

 Naan bread is a great option when serving chili.

It’s light, fluffy, and has a lovely texture.

The recipe below will give you an idea of how to make it.

We recommend serving it with your favorite kind of chili—you’ll be amazed by how much better it tastes!

To make naan bread:

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F/190°C.
  2. Mix the dry ingredients together, then add the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ones. Mix well until no clumps remain.
  3. Pour dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and spread out evenly with a spatula or other flat object. Bake for 15 minutes until golden brown on top; then flip over and bake for another 5 minutes or until both sides are golden brown in color as well.

3. Focaccia bread

This focaccia bread recipe is simple and easy to make, and it goes perfectly with any kind of chili.

The best thing about it is that all you have to do is add some toppings like cheese or fresh herbs and then pop it in the oven for 15 minutes!

It’s a flavorful way to give your meal an extra kick without having to spend hours in the kitchen.

When serving this bread with chili, we recommend pairing it with something crunchy like potato chips or ice cream—something light and airy will take away from the flavor of the bread itself, so go for something hearty instead!

And lastly, if you’re serving this alongside anything else on your menu (like chicken or steak), try adding some bacon for an added boost of flavor!

4. Pita Bread

This pita bread recipe is super simple, with just three ingredients: flour, water, and salt.

You can find these ingredients at pretty much any grocery store or marketplace in your area if you don’t already have them on hand at home.

  1. The process isn’t too complicated either—just mix everything together in a large bowl with a wooden spoon until it’s well-combined.
  2. Then turn out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth (about 10 minutes).
  3. After that, shape into balls and let rise for an hour before baking at 425 degrees Fahrenheit until golden brown (about 20 minutes).

5. Biscuits

Biscuits are the perfect companion for a bowl of chili.

They’re buttery and flaky and have just enough chewiness to them to stand up to the thickness of this meal without getting soggy.

Plus, they’re easy to make and can be prepared ahead of time so that all you have to do when you’re getting ready for dinner is pop them in the oven!

We recommend making your own biscuits from scratch for this meal; however, if that’s not possible or doesn’t fit into your schedule, feel free to pick up some store-bought ones instead.

Just be sure that they are fresh and still warm from the oven when served alongside your chili!

6. Ciabatta Bread

Ciabatta is one of the most delicious kinds of bread out there.

It’s great for any meal, but especially when served with chili.

We’ve included the recipe below, so you can try making it yourself!

Ingredients:

  1. 1 cup of warm water
  2. 1 package dry active yeast
  3. 2 cups all-purpose flour
  4. 2 teaspoons salt

Directions:

  1. Add all ingredients to a large bowl and stir together with a spoon until completely combined.
  2. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let sit in a warm place for about an hour, or until dough has doubled in size.
  3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (176 C).
  4. Lightly flour your work surface and using a floured rolling pin, roll out dough into a rectangle that’s about 2″ thick (5 cm).
  5. Using a knife or pizza cutter, cut dough into strips about 1″ wide by 4″ long (3 cm x 10 cm).
  6. Place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper or sprayed with nonstick cooking spray and bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown on top.
  7. In order to serve this bread effectively, be sure to wait until it is cool enough before slicing it open and serving it with your chili.

7. Cornbread

Cornbread is a classic choice.

It’s easy to make and pretty hard to mess up.

Look for cornbread recipes that contain lots of oil or butter, because once you’ve got a bowl of chili in front of you… let’s just say butter is our friend.

Don’t be afraid to give your cornbread a little extra kick with some cayenne pepper or a dash of paprika.

8. Cheddar Jalapeño Cornbread

This bread goes great with chili because it’s sweet and savory all at once, with just a hint of spice.

It’s also super easy to make, so you can spend more time with your friends and less time slaving over a hot stove!

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups self-rising cornmeal
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (sharp or medium)
  • 1 cup corn kernels (fresh or frozen)
  • 1 jalapeño pepper (seeds removed)

Directions:

  1. Place self-rising cornmeal and flour in a large mixing bowl.
  2. Stir in cheese, corn kernels and jalapeño pepper until well combined.
  3. Pour mixture into a greased 9×9 baking dish.
  4. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes or until golden brown on top.
  5. Serve warm with chili to get people talking!

9. Hawaiian Sweet Rolls

Hawaiian Sweet Rolls are a fresh take on traditional sweet rolls: they’re made with pineapple and coconut milk instead of milk or water, giving them a tropical kick that pairs perfectly with chili’s spicy flavor profile.

They’re also incredibly easy to make!

If you’ve got some extra time on your hands (and who doesn’t?), we highly recommend making these rolls for your next chili dinner – they’ll be so good!

10. Bread Sticks

 If you’re looking to serve the perfect kind of bread for your chili dinner, look no further than bread sticks.

These little guys are easy to make, but they add a lot of flavor and texture to any meal.

You can keep them in the freezer, so they’ll be ready whenever you need them!

  • To make them: Start by cutting up a loaf of white bread into small cubes. Then, spread some butter over each cube (about 1/4 cup per loaf). Add salt and pepper to taste, then sprinkle on some garlic powder or other spices if you’d like. Place the cubes on a baking sheet and put them in your oven at 400°F for about 30 minutes.
  • To serve them: When they’re done baking, take them out of the oven and let them cool down before serving them with your chili dishes. If possible, let everything sit out for half an hour or so until it’s warm enough for everyone to enjoy.

One thing you should keep in mind: these will get soft if they sit too long without being eaten! So don’t forget that they’re there while you enjoy your chili dinner—they’ll still be delicious when re-heated later on!

11. Dinner Rolls

 Dinner rolls are sweet, but not too sweet, and they go perfectly with anything from meaty chili to veggie-packed bean chili.

They’re also easy to make, which means you can have them on the table in no time flat!

To make them:

  1. Start by preheating your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius).
  2. Once it’s heated, take out a baking sheet and line it with parchment paper.
  3. In a large bowl, mix together 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup of granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1 packet of dry yeast.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 cup warm water (about 110 degrees Fahrenheit) and 1/3 cup vegetable oil until thoroughly combined.
  5. Add 2 tablespoons of honey to that mixture and whisk again until smooth. Then add the wet ingredients to the dry ones and stir until just combined—don’t worry about overmixing!

12. Garlic Breadsticks

Garlic breadsticks are exactly what you want: they’re easy to make, delicious, and a great way to get people talking.

Here’s how to do it:

  1. Start by gathering the ingredients: 2 loaves of French bread, 3 cloves of garlic, 2 tablespoons of butter, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
  2. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease a baking sheet with vegetable oil spray or butter.
  3. Cut each loaf into 3/4 inch slices and then cut each slice in half diagonally so that each triangle has two points.
  4. Place triangles on the baking sheet so that they aren’t touching one another—you’ll need plenty of space between them!
  5. Bake for 15 minutes until golden brown and crispy!
  6. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving alongside your favorite chili dish!

13. Pretzels

Pretzels are a classic choice—and they’re actually pretty easy to make yourself.

See Also: 47 Dips for Pretzels I Can’t Resist

You’ll need flour, water and salt to start off with.

  1. Then add in some sugar and yeast.
  2. Now mix everything together until it forms a dough ball!
  3. Once you’ve got that part down pat, just let your pretzel dough rise for an hour or so before baking it in the oven at 450 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes or so.

Now that you know how to make your own pretzels at home (because who doesn’t love homemade?), all that’s left is to decide how you’re going to serve them up!

14. Crackers

Crackers are a great option for serving with chili because they’re crunchy and easy to eat.

They also go well with cheese, which makes them a great choice for parties where there are lots of people who like different kinds of foods.

  • To make them: First, bake your favorite cracker recipe—we suggest using wheat flour and salt for best results—and then cut them into squares or triangles. Your guests can then dip them into their bowls of chili and enjoy!
  • For serving: You can put out bowls of crackers next to bowls of chili on your dining table so that guests can grab some when they need it.
  • One thing you should keep in mind: If you have picky eaters or people who don’t like spicy food at your party, make sure they have something else they can eat alongside their crackers!

15. A simple loaf of white bread

A simple loaf of white bread

White bread is a great complement to a bowl of spicy goodness.

To make them:

  1. Take a loaf of white bread and slice it into squares.
  2. Place them on a baking sheet and bake them for about 10 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, or until they’re crispy.
  3. Once they’re done baking, take them out of the oven and let them cool for a few minutes before serving!

To serve them:

  1. Serve a few pieces of this delicious bread alongside your favorite bowl of chili.
  2. And if you want to add some extra flavor to your meal, try topping it with some shredded cheese or butter!

One thing you should keep in mind: if you’re going to be cooking multiple batches of chili throughout the night, make sure you don’t over-bake your bread!

16. A crusty baguette

Who doesn’t like a crusty baguette? No one, that’s who!

To make them:

  1. Get some crusty baguettes and cut them into 1 inch slices.
  2. Put them on a baking sheet and sprinkle with olive oil and salt.
  3. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit until they are crisp (12-15 minutes).

To serve them:

  1. Place on a plate in front of each dinner place setting.
  2. Serve alongside forks, plates and bowls full of chili!

One thing you should keep in mind: While these breadsticks taste amazing when served with our chili recipes, they also pair well with stews and soups—not just the ones made from beans!

17. Rye bread

Rye bread is AWESOME.

And don’t worry, you don’t need to be a master baker to whip up a batch.

To make them, just follow these simple steps:

  1. Find a recipe for rye bread that you like.
  2. Double-check your supplies: you’ll need flour, salt, yeast, and water at minimum.
  3. Bake your bread! It’s that easy. You can have homemade bread in no time flat.

To serve them:

  1. Slice your bread into pieces that are about an inch thick, and lay them out on a pretty tray. You can even put them on one of those cool bamboo cutting boards that are all the rage right now!
  2. If you want to get really fancy, melt some butter and spread it on your slices of bread so they’re nice and soft and buttery before you serve them up to your guests along with their chili.
  3. If you’re feeling really ambitious, add some freshly chopped parsley or chives to the top of each slice of bread before serving them with the chili! Nothing says “I’m classy!” like a little green garnish.

Why Is It a Good Idea to Serve Bread with Chili?

For many, the answer lies in the chili itself.

Chili can be extremely spicy or salty, and these effects can be mitigated by eating something with a high water content.

For example, some people like to drink milk with spicy foods because the milk helps neutralize the heat of the spices. Similarly, other people enjoy eating bread when they are enjoying savory dishes such as chili.

The bread absorbs some of the saltiness, making the dish more pleasant to eat.

For other people, it’s all about texture. Bread provides a nice crunchy contrast to the softness of most chilis. Others might prefer even softer textures, such as crackers or tortilla chips.

Bread also has a neutral flavor that doesn’t interfere with any seasoning in your chili recipe. In fact, you could even consider using it as part of your recipe!

For example, if you’re making a vegetarian chili that has no meat, consider adding finely chopped mushrooms instead. This will mimic the texture of ground beef without overpowering the flavor.

bread

What Kind of Bread to Serve with Chili (17 Breads)

Chili is one of the most delicious and heartwarming comfort foods, but it can also be a little messy. So, why not serve bread alongside it?
Bread will help you soak up all the extra sauce and keeps your fingers clean as well. It's also a great way to use up any leftover ingredients!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4 people
Calories 300 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • French Bread
  • Naan Bread
  • Focaccia bread
  • Pita Bread
  • Biscuits
  • Ciabatta Bread
  • Cornbread
  • Cheddar Jalapeño Cornbread
  • Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
  • Bread Sticks
  • Dinner Rolls
  • Garlic Breadsticks
  • Pretzels
  • Crackers
  • A simple loaf of white bread
  • A crusty baguette
  • Rye bread

Instructions
 

  • Pick any kind of bread from this list to serve with your chili meal.
  • Prepare the rest of your ingredients.
  • Be ready to munch in no time!
Keyword What Kind of Bread to Serve with Chili
CEO at Happy Muncher | benjamin@happymuncher.com | Website | + posts

Hi, I'm Benjamin. I love cooking, long walks, and my girlfriend! Here you’ll find simple and delicious recipes that you can make in 30 minutes or less.