What To Serve With Chilli Con Carne Instead of Rice
Looking for ideas for what to serve with chilli con carne instead of rice?
You’ve come to the right place!
Whether you’re fed up with rice and fancy trying something different, or you’ve just cooked up a big pan of chilli only to realise that you’re all out of the fluffy white stuff, you’ll find something here to tempt your tastebuds and help you to get dinner on the table fast.
The best rice alternatives for chilli con carne
In a rush and just need to grab some quick ideas?
No worries!
Some of the best choices for what to serve with chilli con carne instead of rice include sweet potato wedges, couscous, cauliflower and broccoli rice, tortilla wraps, fries, cornbread, mashed potatoes, roast potatoes, pitta breads, and quinoa.
Keep reading to get more ideas, plus the lowdown on how to make these rice alternatives for chilli con carne work for you…
1. Sweet potato wedges
The mild nuttiness of sweet potato wedges teams so well with a spicy, savoury bowl of chilli con carne.
They’re also super simple to make.
Just cut your potatoes into wedges (leaving the skins on for ease, rustic appeal, and extra nutritional goodness), toss on oil and some seasoning, and roast in the oven for around 25 minutes or until crisp and golden.
If you’re one of the many savvy home cooks who’s recently invested in an air fryer, check out this recipe for delicious air fryer sweet potato wedges.
Then just add your wedges to a bowl, top with chilli, and add your favourite garnishes like coriander, freshly chopped red chilli, and lime wedges.
It’s a fun meal that’ll be popular with kids and adults alike.
2. Couscous
Couscous is a wonderful alternative to rice to serve with chilli con carne, and you can either mix it through or serve it on the side.
If you have some veggies lurking in the back of your fridge that need using up, you can even finely chop them and stir them through your couscous for extra crunch and goodness.
Never prepared couscous before?
You’ll probably be surprised by just how easy it is!
You’ll simply add a quarter of a cup of boiling water for every cup of couscous, and leave to soak for around 10 minutes before fluffing with a fork.
Add a little olive oil or butter and stir through.
3. Cauliflower rice
Cauliflower rice is lower in calories and carbs than traditional rice, and it’s also a good source of fibre as well being higher in various vitamins, including vitamin C.
Interestingly, though most us will be fairly familiar with the concept of cauli rice, it’s a relatively new ‘invention’.
It’s thought that its online popularity soared in 2012, and it’s been a popular side dish amongst the modern health conscious ever since.
It’s a good choice for what to serve with chilli con carne instead of rice when you’re looking for a lighter lunch choice, and you’re eager to get some extra veggies into your diet.
4. Broccoli rice
If you’re in the habit of just tossing your broccoli stalks in the bin, this side dish idea will help you to cut down on waste, as well as introduce you to a healthy, colourful, and nutritious accompaniment for your favourite meals when you need a change from rice!
I follow this recipe for broccoli rice, and I urge you to get a little inventive with adding extra flavours as you see fitting.
When sautéed with fresh lime and coriander, this really helps to complement the big and bold flavours of chilli con carne, and serves up some extra Mexican inspired vibes.
Another good option is to mix broccoli rice with white or brown rice.
This can be a good compromise if you’re looking to cut the calories but don’t want to give up your favourites altogether.
5. Tortilla wraps
Instead of serving chilli with rice, why not create your own burrito style station in the middle of the table and let everyone get stuck in and build their own tortilla wraps?
It’s fun, informal, and it’s a good way to cater for fussy eaters who can pick and choose whatever they like.
Add your pan of chilli and the wraps to the table, and add a range of optional extras such as grated cheese, coriander, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and lime wedges for squeezing.
Be sure to also take a look at breads to serve with chilli.
6. Fries
Fries might not be a traditional or authentic choice for serving with chilli, but they’re very much a delicious option!
I love dipping a crunchy fry into a warming bowl of chilli, and if you have some frozen fries in your freezer right now, it’s a quick and easy alternative to rice.
If you like, you could even make your own loaded fries by piling the chilli on top with plenty of cheese and your other favourite toppings.
7. Tortilla chips and homemade dips
Chilli con carne is one of those dishes that’s perfect for sharing with friends, and some communal tortilla chips in the middle of the table makes for a fantastic substitute for rice.
Keep things interesting by adding some homemade dips such as guacamole and fresh salsa, as well as soured cream for those who prefer to tone things down a little bit!
I like to keep a packet of ready prepared tortilla chips in the pantry for a quick and easy side option for when I’m serving Mexican food, or even just drinks and snacks, though if you have a little more time, you can make your own using tortilla wraps.
For more Mexican inspired ideas, take a look at the best sides for nachos.
8. Cornbread
Cornbread is a quick and easy bread that’s often served alongside traditional Southern American cuisine, and it’s another good option when you’re looking for ideas for what to serve with chilli con carne besides rice.
This recipe for cornbread has been tried and tested many times in my own kitchen, and it always produces excellent results with minimal fuss.
You’ll get a crisp golden crust and a wonderfully fluffy and moist centre. It’s perfect for dipping into that deliciously spicy sauce and mopping the bowl clean afterwards!
9. Zoodles
Zucchini noodles are now widely known as ‘zoodles’, and they’re made by quite simply stir frying spiralled or finely shredded zucchini.
It’s become a popular side dish amongst the health conscious due to the fact that it’s low in carbs and calories, as well as being a fun way to get some extra veggies into your diet.
A side bonus is that it’s often popular with kids!
Keep your zoodles interesting by stir frying with plenty of garlic, or squeezing over some lime juice just before serving for some added freshness and zing.
Zoodles work great as an alternative to rice for chilli con carne, or you can get experimental and try spiralled carrots, butternut squash, beets, or broccoli stem.
If you have a range of leftover veggies in your fridge that need using, why not make some rainbow noodles?
10. Homemade two-ingredient flatbreads
I absolutely love these two-ingredient flatbreads, and I regularly make them to serve with everything from curry, to chicken salad, to chilli con carne!
They require staples that you likely already have in your kitchen, they’re easy to make, and it’s a fun task to get the kids involved with too.
Add some shredded lettuce, grated cheese, and you’ve got a quick and easy lunch to use up your leftovers from the night before.
11. Mashed potatoes
I consider mashed potatoes to be the ultimate in comfort food, and you might be surprised to discover just how well they work when served with chilli con carne!
Add some butter for extra creamy goodness, and stir through some grated cheese if you’re in the mood for treating yourself.
White potatoes work great, though you can also use sweet potatoes to make your mash if you prefer.
12. Roast potatoes
Everyone loves a good roast potato, right?
They work fantastically with chilli! If you haven’t got your own favourite go-to recipe, you might want to try my Marmite roast potatoes, or Oxo roast potatoes.
By the way, want to check out some more ideas to help you to enjoy roasties on a regular basis?
Check out my guide to what meals go with roasted potatoes.
13. Taco shells
Tacos are a super fun way to serve up chilli con carne, and it’s a fantastic way to get the family together for an informal dinner where everyone can tuck in and help themselves.
Just add your chilli and the shells to the table, and let everyone build their own with their favourite toppings.
Interestingly, soft taco shells are the most authentic choice, and hard taco shells were actually invented in 1949 as an Americanised version of the Mexican favourite.
14. Quinoa
Quinoa is rich in protein, dietary fibre, and a variety of essential vitamins and minerals.
It’s a super useful ingredient to have in your cupboard for a quick lunch or side dish, and it works great with chilli con carne.
The simplest way to cook quinoa is to boil for 12-15 minutes in three times the volume of water.
So, for example, if you’re cooking 100g of quinoa, you’ll need 300ml of water. Follow these basic rules, and you really can’t go wrong!
15. Bulgur wheat
Bulgur wheat is a grain that’s often enjoyed in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines, and it makes for a tasty alternative to rice with a wide range of dishes.
It’s light and nutty with a slightly chewy texture when cooked, and it’s often likened to brown rice, which is fairly similar in both taste and texture.
What to serve with chilli con carne instead of rice
As you can see, there are tons of choices for serving with chilli con carne besides rice!
Whether you want to turn it into taco night or burrito night, add some extra veggies by making cauli rice or courgette noodles, go for comfort classics like mashed or roasted potatoes, or go with something a little more unusual like couscous, quinoa, or bulgur, there are plenty of ways to have a delicious dinner without rice.
If you’re a lover of home cooking and want to expand your knowledge when it comes to preparing the perfect chilli, you might be interested to read my guide to making chilli con carne less spicy – it has some great kitchen hacks that are useful to have in your toolkit when you go a little overboard on the spice!
Be sure to also take a look at what to do with leftover chilli, for transforming leftovers into delicious meals.
