What Would You Serve With Chili?

[ChefBeckyD]

I'm having a Birthday party for my DH on Oct 11th, and the guest list is between 75-100 people.

Wonderfully, his boss has said that we can use the Large Conference/Training Room at their Corporate Headquarters. (they have 4 different campuses w/ smaller rooms) and it has a full kitchen attached to it.

I've been trying to figure out what I would do for food that would be simple, budget friendly, but still delicious. This morning - in the wee hours - I finally decided to do Chili.

I have the best recipe for White Chicken Chili, and then I'll also do a Tomato-based Chili. We are also having Costco Birthday Cake (YUM!)

I thought I'd have bowls of Tortilla Chips, and chili toppings - cheese, sour cream, onions.

What else would you serve with Chili? Appetizers? a veggie tray? Some other type of sweet?

Oh - we are doing lemonade, water, and coffee for the drinks.

 

[chefann]

I like chili served over macaroni, so a pot of that wouldn't be uncalled for (and would help stretch the chili, too). Actually, I like corn stirred into my tomato-based chili, too. And sour cream. And cheese. (but you've already got those 2 on your list)Veggie tray would be a good choice, and not too hard to put together.
How about a simple green salad? Then people can pour chili onto it to make taco salad.

 

[crystalscookingnow]

Hmmm, my first thought is always hot dogs with chili, but that probably doesn't fit the 'delicious' part... lol! My other fav with chili is grilled cheese, but again...

Maybe a relish tray of some sort? Or a pot of macaroni noodles... I'm not helping much, I don't think.

 

[chefsteph07]

Maybe you can do some veggie pizza's or a veggie and cheese tray?
I usually don't serve anything else w/ chili...

 

[ChefBeckyD]

I like chili served over macaroni, so a pot of that wouldn't be uncalled for (and would help stretch the chili, too). Actually, I like corn stirred into my tomato-based chili, too. And sour cream. And cheese. (but you've already got those 2 on your list)

Veggie tray would be a good choice, and not too hard to put together.
How about a simple green salad? Then people can pour chili onto it to make taco salad.

Great ideas! Thanks Ann! I love both of those!

 

[chefsteph07]

Hmmm, my first thought is always hot dogs with chili, but that probably doesn't fit the 'delicious' part... lol! My other fav with chili is grilled cheese, but again...

Maybe a relish tray of some sort? Or a pot of macaroni noodles... I'm not helping much, I don't think.

That is SO funny, my first thought was hot dogs too!

I like the salad idea too

 

[ChefBeckyD]

Maybe you can do some veggie pizza's or a veggie and cheese tray?
I usually don't serve anything else w/ chili...

I wouldn't at home either...but I was thinking for this Momentous Occasion (did I mention it's his 50th Birthday?) I was thinking I should make it a little more special.

 

[LeslieSGI]

Down here in the south (and yes, NORTH Florida is considered by most to be "the South"), a big pan (PC Roasting pan, maybe?) of corn bread cut into squares would be considered a wonderful accompaniment to either kind of chili. And it need not be served hot; room temperature would be fine IMHO.​

 

[Teresa Lynn]

a veggie tray
cheese cubes assorted crackershow about ice cream sundaes

 

[ChefBeckyD]

Down here in the south (and yes, NORTH Florida is considered by most to be "the South"), a big pan (PC Roasting pan, maybe?) of corn bread cut into squares would be considered a wonderful accompaniment to either kind of chili. And it need not be served hot; room temperature would be fine IMHO.​

Oh wow! Why didn't I think of that? I love cornbread with chili!

 

[Teresa Lynn]

fritos would also be good

 

[chefsteph07]

Great ideas here, I think any of them would be acceptable!
Best wishes to your hubby! Does he know about the party or is it a surprise?

 

[ChefBeckyD]

Great ideas here, I think any of them would be acceptable!
Best wishes to your hubby! Does he know about the party or is it a surprise?

He knows. He's the one who wanted a big party!

Plus, I decided it probably wouldn't be possible to keep a secret, since I have a 4 yr old with me all the time who repeats everything he hears.

 

[ragschef]

When I saw the thread, my first thought was cornbread. Then when I saw that Ann puts noodles under hers, it made me think of chili baked potatoes. Now I'm craving Wendy's for lunch!

 

[crystalscookingnow]

Cornbread, definitely cornbread! Yummy!

 

[vwpamperedchef]

My first thought was cornbread too---it would go a long way!

You could also offer perhaps a salad

 

[redsoxgirl]

CORN BREAD!!!!
I've made this recipe in the DDB and it comes out great!Golden Sweet Cornbread
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
2/3 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 egg
1 cup milk
1/3 cup vegetable oil1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray or lightly grease a 9 inch round cake pan.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt and baking powder. Stir in egg, milk and vegetable oil until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.

 

[pampermejolene]

I have to agree, cornbread!!
And lots and lots of cheese to go on top!!

Yummm.... I think I just decided what I'm having for lunch today!

 

[AnnieBee]

Growing up, we always had rice with chili - it's cheap and easy to make lotsd of, and could be done ahead and re-heated. But maybe it's an english thing...

Corn bread and salad also sound good, and a veggie tray and dip.

Personally macaroni and chili just sounds wierd!!

 

[pamperedlinda]

When I lived in Hawaii I ate Chili over rice a lot (they eat rice with everything in Hawaii!)

 

[pamperedlinda]

Hey Annie, looks like you type just a little faster than me!

 

[janetupnorth]

I like all the ideas so far...except the rice...never tried that one yet...I didn't have chili over noodles with SC and cheese until I moved up north.Also, how about Oyster Snack Crackers on the side...Oyster Snack Crackers2 pkg. Oyster crackers
1 cup vegetable oil
1 pkg. Hidden Valley Ranch Salad Dressing Mix
1 tsp. dill weed
1 tsp. onion powder or salt OR ½ tsp. garlic powder or saltMix last four ingredients and pour on crackers – shake or stir once every 15 minutes for about an hour then serve.

 

[JAE]

I didn't read all the responses, yet, but I like to serve garlic bread or bread sticks with chili. I'm not a big fan of garlic bread with spaghetti because who needs that much starch in one meal? KWIM? But, my family likes garlic bread, so I save it for chili night, which is quite often in the fall and winter.

I also like to have corn and toss salad (dark lettuces) with chili.

And for dessert? Well, chocolate, of course!

 

[KellyTheChef]

I think cornbread would be super. You can even make that ahead and freeze it...you can do cornbread muffins, or mini muffins to "upscale" the look of it!

I think a salad or a veggie tray along with the cornbread would really round out the dinner. Good idea on the tortilla chips, and I agree with whoever mentioned FRITOS!! I have even seen cookouts where they bought snack bags of Fritos, you smash them and open the top of the bag...add chili, cheese and toppings and mix and eat out of the bag! Not that your party sounds like THAT would be a good idea, but talking about this reminded me of that idea!

(BTW-DH and I love chili and rice too!)

 

[tmo2008]

fritos would also be good

Fritos was the only thing that came to my mind!!

Trina

 

[etteluap70PC]

Cornbread is my vote....

1 box of Jiffy Corn bread mix
1 box of Jiffy yellow cake mix
Ingredients (from back of boxes) to complest both recipes
dump everything in a bowl, mix it up
pour into greased square baker
bake 20 minutes (or so)

Yum!

 

[JAE]

Oh, yes, I love cornbread. I never think to make it, though.

 

[babywings76]

Cornbread definitely! Also, I like eating chili over rice. We should take a poll on rice vs. noodles so we can see if it's a geographic location thing. I had never heard of eating chili over noodles before. I grew up in New Jersey. Lived in Utah for a couple years, then Iowa, then Kentucky. And boy, I've seen some differences, but hadn't come across this one yet.

 

[JAE]

Cornbread definitely! Also, I like eating chili over rice. We should take a poll on rice vs. noodles so we can see if it's a geographic location thing. I had never heard of eating chili over noodles before. I grew up in New Jersey. Lived in Utah for a couple years, then Iowa, then Kentucky. And boy, I've seen some differences, but hadn't come across this one yet.

Eeew! No offense, but both sound gross to me. I have eaten chili over salad and sometimes with Ranch dressing. Love it! It was a salad choice at Logan's and I started doing it at home, too. I've also seen chili over a baked potato. But rice or noodles. Ick! (Sorry, that does sound a bit like my children complaining about dinner.)

 

[kaseydee]

Cornbread! Martha White's Cotton Pickin Cornbread to be exact. I never heard of chili over rice or noodles either. lf no cornbread I do crackers. My dad crumbles up the crackers & mixes them in w/his chili.