Wondering what to eat with chili dogs? Whether you’re making my easy chili dogs recipe or using your own favorite version, the best sides are the classics that balance out a saucy, cheesy chili dog without making dinner complicated. Potato salad, coleslaw, fries, baked beans, corn on the cob and mac and cheese are some of my favorites.
Below you’ll find 43 easy ideas, from fresh salads and veggies to hearty comfort-food sides.
What to Eat With Chili Dogs
Chili dogs are a great meal all on their own, but to paraphrase a book I read somewhere: You can’t live on chili cheese dogs alone.
The best sides for chili dogs range from fresh, crunchy salads to classic cookout favorites and hearty comfort foods. I especially love pairing them with something cool and crisp like coleslaw or potato salad, or leaning all the way into comfort food with mac and cheese or crispy fries.
Here are a few of my favorite ideas to get you started. Keep scrolling for the full list of 43 side dishes and recipes!
- Green salad
- Potato salad or coleslaw
- Pasta salad
- Mac and cheese
- Baked beans
- Corn on the cob
- More chili con carne
- Crispy fries
- Chili cheese fries
How To Make Baked Chili Dogs
Baked Chili Dogs are the perfect party food or simple dinner, and they’re a great way to use up leftover chili.
Serve them with a side dish and toppings bar using a few of the ideas below for an easy game day meal. You can also get all of my tips and details in my full Baked Chili Dogs recipe.
Step 1
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2
Heat the chili until warm in the microwave or on the stovetop.
Cook hot dogs over medium heat on a grill until warmed through.
Step 3
Place the hot dogs in the buns and arrange them in a single layer in a lined casserole dish or on a baking sheet.
Top with a generous amount of chili and cheese and bake for about 25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
Step 3
Place the hot dogs in the buns and place in a single layer in a lined casserole dish or baking sheet.
Top with a generous amount of chili and cheese and bake in the preheated oven for 25-ish minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
Toppings for Chili Dogs
A good chili dog can handle plenty of toppings, just make sure you start with sturdy hot dog buns to hold everything together!
- Mac and cheese or chili mac
- Cheese sauce or shredded cheddar cheese
- Crumbled bacon
- Diced or pickled onions
- Sliced or pickled jalapeños
- Sauerkraut
- Pepperoncini
Tips & Tricks
- Serve them right away. Chili dogs are best served straight from the oven before the buns have a chance to get soggy.
- Set up a toppings bar. Put out a selection of toppings and let everyone build their own.
- Swap the chili. Turkey chili works great if you prefer it over ground beef.
- Use canned chili in a pinch. It’s an easy shortcut when you don’t have homemade chili on hand.
What to Eat with Chili Dogs
You’re sure to find a tasty side dish or two or three to go with your saucy chili dog dinner.
Fries and Such
- Air Fried Tater Tots
- Air Fryer Steak Fries
- Sweet Potato Fries
- Waffle Fries
- Air Fried Potato Wedges
- Homemade Air Fryer French Fries
- Baked Potato Chips or store bought chips
- Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole
- Fried Onion Rings
Salads
- Instant Pot Potato Salad
- Easy Coleslaw
- Pasta Salad
- Cucumber Tomato Salad
- Veggie Rice Salad
- Deli-Style Macaroni Salad
- Classic Chopped Salad
- Fruit Salad
- Broccoli Salad
- Southwest 3-Bean Salad
Homemade Chili and Baked Beans
- The Best Chili Recipe
- Hot Dog Chili Sauce
- Easy 5-Ingredient Chili
- Classic No-Bean Chili
- Easy Instant Pot Chili
- Slow Cooker Baked Beans with Bacon
- Instant Pot Baked Beans
Veggies
- Easy Slow Cooker Veggies
- Sauteed Red & Green Cabbage
- Roasted Broccoli
- Roasted Mix Vegetables
- Roasted Roma Tomatoes with Garlic
- Corn on the Cob
- Creamy Crockpot Corn
- Instant Pot Creamed Corn
Macaroni & Cheese
- Baked Mac and Cheese Bites
- Instant Pot Mac & Cheese
- Crockpot Mac and Cheese
- Chili Mac & Cheese
- Homestyle Baked Mac and Cheese
- Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
More Favorite Toppings And Side Ideas
- Sauerkraut
- Pickled Red Onion or Jalapenos
- Chopped Crispy Bacon Pieces
More “What to Serve With” Posts
What to Serve with BLT Sandwiches
Foods to Serve with Soup
What to Serve with Chicken Parm
What to Serve with Pulled Pork
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