4 Best Side Dishes For Beef Stew And Cornbread That Are SO Easy To Make

beef stew cornbread side dish

When you think of winter dishes, what is the first thing that comes to mind?

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For many people, it is a beef stew.

The dish warms your body and soul with its rich flavors and aroma.

When paired with cornbread or a crusty loaf of bread, it becomes the perfect meal for a cold day at home. 

In this article, we will explore some great recipes for the side dishes to serve with beef stew and cornbread so you can complement your hearty meal with ease.

Let’s check it out!

What are beef stew and cornbread?

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Beef stew is a classic dish for cold days.

It is typically made of beef chunks that are slow-cooked for hours in water with other aromatic vegetables like potatoes, carrots, and spices for a more flavorful taste.

Cornbread is another American classic, especially from the South, that is actually a bread made from cornmeal.

Cornbread has a strong corn flavor which is slightly sweet, nutty, and aromatic.

Cornbread is often served as a side dish for savory and hearty dishes, and leftover cornbread can be served as a quick and nutritious breakfast.

What to consider when choosing a beef stew and cornbread’s side dish?

Normally, a meal that is made from beef stew and cornbread can be served alone because it provides you with sufficient flavors and nutrients without leaving you hungry after eating.

However, choosing one or several side dishes to serve with beef stew and cornbread can make your meal even more special and hearty.

So here are some tips that you should keep in mind when choosing a good companion for beef stew and cornbread:

Choose a side dish with a contrasting color to make your meal more appealing

Beef stew and cornbread both have a warm yellow to brown color.

Therefore, it is best to combine these two dishes with a side dish that has a contrasting color like green from vegetables.

This will not only make your meal look more appealing with a beautiful presentation but also provide you with more nutrients from different food groups.

Consider between meat or vegan side dishes to serve with beef stew and cornbread per your preference

Since there is already some beef meat in beef stew, there is no need to add more meat to your meal through a side dish.

But it will be fine to have a little meat in the side dish to serve with beef stew and cornbread.

Therefore, if you are a meat lover, you can serve beef stew and cornbread with another meat-based accompaniment.

Otherwise, serve that perfect match with vegan dishes like salads or roasted veggies to make your meal more nutritious, healthy, and colorful.

In fact, people often opt for a meat-free companion to serve with beef stew and cornbread.

4 best side dishes to serve with beef stew and cornbread

If you are looking for some best ideas for side dishes to serve with beef stew and cornbread and complement your winter meal, here are some suggestions from us:

1.     Roasted/ sauteed vegetables

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Vegetables are ideal to add to your diet with beef stew and cornbread.

You can either roast or saute them per your preference.

Opting for some kinds of vegetables with a crunchy texture like asparagus, green beans, carrots, broccoli, or brussels sprouts will be a better choice.

Vegetables can add color, texture, and healthy nutrients to your meal without any fuss.

2.     Salads

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Salads can be another good side dish for beef stew and cornbread.

Salads are often made by mixing chopped or sliced raw vegetables and fruits like lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, onion, and bell pepper to create a colorful and flavorful salad.

There are many recipes for salads due to different kinds of vegetables and salad dressing.

The refreshing flavor and satisfying crunchy texture of salads will definitely offset the rich and hearty taste of beef stew and cornbread.

3.      Dinner rolls

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As the name implies, dinner rolls were mainly served as a quick dinner dish.

Today, this dish can work great as a good companion for many savory dishes.

Having dinner rolls with beef stew and cornbread will literally fill your empty stomach.

4.     Cheese biscuits

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Cheese biscuits are a kind of savory biscuits that are eaten in many cuisines in the world.

Instead of the classic sweet and fruity taste of conventional biscuits, cheese biscuits can be made from cheese and served with cheese sauce on the side.

A little cheesy texture and a savory and salty taste of this kind of biscuits will definitely complement your beef stew and cornbread.

The bottom line

Beef stew and cornbread already form a complete meal that provides you with sufficient protein and nutrients from different food groups.

However, it will be best if you can combine some green from other vegetables or a crunchy texture to spice up your meal.

With the four aforementioned side dishes, which one do you think works best to serve with your beef stew and cornbread?