There is nothing better than a big pot of chili simmering on the stove when game day or chilly weather rolls around. This mild Boilermaker-style turkey chili has all the deep, hearty flavor you want from a classic tailgate chili, but it is made with lean ground turkey and turkey sausage instead of ground beef and pork sausage.
It is thick, rich, full of beans, tomatoes, peppers, a splash of beer, and cozy chili spices. The best part is that it is not aggressively spicy, so everyone can enjoy a big bowl and add extra hot sauce or jalapeños at the table if they want more heat.
Serve it with shredded cheddar, sour cream, green onions, and crunchy corn chips, then add a side of Bacon Cheddar Jalapeño Cornbread Focaccia for the ultimate cozy dinner or game day spread. If you love a classic beef version too, try my Best Homemade Classic Hearty Chili next.
More Chili Recipes You’ll Love
Why You’ll Love This Turkey Chili
- Made with lean ground turkey and turkey sausage but still thick, hearty, and satisfying
- Mild enough for a family dinner, with easy ways to add heat
- A great make-ahead meal because the flavor gets even better overnight
- Perfect for game day, tailgates, cozy fall weekends, and meal prep
- Loaded with beans, vegetables, tomatoes, and warm smoky spices
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe has the same big-pot, layered flavor that makes tailgate chili so good, but with a slightly lighter feel.
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 1 pound mild Italian turkey sausage, casings removed
- Yellow onion, celery, red bell pepper, and green bell pepper
- Garlic
- Chili beans, kidney beans, and pinto beans
- Diced tomatoes and tomato paste
- Light beer
- Chicken broth
- Worcestershire sauce
- Chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, basil, salt, and black pepper
- A little brown sugar to balance the tomatoes
- Optional bacon bits for that deep, savory tailgate flavor
How to Make Mild Boilermaker-Style Turkey Chili
Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground turkey and Italian turkey sausage. Cook, breaking the meat apart with a wooden spoon, until browned and cooked through.
Add the onion, celery, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, and garlic. Cook for about 5 minutes, until the vegetables begin to soften.
Stir in the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Let the spices cook for about 1 minute so they become fragrant.
Add the chili beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, beer, chicken broth, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, and bacon bits, if using. Stir everything together well.
Bring the chili to a gentle simmer. Reduce the heat to low, partially cover, and cook for 1½ to 2 hours, stirring occasionally. The chili will thicken and the flavors will come together beautifully.
Taste and add more salt, pepper, or chili powder as needed. Serve hot with your favorite toppings.
Make It Your Own
Want more heat? Stir in a little cayenne, diced jalapeño, chipotle powder, or hot sauce at the end. Since the base chili is mild, everyone can customize their own bowl.
For an even smokier flavor, use fire-roasted diced tomatoes. For a richer chili without changing the turkey base, add a teaspoon of unsweetened cocoa powder with the spices.
You can also use 3 to 4 tablespoons of my Homemade Chili Seasoning Mix in place of the individual seasonings.
Slow Cooker Instructions
Brown the turkey and sausage, and sauté the vegetables first, then transfer everything to your slow cooker. Cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours or HIGH for 3 to 4 hours. Leave the lid slightly ajar for the final 30 minutes if you would like the chili thicker.
What to Serve with Turkey Chili
Set out a toppings bar with cheese, sour cream, scallions, corn chips, avocado, and hot sauce. This chili is especially good with cornbread, baked potatoes, or a simple green salad.
For another easy chili night, make my Crockpot Taco Chili or pair it with Easy Crockpot Chicken Tortilla Soup for a cozy soup-and-chili weekend.
PrintMild Boilermaker-Style Turkey Chili
This hearty mild turkey chili is made with lean ground turkey, Italian turkey sausage, beans, vegetables, tomatoes, a splash of beer, and cozy spices. It is a thick, crowd-pleasing tailgate chili that is perfect for game day or an easy fall dinner.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 HOUR 45 MINS
- Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 8–10 servings 1x
- Category: Chili, Dinner, game day
- Method: STOVETOP
- Cuisine: American, Game Day
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 1 pound mild Italian turkey sausage, casings removed
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons mild chili powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- 1½ teaspoons kosher salt, plus more to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 (15-ounce) can mild chili beans, undrained
- 1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 (14.5-ounce) cans diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
- ¾ cup light beer
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon real bacon bits, optional
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground turkey and Italian turkey sausage. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until browned and cooked through.
- Add the onion, celery, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, and garlic. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring often, until the vegetables begin to soften.
- Stir in the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, basil, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute.
- Add the chili beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, beer, chicken broth, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, and optional bacon bits. Stir well.
- Bring the chili to a gentle simmer. Reduce heat to low, partially cover, and simmer for 1½ to 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve with cheddar, sour cream, green onions, and crushed corn chips.
Notes
- This is a mild chili. Add cayenne, diced jalapeños, chipotle powder, or hot sauce for more heat.
- The chili tastes even better after chilling overnight and reheating.
- To make it without beer, use an additional ¾ cup chicken broth.
- For slow cooker chili, brown the meat and vegetables first. Transfer everything to a slow cooker and cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours or HIGH for 3 to 4 hours.
Storage and Freezing
Store cooled chili in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat it gently on the stovetop or in the microwave until hot.
To freeze, portion cooled chili into freezer-safe containers or bags and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. It is honestly even better the next day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is turkey chili healthier than beef chili?
Ground turkey is typically leaner than traditional ground beef, especially when you use 93% lean turkey. This recipe still tastes hearty because of the beans, vegetables, tomato base, and long simmer.
Does the beer make turkey chili taste like beer?
No. The beer adds a deep, malty background flavor, but it does not make the finished chili taste boozy. You can replace it with an equal amount of chicken broth if preferred.
How can I make this turkey chili spicier?
Add cayenne pepper, diced jalapeños, chipotle peppers in adobo, or your favorite hot sauce. Add them a little at a time so you can control the heat.
Can I make this chili ahead of time?
Yes. Make it up to two days ahead, cool it, and refrigerate. Reheat slowly before serving—the flavor gets even better as it sits.
Final Thoughts
This mild Boilermaker-style turkey chili is everything a cozy chili recipe should be: thick, filling, richly seasoned, and easy to make ahead for a crowd. It gives you all the fun tailgate-chili flavor without making dinner too spicy, and the lean turkey makes it a recipe you can feel good about adding to your regular fall and winter rotation.
