Hearty Tailgate Chili Recipes

BOILERMAKER TAILGATE CHILI

Steps:

• Heat a large stock pot over medium-high heat. Crumble the ground chuck and sausage into the hot pan, and cook until evenly browned. Drain off excess grease.
• Pour in the chili beans, spicy chili beans, diced tomatoes and tomato paste. Add the onion, celery, green and red bell peppers, chile peppers, bacon bits, bouillon, and beer. Season with chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, oregano, cumin, hot pepper sauce, basil, salt, pepper, cayenne, paprika, and sugar. Stir to blend, then cover and simmer over low heat for at least 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
• After 2 hours, taste, and adjust salt, pepper, and chili powder if necessary. The longer the chili simmers, the better it will taste. Remove from heat and serve, or refrigerate, and serve the next day.
• To serve, ladle into bowls, and top with corn chips and shredded Cheddar cheese.

HEARTY TACO CHILI

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook and crumble beef over medium-high heat until no longer pink, 8-10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer beef to a 5-qt. slow cooker., Rinse and drain beans and hominy. Add to beef, along with canned tomatoes and green chilies, tomato sauce, onion, the dressing and seasoning mixes and pepper. Puree green chilies and remaining diced tomatoes in a covered blender until smooth; stir into beef mixture., Cook, covered, on low until flavors are blended, 6-8 hours. Serve with toppings as desired., Freeze option: Freeze cooled chili in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally and adding a little water if necessary.

WAZZU TAILGATE CHILI

Steps:

• Cook ground beef and pork in a large skillet over medium-high heat until the meat is crumbly, evenly browned, and no longer pink. Drain and discard any excess grease.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in 3/4 of the onion and all of the green pepper, habanero pepper, jalapeno pepper, and garlic. Cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir the drained meat into the onion mixture along with the green onion, chili beans, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, beer, and water. Sprinkle with the cornmeal, then season with chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper.
• Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer at least 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Refrigerate overnight.
• Reheat the chili over medium heat until it begins to simmer again. Top individual servings of chili with cheese and remaining chopped onion.

TAILGATING TURKEY CHILI

Steps:

• 1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
• 2. To the heated skillet add small diced onion and 2 lbs ground turkey.
• 3. Using a wooden spoon, break up turkey and brown in skillet.
• 4. Season meat with salt and pepper, and allow it to cook fully until no longer pink.
• 5. Spray inside of crock-pot with cooking spray.
• 6. Transfer meat and onion mixture to the crock-pot.
• 7. Add in remaining ingredients except for cheese and sour cream: tomato sauce, diced tomatoes with green chilies, salsa, dark and light red kidney beans (un-drained), pinto beans (drained and rinsed), frozen sweet corn kernels, chili seasoning, bay leaf, and garlic powder.
• 8. Stir well to combine.
• 9. Turn crock-pot on low and cook, covered, for 6-8 hours, stirring occasionally.
• 10. Remove bay leaf.
• 11. Serve chili in large bowls and garnish with cheddar cheese and/or sour cream, if desired.
• 12. **Note: This recipe can also be prepared in a shorter amount of time on the stovetop. Prepare as directed above, but combine all ingredients in a large pot and allow the chili to simmer at least an hour and a half to allow flavors to marry. Flavors intensify with longer cooking time, however, so I prefer the crock-pot.