Turkey Chili With Beer For Slow Cooker

Feeding a crowd? You'll love this turkey and beef chili recipe and leftovers taste great too. The beer in it really takes the flavor to the next level!

Image chili in a white bowl, text overlay reads "chili for an army"

I should begin by saying I never, ever, ever make chili the same way twice. I'm not one of those people who has a "tried and true" recipe or one I'm known for. My white chili? Different story. (By the way, there's a link to that famous white chicken chili at the end of this post.)

Don't get me wrong–my chili is always good (if I do say so myself), it's just not one of those meals where I take the time to be particular about things. If I had red peppers in the house, they are going in. If they happen to be green? No biggie, it will still taste great! Beer in the fridge? Better believe that's going in. Especially these pregnancy days! I had a bottle of Shiner Bock (which I love) staring me in the face for weeks every time I opened the door.

"Hahaha you can't drink me…"

Temptation be gone! I might not be able to drink you, Mr. Shiner Bock, but I can cook with you and EAT you! HA. Who is laughing now?

Overhead view of a white bowl of chili surrounded by small bowls of toppings: cheese, crackers, avocado, sour cream.

Making chili is the same general process each time but it always varies a bit depending on what veggies and meat I have available. And I never, ever measure spices unless I have to.

However, I decided to turn over a new leaf and actually measure things this time to share with you all. Note: the spice is mild, so feel free to amp it up if you like it a little hotter.

For this chili recipe, I use a combination of beef and lean turkey for lots of beefy flavor but with less fat. You'll find lots of tomatoes and beans in there, with bell peppers and onions. I even throw in some carrots for some added veggies and to add just a bit of sweetness.

Close up overhead view of meat chili in a bowl on a white background, surrounded by toppings.

Looking for different takes on chili? Try:

Vegetarian chili with quinoa

My famous original chicken chili

5 ingredient chicken chili

Instant Pot white chicken chili

Slow cooker Texas chili (with big chunks of beef chuck roast)

Instant Pot chili (Whole30 and paleo compliant)

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

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Feeding a crowd? You'll love this turkey chili recipe and leftovers taste great too.

▢ 1 pound ground turkey (I used 93% lean)
▢ 1 pound ground chuck
▢ 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
▢ 1 green bell pepper, chopped
▢ 1 red pepper, chopped
▢ 2 large carrots, diced
▢ 1 teaspoon olive oil
▢ one 12 ounce bottle of beer (I used Shiner Bock)
▢ 2 tablespoons chili powder, more to taste
▢ 2 teaspoons ground cumin
▢ 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, more to taste
▢ 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, more to taste
▢ 1 bay leaf
▢ 1 tablespoons tomato paste
▢ one 15 ounce can of pinto beans, drained and rinsed
▢ one 15 ounce can of kidney beans, drained and rinsed
▢ two 15 ounce cans of crushed tomatoes
▢ one 28 ounce can of petite diced tomatoes, with their juice
▢ salt and pepper to taste
▢ optional toppings: avocado, cheese, sour cream, oyster crackers, etc.

In a very large pot or Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Throw in turkey and beef, season w/ salt and pepper and break up into pieces. Add onion, peppers, carrots and continue to brown all ingredients until meat is almost cooked through. Drain grease off meat. Return ingredients to pan.
Add spices and continue to cook for about one minute. Add beer and scrape any brown bits off the bottom of the pan. Add tomato paste and stir until combined. Add beans, tomatoes, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer.
Continue to simmer for at least an hour. If it is too thick for your liking (we like it THICK), add beef broth or water to thin out a little.
Test seasonings before serving. Add more chili powder and cayenne for additional heat.

This is a fairly mild chili–it's a good starting point for any picky eater who isn't a spice lover. Amp up the chili powder and cayenne or add in a chopped jalapeño for more heat.
This is soooo versatile, folks–have fun with it! Add different beans, a different beer, no beer (sub beef broth), whatever you want! No carrots? No biggie–I just put them in for extra veggies.
TOPPINGS. Let's talk about toppings. This is very important. Chili needs toppings in my opinion. Here are some of my favorites: sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt!), avocado, cilantro, green onions, sharp cheddar, oyster crackers, crushed tortilla chips….the list goes on!
If you're not feeding a crowd – no worries! This freezes GREAT!

Serving: 1 of 10 , Calories: 437 kcal , Carbohydrates: 36 g , Protein: 33 g , Fat: 18 g , Saturated Fat: 5 g , Polyunsaturated Fat: 10 g , Cholesterol: 88 mg , Sodium: 617 mg , Fiber: 7 g , Sugar: 12 g

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

Chili topped with cheese, sour cream, oyster crackers, and avocado.

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