Healthier Boilermaker Tailgate Chili

Ingredients

• 2 pounds extra-lean ground beef
• 1 pound Italian chicken sausage, diced
• 3 (15 ounce) cans chili beans, drained
• 1 (15 ounce) can chili beans in spicy sauce
• 2 (28 ounce) cans diced tomatoes with juice
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 1 large yellow onion, chopped
• 3 stalks celery, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 2 green chile peppers, seeded and chopped
• 1/2 cup beer
• 1/4 cup chili powder
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce (such as Tabasco)
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon white sugar
• 3 cups baked tortilla chips

Directions

Crumble ground beef and chicken sausage into a large stock pot over medium-high heat; cook and stir until evenly browned, 10 to 12 minutes. Drain excess grease.

Pour in chili beans, spicy chili beans, diced tomatoes, and tomato paste. Add onion, celery, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, chile peppers, and beer. Season with chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, oregano, cumin, hot pepper sauce, basil, salt, ground pepper, cayenne, paprika, and sugar. Stir to blend, then cover and simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, for at least 2 hours.

Taste and adjust salt, ground pepper, and chili powder in necessary, after 2 hours. Ladle into bowls and top with baked tortilla chips to serve.