Instant Pot Chili Recipe (2024)

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This quick and easy Instant Pot Chili Recipe is loaded with ground beef, beans and tomatoes in a hearty and smokey-sweet sauce.

Instant Pot Chili Recipe (1)Instant Pot Chili Recipe (2)I’ve taken my all time favorite (award winning) Slow Cooker Chili recipe and adapted it for the pressure cooker so you can enjoy this goodness in a fraction of the time!

Holy smokes, let me tell you… the delicious aroma that will fill your kitchen while whipping up this easy chili will get you so excited to dig in. One taste and I’m confident that this will become your new favorite chili recipe.

Instant Pot Chili Recipe

Chili needs time to develop it’s rich and bold flavors, which is why chili is normally cooked low and slow. Cooking chili in the instant pot (or pressure cooker) is a great way to intensify the flavor in a fraction of the time it normally takes in the slow cooker. The pressure in the Instant Pot can penetrate the beans with flavor quickly, tenderize the beef and enhance all the spices in minutes.

Instant Pot Chili Recipe (3)

Ingredients Required for Chili

Chili is one of those magical dishes that you can easily adjust the ingredients to your liking, making it perfect for picky eaters. Here is what you’ll need:

  • Ground Beef
  • Onion
  • Red Bell Pepper
  • Pinto Beans
  • Black Beans
  • Kidney Beans
  • Tomato Sauce
  • Tomato Paste
  • Beef Broth
  • Diced Tomatoes
  • Spices & Seasonings: Chili Powder, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Cumin, Red Pepper Flakes, Salt and Pepper

Instant Pot Chili Recipe (4)

How To Cook Chili In Instant Pot

What I truly love about this recipe is that I can brown the ground beef right in the instant pot on sauté mode. This saves me from having any extra dishes to clean and keeps my stove top nice and clean too.

  • Start by browning your ground beef (you can swap in ground turkey or pork here if you’d like), then drain any excess fat and return the liner to the pressure cooker.
  • Dump in all of the ingredients and give it a good stir.
  • Set to Chili/Beans setting or HIGH pressure and set for 18 minutes. Once it’s finished cooking release the pressure and you’re done!

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All that’s left to do is add your favorite chili toppings!

We love adding shredded cheese, sour cream and diced green onions. I’ll even throw some crunchy corn chips on top if I have them on hand.

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Tips and FAQ:

  • Can You Freeze Chili? Yes! You can freeze in an airtight container for up to 4 months. Defrost in refrigerator overnight for best results.
  • What Is The Bean / Chili Setting on My Instant Pot? This setting is automatically set to cook on HIGH pressure for 30 minutes. Simply press “more” or “less” to adjust the time setting up or down.
  • How Do You Thicken Chili In Instant Pot? You shouldn’t need to thicken this recipe, but if you’re here searching for the answer, you can thicken chili using a cornstarch slurry. Mix 2 tbsp cornstarch with 2 tbsp water and gradually stir into the chili while it’s bubbling away on Sauté mode. It should thicken right up.

Can I Use Dry Beans For Chili?

While this recipe calls for canned beans to save time, you most certainly can use dried beans! Here’s what you’ll need to do:

  • Rinse and pick through your beans (2 cups total of pinto and/or black beans), discard any broken pieces.
  • Add the dried beans to the liner of your Instant Pot and cover with 1 inch of water.
  • Pressure cook on HIGH for 12 minutes, then quick release.
  • Drain the beans and set aside.
  • Follow the remainder of the recipe as written.

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More Chili Recipes To Try:

  • Slow Cooker Thick and Hearty Chili
  • Sweet Potato Turkey Chili
  • Smoky White Chicken Chili
  • Chili Pasta Skillet

Instant Pot Chili Recipe (8)

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5 from 43 votes

Instant Pot Chili Recipe

This quick and easy Instant Pot Chili Recipe is loaded with ground beef, beans and tomatoes in a hearty and spicy sauce.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time18 minutes mins

Total Time28 minutes mins

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings: 6

Calories: 232 kcal

Author: Shawn

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. ground beef, lean
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 1/2 medium onion, diced
  • 1 15 oz can pinto beans, drained
  • 1 15 oz can black beans, drained
  • 1 15 oz can kidney beans, drained
  • 1 15 oz can tomato sauce
  • 1 10 oz can Rotel diced tomatoes, chili fixin's
  • 3 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 2 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Set the Instant Pot to SAUTE mode and add ground beef. Brown and crumble the beef until no longer pink. Drain any excess fat from the beef and return liner to Instant Pot.

  • Add in remaining ingredients and give it a stir.

  • Attach lid, making sure valve is set to sealed position. Turn to Bean/Chili Setting or HIGH pressure for 18 minutes. Once finished cooking, release pressure and enjoy!

Notes

Total Cook Time reflects typical amount of time it takes to come to pressure.

This recipe was tested in an 8 quart Instant Pot.

Nutrition

Calories: 232kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 700mg | Potassium: 426mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1583IU | Vitamin C: 28mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 3mg

Keywords: Bean, Chili, Ground Beef, Instant Pot, Pressure Cooker, Spicy

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Instant Pot Chili Recipe (9)

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Instant Pot Chili Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How does chili function on Instant Pot work? ›

What Is the Instant Pot Chili/Bean Setting? The bean/chili setting on the Instant Pot cooks at high pressure and can be set to "more," which is 30 minutes, or "less," which will cook for 25 minutes. You may choose the bean/chili setting and do a quick release after 15 minutes.

How do you get the no burn on instant pot chili? ›

To prevent a burn message, be sure to scrape the bottom well with a wooden or metal spoon to remove any bits before pressure cooking. Also make sure you do not stir in the tomato sauce — we want thin liquid on the bottom of the pot.

Does chili get better the longer it cooks? ›

And you can even make an OK but not great chili in 30 minutes. The longer you cook it, the more the flavors are brought out, and the more rich the tomatoes stock is, and the softer/more tender the meat.

Why is my Instant Pot not pressurizing chili? ›

SOLUTION: Open the Instant Pot and make sure there's enough liquid. If too much liquid has evaporated, the Instant Pot won't pressurize, so add more liquid if necessary.

How to know when an Instant Pot is done? ›

The Instant Pot will still take several minutes to come to pressure (up to 10 minutes), and then as soon as the cooking cycle beeps to signal that it's complete, you'll quickly release the pressure right away so that the vegetables don't over-cook.

What is the trick to a good chili? ›

Rumi Spice's top tips for making chili:
  1. Brown the Meat.
  2. Don't Forget Vegetables.
  3. Elevate with Extra Flavor.
  4. Only Add Flavorful Liquids.
  5. Opt for Dried Beans.
  6. Season Early and Often.
  7. Add Some Acidity at the End.
  8. Top It Off.

What not to put in chili? ›

Beans and non-vegetable fillers such as rice and pasta are not allowed." If that sounds a bit uptight, the ICS's Homestyle Chili competition defines chili as: "any kind of meat, or combination of meats, and/or vegetables cooked with beans, chili peppers, various spices, and other ingredients.

What is the most important spice in chili? ›

Most Common Chili Spices. Cumin, Chile Powders, and Paprika are the most common spices in chili followed by garlic, onion, coriander, Mexican oregano, and bay leaves. These ingredients can be combined to create a savory and well-balanced pot of top notch comfort food.

Why is food burning on the bottom of my Instant Pot? ›

Here's what may be triggering the burn notice and the precautions you can take to prevent it.
  • Your steam valve isn't sealed. A pressure cooker can't pressure cook without steam. ...
  • There isn't enough liquid. ...
  • You added ingredients at the wrong time or in the wrong order. ...
  • Something's up with your Instant Pot.
Jun 16, 2021

How do you get chili smell out of Instant Pot? ›

Fill the Instant Pot insert with two cups of white vinegar or the same amount of water and a lemon rind, seal the lid, and run the appliance on the “steam” setting for two minutes. Remove the ring from the lid and let it air dry completely. It should be clean and smell as good as new.

What is the best liquid for chili? ›

Chili cooks low and slow, so you need enough liquid to tenderize the meat and keep everything from drying out. That liquid should also add flavor to the chili, so use chicken, beef, or vegetable stock, or beer.

Should I saute onions before adding to chili? ›

Sautéing onions, garlic, and other veggies first coaxes maximum flavor out of them. So make sure your onions, for example, are soft and translucent before you add your liquid.

How do you make chili taste richer? ›

Adding just a teaspoon or two of unsweetened cocoa powder like we do in our Instant Pot Chili (pictured above) will make your go-to recipe rich and flavorful.

Do you leave the vent open on Instant Pot when slow cooking? ›

Another tip, taken from an Instant Pot Facebook group, is to open the valve all the way on your Instant Pot lid when slow cooking. This allows some moisture and steam to release and keeps the Instant Pot from overcooking your slow cooker recipes.

What are the 7 functions of Instant Pot? ›

Redefine cooking and enjoy quick and easy meals anywhere, any time.
  • Slim base and modern design with the same cooking capacity: an upgraded version of the best-selling Instant Pot® Duo® 6-quart.
  • 7-in-1 functions: pressure cooking, slow cooking, rice, yogurt, steam, sauté and keep warm.

How long to warm up chili in Instant Pot? ›

Reheating Beef Chili on Slow Cook Setting

Alternatively, you can set the Instant Pot to SLOW COOK on HIGH and let it warm up for about 45-60 minutes to get warm.

What if my Instant Pot doesn t have a chili button? ›

Turn the instant pot to chili (if you don't have a "chili" setting, use the "manual" setting) and cook for 18-20 minutes*. Allow pressure to release for 10-15 minutes or quick release with the vent.

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