Easy Instant Pot Chili Recipe (2024)

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Easy Instant Pot Chili will knock your socks off. Ready in around 30 minutes and full of mouthwatering flavor!

Easy Instant Pot Chili Recipe (1)

Easy Instant Pot Chili

Easy Instant Pot Chili Recipe (2)

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Now that I own anInstant Pot, I'm trying to use it a lot more. Because it's so darn easy and totally quick! So I figured I better make some chili!

So I came up with a killer Instant Pot Chili recipe to warm you up on the coldest of days. I especially love that it allows me the ability to develop a ton of great flavor in a reasonably short amount of time. This is because the Instant Pot gives you the ability to brown meat and saute in the very same pan that it pressure cooks in, which I think is just brilliant!

I made sure to add a variety of chili seasoning options to make the flavor as robust as possible in such a short amount of time. This would be an excellent option for a game day gathering or a casual evening with friends. It's also a super delicious weeknight meal. There's really nothing like a good homemade chili recipe!

Easy Instant Pot Chili Recipe (3)

Tips for making this easy chili recipe in the instant pot:

  • Prepare your ingredients before starting to cook.This is called a Mise en Place and it's something you should do before every recipe you prepare. Your overall cooking experience will run so much smoother if you do.
  • Pay attention to how much CayennePepper you add. I added an entire ¼ teaspoon and it was reasonably spicy. To be honest, I was shocked that my girls ate it! You can easily cut this down to a pinch or leave it out entirely if a spicy chili recipe isn't for you.
  • Don't worry about doing a natural release. While a natural release is more important for tougher cuts of meat like chuck roast, quick release works just fine for this recipe. A natural release certainly won't hurt the recipe, so if you have the time you certainly can, but you can totally quick release it.
  • Have fun with your toppings! I love to add sour cream, tons of cheese, scallion and avocado onto my chili but you can really get crazy with the toppings- in fact that would be the perfect recipe for a make your own chili bar at a party! I even added some Mexican rice one night that I happened to have leftover in my fridge and it was such a delicious addition. And don't forget some nice, crispy tortilla chip for dipping!

Easy Instant Pot Chili Recipe (4)

Helpful tools:

  1. Instant Pot
  2. Chef's knife
  3. Cutting board
  4. Measuring cups
  5. Measuring spoons
  6. Wooden spoon

Easy Instant Pot Chili Recipe (5)

Easy Instant Pot Chili Recipe (6)

Easy Instant Pot Chili Recipe

Jessy Freimann

Easy Instant Pot Chili will knock your socks off. Ready in less than an hour and full of mouthwatering flavor!

5 from 3 votes

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Course Main Course

Cuisine Mexican

Ingredients

  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef, 80/20
  • 1 pound ground pork (if not available substitute with more ground beef)
  • 1 cup bell pepper, diced
  • 1 cup onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 Tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 Tablespoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon Mexican oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (if you don't like spicy foods half this ingredient or leave it out completely)
  • ¼ teaspoon ground coriander
  • ¼ teaspoon paprika
  • 1 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes, with juice
  • 1 4 ounce can green chiles, drained
  • 1 15.5 ounce can red kidney beans, drained
  • 1 8 ounce can tomato sauce
  • ½ cup beef broth
  • The toppings of your choice

Instructions

  • Add oil to the Instant Pot and set it to the Saute setting.

  • Add ground beef and ground pork to the pot and saute for 3-4 minutes to begin browning. Break it up, stirring frequently to ensure even browning.

  • When the meat is halfway browned add bell pepper, onion, and garlic and saute for 2 more minutes stirring frequently until the meat is fully browned and the vegetables have softened slightly.

  • Add the rest of the ingredients (except for the toppings) and stir well to combine.

  • Press Cancel and secure the cover of the Instant Pot to a closed and locked position. Turn the vent to the pressurizing position and set the Instant Pot to Manual High Pressure for 12 minutes.

  • Once it's done cooking, carefully do a quick release (always turn the vent away from you, I like to use a towel).

  • Give the chili a quick stir and serve immediately with your desired toppings.

Notes

This will last for up to 4-5 days in the refrigerator and freezes well.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

If you tried this recipe please comment and rate it 🙂 I love hearing your feedback and answering your questions!

Here's my other favorite chili recipe:

30 Minute Turkey Chili

Easy Instant Pot Chili Recipe (7)

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Debra C. says

    Chili is great all year round - love your recipe!

    Reply

    • Jessy Freimann says

      Thanks Debra- and I agree- I'd eat it any day of the week 365 days a year!

      Reply

  2. Megan @ MegUnprocessed says

    What a great idea! I need to get one of these instant pots!

    Reply

    • Jessy Freimann says

      Thank you Meg- I resisted the Instant Pot for a long time but now that I have it, I live for it. The other day I had a super long shoot day and was SO tired. My husband was dying for beef stroganoff which I used to only do in the crockpot. Thank goodness for my instant pot because I was able to make the fall-apart-tender beef that he wanted in under an hour (most of which was inactive cooking time for me!). Total lifesaver.

      Reply

  3. Richa Gupta says

    Such a wonderful combo, looks so spicy and healthy!

    Reply

    • Jessy Freimann says

      Thanks Richa!

      Reply

  4. Ana says

    Love this recipe! I made it according to your recipe and just added some Worcestershire sauce for extra umami but it's great as is. Question: have you ever doubled the recipe and cooked it all in the same pot? Would that be too much for the Instant Pot all at once?

    Reply

    • Jessy Freimann says

      Yum- I be the Worcestershire sauce was a delicious addition-I'm so glad you enjoyed the chili! I haven't tried doubling the recipe in the instant pot. I think it would really come down to what size IP you have, but I think as long as it doesn't go past the max fill line it should be fine. If you do it, please let me know how it works out!

      Reply

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Easy Instant Pot Chili Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to amazing chili? ›

Elevate your chili recipe by adding an extra layer of flavor. Cocoa powder, bacon, cinnamon, ground coffee and tomato paste will all add a rich sweet & salty flavors that are sure to surprise and delight.

How does the chili setting 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 to thicken up chili in Instant Pot? ›

How to Thicken Instant Pot Chili
  1. Thicken with Cornstarch (2 minutes): Make a slurry by combining equal parts water and cornstarch. When the cook cycle is done, and the pressure has been released, turn the IP on to saute and bring to a boil. ...
  2. Thicken by Simmering (20 minutes): If time allows, I prefer this method.
Feb 26, 2024

What are the best beans for chili? ›

The best beans for chili are pinto, kidney, and black beans, like in this easy and tasty recipe. This 3-bean chili freezes great for meals later in the week. If you prefer thinner chili, add an extra can of tomato sauce. The green chiles are not hot and add a wonderful flavor, so don't be afraid to use them.

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 do you put brown sugar in chili? ›

The brown sugar gave it a sweet/tangy flavor that reminded me of BBQ-sauce! Th chili was so good - it was hard to stop eating it! I did had some extra veggies (1 cl. garlic, 1 celery stalk, 1 carrot, 1 bell pepper, 1 hot pepper) and used a can of diced tomatoes rather than tomato juice.

How to make chili more flavorful? ›

If you want more of a smoky flavor, add cumin, Spanish paprika, ancho chili powder, or a combination. If you are looking for more heat, add cayenne, crushed red pepper, or Hungarian paprika. If it's too spicy add a little brown sugar and some sweet paprika.

Should chili be thick or soupy? ›

Ideally, chili should simmer low and slow. This allows some of the liquid to evaporate and results in a thicker consistency and deeper, more complex flavor as the aromatics and spices release their superpowers.

What liquid to add to 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.

Which onion is best for chili? ›

Sweet onions are great for caramelizing due to their higher sugar content. You can cook them into your chili, serve them raw over top, or even elevate your chili with a sophisticated caramelized onion topping! Some of my favorite sweet onions are Walla, Walla, Maui, and Vidalia Onions.

Are pinto beans the same as chili beans? ›

Editor: Chili beans are something you'll find in the canned good aisle at your grocery store. I believe they are usually pinto beans in a mild chili-spiked sauce. If you can't find chili beans, you can likely just substitute pinto beans.

What brings out the flavor in chili? ›

Cocoa powder, bacon, cinnamon, ground coffee and tomato paste will all add a rich sweet & salty flavors that are sure to surprise and delight. Warming spice blends, like Garam Masala, Ras el Hanout or Baharat are another simple and delicious way to add layered flavors to this simple one-pot meal.

What ingredient will change your chili forever? ›

According to The Kitchn, that ingredient is cocoa powder. You may associate chocolate with dessert, but rest assured, adding cocoa powder won't make your chili sickeningly sweet. Instead, it'll contribute a layer of richness and balance out the spiciness.

Why would you put vinegar in chili? ›

With only about 1 tablespoon per pot added toward the end of the cooking process, the vinegar will make the flavors more vibrant without overwhelming the dish with its biting tang. Through just a splash, everything becomes a little brighter, and the chili's flavors are more balanced.

What happens when you add sugar to chili? ›

Why is sugar used in this chili recipe? Sugar is used to cut the acidity of the tomatoes used in my homemade chili recipe. Using a small amount of sugar balances the flavors which in turn creates a smoother and richer taste overall.

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