INSTANT POT CHILI: Chili made easy in your pressure cooker is THE BEST! This recipe is the absolute perfect comfort food, packed with flavor, texture, color and a tiny bit of spice. Perfect dinner or party food!
Why This Recipe Works
This Instant Pot Chili recipe has been in the works for a long time. Many of you have asked for a pressure cooker version of your (and my!) favorite chili recipe and I finally delivered.
I have to admit that I avoided making a pressure cooker version of one of my favorite recipes EVER because I didn’t believe it could ever live up to its namesake. But it totally does, you guys.
I am so in love with my Instant Pot and the secret magic that goes on inside those little pressure-cooking walls. My first bite of this Instant Pot Chili made my head spin in circles. It tastes like it cooked low and slow for ages, but it is ready to eat in less than an HOUR!
This is such a great recipe. You are going to LOVE IT.
How To Make Instant Pot Chili
Making chili in a pressure cooker has never been easier! There is now a CHILI setting that puts those little magic men who live inside your Instant Pot to work.
After just 20 minutes of cooking time, this chili comes out perfectly and tastes like it has been simmering on the stove top all day long. Follow these easy steps to make the easiest, yummiest Instant Pot Chili you’ll find!
Step 1
Set your Instant Pot to the saute function. Add the olive oil and heat for 2 minutes. Add the garlic, onion, bell pepper, parsley and jalapenos (if using and I highly recommend that you do!) and saute for 3 minutes.
Step 2
Add the ground meat (use beef, pork, turkey or even venison!) and cook until it is no longer pink and drain, if needed.
Step 3
Add the spices! Stir the chili powder, cumin, sugar, oregano, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper into the meat and veggie mixture. Add the tomato juice, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, kidney beans and pinto beans to the pot.
Place the cover on the pot and set the timer to 20 minutes and cook on high pressure (use the CHILI setting!). It will take the Instant Pot approximately 10 minutes to build up pressure before it begins cooking. Only 30 minutes of cook time, folks!
Step 4
When cooking time is done, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then do a quick release. Remove the cover and serve the delicious chili immediately. Top with shredded cheese and sour cream, if desired!
Recipe Notes
- Use fresh ingredients for the best tasting chlii.
- Typically, fattier meats such as beef will produce a chili with more flavor.
- Decrease the amount of tomato juice used in the recipe for a less “saucy” chili and for a more thickened version of the comfort food.
- Go as crazy as you’d like with the toppings! Jalapeno slices, extra cheese, sour cream, cilantro leaves, lime wedges, sliced green onions.. the world is your oyster!
- Spice up the recipe by adding hot sauce, an extra jalapeno pepper, more cayenne pepper and by replacing the beans with seasoned black beans!
- Speaking of spice, do not let the jalapenos called for in the recipe scare you. It does not produce a super hot chili, but instead a mildly zingy and perfect chili recipe!
- Consider adding 1 teaspoon of cocoa powder to this chili recipe for an added level of flavor to the meat, beans and tomatoes.
How To Make Chili in a Slow Cooker
The ingredient list is the same between the best Instant Pot version of chili and the best crock pot version of chili. Follow the link for exact ingredient amounts!
Step 1
In a large skillet, cook the ground meat over medium-high heat until it is no longer pink. Transfer the meat to a bowl. Drain the excess grease from skillet, but do not clean it out.
Step 2
Add the olive oil to the skillet. Add the bell pepper, garlic, parsley, jalapeño peppers (if using) and onion and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft and fragrant (about 5 minutes).
Remove from the heat and add the chili powder, cumin, sugar, oregano, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper. Stir until combined.
Step 3
Add the meat and veggie mixture to the slow cooker. Add the tomato juice, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, kidney beans and pinto beans to either the skillet or slow cooker, depending on which you are using.
Cook on low for 7 to 8 hours. Serve warm with cheese and sour cream.
What To Serve With Chili
Serve chili warm with a bit of shredded cheddar cheese and a dollop of sour cream. A few good options to serve alongside it include:
How Long Does Chili Last In The Fridge
If you are wondering how long chili lasts in the refrigerator or if your batch is still fresh, click over for all the info!
Chili Dinner Ideas – Recipes and Sides!
Click over for chili dinner ideas with a variety of recipes and side dish recommendations, as well. Or use this post as your guide for dinner ideas using leftover chili so nothing goes to waste.
What Side Dishes Go With Chili
If you are need a good list of side dishes that go with chili to make the perfect complete meal, read on for 19 delicious ideas!
Appetizer Ideas
Chili dinners are the best in those cold winter months! If you are looking to round out your meal, peruse this roundup for ideas about what to serve as appetizers for chili dinner.
How To Thicken Chili
If you make a delicious batch and find that it is not thick enough for your liking, we have some simple methods that will fix it! Read on for tips about how to thicken chili.
What Beans Are Best In Chili
I love using pinto and red kidney beans because they are hearty and sturdy. Occasionally I will get crazy and add black beans, but for this recipe stick with the pinto-kidney combo!
Best Bean Substitutes
Whether you can’t eat beans or you just don’t have any on hand, learn what to substitute for beans in chili!
What To Do With Chili Leftovers
If you have leftovers (and it’s very possible that you will because this makes a large batch), please check out these delicious recipes to help use them up:
How To Make Hot Dog Chili Sauce
Don’t use any old chili recipe to pile on top of hot dogs. This delicious recipe details how to make hot dog chili sauce so the consistency is just right!
How To Freeze Chili
Freezing chili is super doable and easy! Pour it into a container that seals tightly OR into resealable freezer bags. If you use bags, flatten them out and remove as much air as possible before sealing. Store in the freezer for up to 6 months.
When you are ready to enjoy the chili, let it thaw completely and reheat on the stove top or in a slow cooker until it is warmed to desired temperature.
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Instant Pot Chili Recipe
Equipment
- Pressure Cooker
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 1 green bell pepper chopped
- 1/4 cup Italian flat-leaf parsley finely chopped
- 2 jalapeno peppers finely chopped, optional
- 1 1/2 lbs ground beef
- 3 tbsp chili powder
- 2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper optional
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 24 oz tomato juice
- 28 oz diced tomatoes
- 15 oz tomato sauce
- 16 oz kidney beans drained and rinsed
- 16 oz pinto beans drained and rinsed
- shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream for topping
Instructions
- Set Instant Pot to saute. Add the olive oil and heat for 2 minutes. Add garlic, onion, bell pepper, parsley and jalapenos (if using) and saute for 3 minutes.
- Add ground meat and cook until no longer pink; drain, if needed.
- Add the chili powder, cumin, sugar, oregano, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper and stir into the meat-veggie mixture. Add the tomato juice, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, kidney beans and pinto beans to the pot. Place the cover on the pot and set timer to 20 minutes on high pressure (chili setting). It will take the IP around 10 minutes to build up pressure before it begins cooking.
- When cooking is done, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then do a quick release.
- Remove cover and serve immediately. Top with shredded cheese and sour cream, if desired.
Notes
- Use fresh ingredients for the best tasting chlii.
- Typically, fattier meats such as beef will produce a chili with more flavor.
- Decrease the amount of tomato juice used in the recipe for a less “saucy” chili and for a more thickened version of the comfort food.
- Go as crazy as you’d like with the toppings! Jalapeno slices, extra cheese, sour cream, cilantro leaves, lime wedges, sliced green onions.. the world is your oyster!
- Spice up the recipe by adding hot sauce, an extra jalapeno pepper, more cayenne pepper and by replacing the beans with seasoned black beans!
- Speaking of spice, do not let the jalapenos called for in the recipe scare you. It does not produce a super hot chili, but instead a mildly zingy and perfect chili recipe!
- Consider adding 1 teaspoon of cocoa powder to this chili recipe for an added level of flavor to the meat, beans and tomatoes.
I added more jalapeños and some scotch bonnet pepper from our garden. Used 1lb ground beef, and a half lb chorizo; Also doubled the beans.
This was a very tasty recipe. Thanks !
Those sound like great additions. Thank you for sharing, Robin!
Hi – question … I make the stove top recipe all the time and love it. I want to try the Instapot recipe but I noticed that the tomato juice is significantly less that the stove top recipe. Stovetop calls for 46oz and then Instapot only 24oz of tomato juice. Is that correct? Thanks
Great question! This recipe does have less tomato juice but has tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes that make up the difference because it just provides a different consistency that I loved. Hope you try it and decide what you like for yourself!
Love this chilli recipe what size insta pot was used I use an 8qt
This is my first time ever useing my ip
Hi Carol – great question! I use a 6qt IP but your 8qt will do an amazing job too.
We love this recipe! I don’t have v8 on hand usually and substitute knorr tomato bouillon and extra tomato sauce. Not quite as good, but still yummy. We eat it as Navajo tacos!
I love it – thank you for sharing those tweaks. Sounds delicious!
Hi! Do you stir it before putting the lid on?
I didn’t, but you could. Since there is no pasta and it’s got a lot of liquid, you could give it a stir.
what is the serving size?
There’s approx 8 servings in the meal so I would guess a cup to a cup and a half. But you can adjust if you think there’s more!
Just a heads up that you don’t have the cayenne pepper on the ingredients list!
We love this recipe and make it all the time! Excited to try it in the insta-pot.
WHoops! Thank you for letting me know – that is now corrected! I’m so glad you enjoy this recipe, it’s a favorite of mine as well.
I make this all the time! My kids and their friends always ask when I am making chili. They can polish off a batch in one night. I serve it with jasmine rice, avocado, sour cream and cheese as you have suggested. Thank you for sharing this so that my kids get some home cooked goodness. To the mean person that said it is meat and bean soup, boo! It’s the best chili I have ever had!
Thank you for sharing! I am so glad its enjoyed and shared with family!
I just have to say that I found this recipe about 5-6 years ago and it is the most INCREDIBLE chili I’ve ever eaten. It’s the ONLY chili I’ll make!!! We LOVE it here at our house!!
So glad you love it like we do! Thanks for sharing!
I keep getting the food burning warning ? I‘ve used the regular recipe countless times and love it! I was really hoping this could work in the instapot. Has this ever happened to you?
I am so sorry that it happened. I have to say that first off, the burn error means the IP is overheated a little and is needing more liquid. BUT, you, like others, have followed all the tips and rules of the IP and it still happens. I’m not sure why and I’m sure IP is working on improving future versions because it’s very frustrating.
I recommend trying to stir in a little extra tomato sauce and lifting the meat and veggies up into the sauce so they aren’t thick on the bottom. I should mention that in my notes, Thanks for the reminder!
Was not impressed with this meat and bean soup recipe.
Thank you for trying it out. I’m sorry it wasn’t your favorite – still one of ours!