Instant Pot Chili with some corn bread is a family favorite meal. That’s some comfort food right there, as Grandpa would have said! Once you try my Instant Pot Chili, I think you’ll agree! When you make pressure cooker chili, it makes the flavors more rich, for lack of a better word. It cooks in less time than on the stovetop, and you can set the Instant Pot and go do other things while it cooks.
Originally Published on 10/27/17
Instant Pot Chili
Chili is a dish I make often in our house. I’m known for it in our circle of friends and family. This chili has been to almost every party and gathering we’ve had in the past 15 years!
This is a recipe that I make on the stovetop, and it recently occurred to me that I had never tried converting it to an Instant Pot Chili. I don’t know why, I guess I revert to autopilot when I make this recipe and drag out the big cast iron pot! Well, I have to say, my chili made in the Instant Pot is amazing! I’m so happy I converted it. Now I’m sharing it with you!
Usually, I make this chili recipe with 93% lean ground turkey, and sometimes with 90% to 93% lean ground beef. This chili is delicious with either meat.
It’s probably good without meat, too, though I have never tried that. The guys would picket the kitchen!
I find that using a trio of beans enhances the overall enjoyment of the pressure cooker chili for me. I started doing this with my baked beans, and we all really liked the variety, so I started doing this with my chili recipe, too!
My chosen trio of beans are black, red kidney, and garbanzo. I like pinto beans, and cook with them a lot, but I just thought they were a bit too strong for this chili. Personal preference.
You can add them and see what you think, if pintos are one of your favorite beans, or that’s what you happen to have.
So get ready for some comfort food in the form of Instant Pot Chili! Serve this up on Game Day and feed a crowd! Bring this to your next pot luck and you will be asked for the recipe!
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My original recipe for my famous chili adapted for the Instant Pot electric pressure cooker. This is a thick, delicious chili. I'm known for it! I hope you enjoy it!
- 2 lbs Lean Ground Beef (or 93% Lean Ground Turkey. Use a little olive oil to brown the turkey)
- 1 Bay Leaf
- 1 large Onion, chopped
- 1 cup Diced Celery,
- 5 cloves Garlic, minced or pressed
- 2 tsp Mexican Oregano (or regular oregano)
- 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
- 1 1/4 tsp Kosher Salt (or 1 tsp table salt) or to taste
- 2 tsp Smoked Paprika, optional
- 2 Tbsp Ground Cumin
- 3 Tbsp Chili Powder, mild
- 1/4 tsp Chipotle Chili Powder (this adds the heat, and some extra flavor. Use more for a spicier chili) optional
- 2 cups Low Sodium Chicken Broth or Water (or LS beef broth. I like the flavor of chicken).
- (1) 7 oz can Diced Green Chilis (with juice) optional
- 1 cup Roasted Red Bell Peppers, (chopped) optional
- (2) 15.25 oz cans Kidney Beans, rinsed and drained
- (1) 15 oz can Black Beans, rinsed and drained
- (1) 15.5 oz can Garbanzo Beans, rinsed and drained
- (2) 14.5 oz cans Diced Tomatoes (undrained)
- (2) 6 oz cans Tomato Paste
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Set the Instant Pot to the Sauté setting. When the display reads “Hot” add the meat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until almost done (if you use 93% lean or higher, you won't need to drain the fat. You'll need a little to cook the onions).
If you use ground turkey, you will need a little oil.
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Add the bay leaf, onion, celery, garlic, and oregano. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onion starts to turn translucent.
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Add salt, pepper, smoked paprika, cumin, chili powder, and chipotle chili powder. Stir well.
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Add the broth/water. Stir well.
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Cancel/turn off the Sauté setting.
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Add the green chiles and roasted red pepper, if using. Do not stir.
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Add all of the rinsed & drained beans. Do not stir.
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Add the diced tomatoes. Do not stir.
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Add the tomato paste. Do not stir.
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Place the lid on the pressure cooker and lock it into place. Set the steam release knob to Sealing (if your model is not self-sealing).
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Press the Pressure Cook (or Manual) button and then the + or - button to choose 5 minutes. High Pressure.
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Stay by the pot until it comes to pressure. I wanted to make this as close to my original recipe as possible, which is a thick chili. If the time starts to count down and the pot has NOT come to pressure (the pin in the lid is still down), open the pot, add in 1/2 cup of water, and reset the lid and cook time. You shouldn’t have to as I make it this way and it always comes to pressure, but just in case. It will take several minutes to come to pressure, but after it does, the time will appear on the display and start counting down.***
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When the cook cycle is finished, let the pot sit and naturally release pressure for 20 minutes minimum. This is a big full pot, so it will take time.
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Manually release the remaining pressure by turning the steam release knob to the Venting position. Do this in short bursts, releasing the steam gradually, until you can be sure that none of the sauce will spew out with the steam. Be careful to keep the hot steam from burning you. Maybe use a spoon handle to move the knob, or wear silicone oven mitts.
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Carefully stir the chili and then taste it. Adjust salt and/or seasonings as desired. Serve with your favorite chili fixings and maybe some some cornbread!
• I hear from people who have trouble getting a thicker pot of food, such as this chili, to pressure. They get the dreaded BURN message, and it never comes to pressure. ***Once the pin pops up it is at pressure, and the time will start to count down after a minute or so. At that point I always feel like I'm home free and nothing will burn! I always hang around my pot while cooking a thicker dish, just in case.
• The layering technique, and not stirring, helps keep the tomatoes from touching the bottom of the pot and burning. Tomatoes have a lot of natural sugar in them, so they burn easily.
• Also, by not stirring, the mixture doesn't get too thick. You need thin liquid to create the steam that builds the pressure.
RESOURCES TO MAKE This Recipe and More
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Anne Marie Cardone
This was amazing! I made it awhile ago and forgot to leave a review. We enjoyed this very much and had cornbread on the side.
Kat
Loved this chili recipe! I will make it again and again! I had to sub a few things – I used a second can of pinto beans, as a family member does not like garbanzo beans. I found I only had one can of tomato paste, so I subbed a small can of tomato sauce for the second can of paste. Was happy to have the smoked paprika and chili powder on hand! I really appreciate all your tips and well-explained directions! I enjoy your recipes!
Diane Reynolds
How do I change the recipe for my small IP?
Sandy
Cut it in half, but keep the cook time the same.
George
Looks like a great recipe (again) Small family here. Can this be frozen??
Sandy
Yes, you can freeze this!
MARY BROTMAN
Your recipe for Corn Beef and Cabbage was fantastic!!! AND, my cousin’s maiden is Clifton, from Baltimore, MD. You could be close cousins by your looks!! Beautiful faces!
Marci
Hi Sandy would I be able to brown the meat then dump this in the crockpot to cook all day? The only thing I’m missing is celery which I figure I can just omit
Sandy
Yes, you can do that.
Molly
I made this following the recipe except I had to sub 22 oz of ketchup for tomato paste because I only had a small 8 oz can. I think the extra liquid from the ketchup helped this cook properly! It turned out FANTASTIC. I also added a splash of hot sauce for some heat (I didn’t have the hot chili powder). I have never made chili with garbanzo beans but was pleasantly surprised at the texture in the finished result I didn’t have any issues with the pot pressurizing, despite it being almost full. It came out a little soupy but a slotted spoon solves that problem if you like it chunky. I added Mexican shredded cheese and made some corn muffins as a side. Will definitely make this again!
Scott
I’ve had the BURN code come up each of the last three times I’ve made chili. Are you saying that I should stick around the pot and, if it looks like it’s not coming to pressure, open it and deglaze & scrape up the bottom?
Sandy
Hi Scott, yes I am. I believe different models of pots have different sensitivities. My first IPs never burn. The new one can with certain recipes. You don’t always need to deglaze when you reopen, just scrape it and add a bit of liquid. There is no thick chili that works perfectly in every model of pressure cooker.
Nancy
I love this chili! I used ground turkey and extra Chipotle!
Utah
Sandy! I’m in heaven when I found you, I was searching for recipes for my new instant pot! Believe me you’re the only one chef that actually explain things better than any other sites…I can tell you do have experience enough and you do LOVE to cook! It shows on your recipes and the amazing taste for the right ingredients. I made this chili last night with all your ingredients, minus the garbanzo beans. We sprinkled some greater mild cheddar cheese, sweet onions and green onions,(mykids love onions)! Thank you for RECIPES !!! Delicious
Sandy
That’s awesome! Thank you!
Tompattyt
I agree. Sandy is my “go to” chef for Instapot recipes. I’m just learning – I have a 6-qt for our home (a stationary 5th wheel trailer) and a mini for our travel-van. I’m hoping to learn, convert, cook, minimize pots and water usage, relax, and enjoy!
Will be trying this for an upcoming church potluck… it sounds great!
Allison
I made this tonight in my Instant Pot mini (so I cut the recipe in half) and it was delicious! We sprinkled some grated cheese on top and tortilla chips on the side, or crunched up on top and loved it! I will keep this recipe to make again. Thanks for another hit recipe.
Sandy
Thank you, Allison. I’m so glad you liked this recipe! Thank you for your review!
San Antonio
We eat this about once a week. We skip the chilies and chipotle chili powder (and beans) for our 4 year old and she loves it. Frito pie!
Sandy
That’s great! I’m so glad you like it!
Diane K Bicjan
This recipe is absolutely delicious! I have the Fagor 8qt Multicooker and it worked beautifully in it! I served this with some tortilla chips and it was a big hit! This one is on my make again and again list of recipes!
Sandy
I’m so happy that you liked my chili recipe, Diane! Thank you so much for the great review!
Diane K Bicjan
This recipe is absolutely delicious! It is on my make again and again list of recipes. I have the Fagor 8qt Multicooker and it worked beautifully!
Eva
Love the recipe NOTE …. I never realized you could open the pot and stir prior to the pin popping up — that is great info as I have had a few things stick and burn on the bottom. Thank you 😉
Sandy
As long as the pin is still down, and there is no steam hissing out of the pin or knob, it is safe to open it as there is no pressure built up yet. I think this is important to save thicker foods from burning. That and making sure to deglaze the pot after browning meat, etc.
Amy
How do you deglaze the IP?
Sandy
Deglazing is when you scrape up all of the browned bits that stick to the bottom of the pot when you are browning meat, etc. To deglaze it you keep the heat going and add some kind of liquid like broth, wine, etc. That helps loosen that stuff up. That browned stuff is called FOND, and add a lot of flavor to the recipe. Getting it off of the bottom of the pot helps you avoid the BURN error that the pot will give you when the contents are too thick or something is burned to the bottom of the pot.