This Instant Pot chili is a blend of beef, beans, tomatoes and spices, all simmered together in a pressure cooker until tender and flavorful. The easiest way to make chili; everyone will think you spent all day on it!
There’s nothing better than a big bowl of chili on a cool day, and this Instant Pot version is full of bold flavors, but ready in no time at all. Serve your pressure cooker chili with honey cornbread or garlic knots for a complete meal.
Sometimes I crave a bowl of chili, but I just don’t have the time to let it simmer all day. Enter the Instant Pot; rich, flavorful chili ready in less than an hour! This recipe is so easy to make and is mild enough that the whole family can enjoy it.
How do you make Instant Pot chili?
To make Instant Pot chili, you’ll need to first saute your ground beef and onions in the pot. After the beef is browned and the onions have softened, an array of seasonings go into the pot along with two types of beans, tomatoes and beef broth. Seal the Instant Pot, turn it to the Chili/Bean setting, then wait for your dinner to be ready!
How long does it take to cook chili in an Instant Pot?
It takes 20 minutes to cook chili under pressure, in addition to the time it takes you to saute the ground beef and onions. You can either release the pressure manually, or wait for the pressure to naturally release depending on how quickly you want to eat.
How do you thicken chili in an Instant Pot?
This chili comes out quite thick because it only contains a small amount of broth. If you prefer your chili to be even thicker, you can simmer it on Saute mode for 5-10 minutes after it’s already been cooked under pressure.
Tips for Instant Pot Chili
- I like to use 90% lean ground beef, as it has plenty of flavor but isn’t overly greasy. You can also use ground turkey or ground chicken.
- I use a blend of beans, with one can of kidney beans and one can of pinto beans. Feel free to use other types of beans to suit your taste, such as black beans or red beans.
- This chili makes for great leftovers. You can store the chili in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or you can freeze it for up to 2 months.
- This is a mild chili, but if you prefer a spicy chili, you can add some hot sauce to taste.
- I like to serve my chili with a variety of toppings such as shredded cheese, sour cream, tomatoes, tortilla strips, avocado and green onions.
This recipe can easily be doubled to serve a crowd. Sometimes I make a double batch just for my own family, then freeze half for another night. You’ll find yourself making this recipe over and over again!
More soups and stews
- Slow Cooker Beef Stew
- Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
- Chicken Vegetable Soup
- Beef Noodle Soup
- Hamburger Soup
Instant Pot Chili
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 2 pounds ground beef I use 90% lean
- 1 onion finely diced
- 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 28 ounce can diced tomatoes do not drain
- 3 8 ounce cans tomato sauce
- 3/4 cup beef broth
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 3/4 teaspoon ground pepper
- 15 ounce can kidney beans drained and rinsed
- 15 ounce can pinto beans drained and rinsed
- Assorted toppings such as shredded cheese, tomatoes, green onions and sour cream
Instructions
- Turn your Instant Pot to Saute, then select More. Add the olive oil to the pot. Add the meat and cook until browned, breaking up the beef with a spatula as you stir.
- Add the onion and cook for 3 more minutes or until softened.
- Add the garlic, tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, cocoa powder, sugar, salt, pepper and beans to the pot.
- Turn the Instant Pot to the Chili/Beans setting and place the lid on the pot. Cook for 20 minutes. Release the pressure either manually or allow it to release naturally.
- Serve with assorted toppings.
My new favorite chili recipe!!! I left out the sugar and added a bit of cayenne pepper. I used ground chicken instead of beef.
Will definitely be making this again soon!!!
Delicious
Can this be made in a crockpot? Thank you!
Here is my crock pot chili recipe which is similar: https://www.dinneratthezoo.com/slow-cooker-chili/
Thank you so much!
You made a single mom’s day! After working 10-hour shift, I don’t have time to make dinner and this was a cinch. This chili recipe is so good! I put in my personal instant pot recipe binder. I substituted the ground beef with jalepeno ground beef and it was delicious! I wonder if I can cook the ground beef and onions and freeze a pack so that my son can fix by adding the rest of the ingredients. What do you think?
Yes I think that would work fine, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I have the instant pot air fryer duo and it does not have a chili/beans option. Would that be the same as selecting the pressure cook button?
Manual high pressure is fine!
It keeps saying burn when I cook it. What I can I do to prevent that?
It sounds like the ingredients are not evenly distributed, try giving it a good stir and make sure there is liquid on the bottom layer of the pot!
My family loves it hot! So I added a can of Chipotle Peppers in Adobo sauce. I just chopped through the peppers with a knife and added the cut up peppers to the chili. OMG this was so good! I also used ground bison that I had on hand. It had a little gaminess taste, but it was really good. Thanks for sharing the recipe for your chili seasoning. I usually use the pre-made stuff in the packets, but this was so much better and I could adjust the sodium which I need to do because of health issues. I added a little bit of fresh lime juice which made the flavors meld so much better.
When I started making chili in the Instant Pot I had the same problem.
Do NOT stir the tomato sauce into the mix. Leave that on top.
I accidentally bought tomato paste. How can I alter the recipe using paste?
Mix 1 part tomato paste with 1 part water, then add some seasonings such as garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper.
This is a really tasty chili! My first dish in my new instapot and I was very pleased. The smoked paprika with the chili powder and cocoa make a rich and deep flavour you don’t get from most chili. I substituted the black pepper for cayenne for a little added warmth, and brown sugar instead of white. Delish, and chili for days
Unsweetened cocoa powder probably right?
yes that’s correct!
Can you tell me why you use cocoa powder? Would love to try this recipe but unsure about the cocoa powder. TIA
It just adds a little complexity to the flavor, it doesn’t make it taste like chocolate!
This turned out excellent! I didn’t have any sugar, so I added a porter beer and omitted the beef broth. Great ratios for the seasoning. I will definitely check out more stuff on your website!
Making this tonight for the second time. Hubby suggested takeout tonight, however, when I told him I had everything to make this chili tonight he said yes please! Absolutely our favorite recipe. The fact that I don’t have to cook it for hours as I was previously doing makes it even better. Looking forward to trying your soup recipes now that the cold months are approaching.
Do you drain the beans or do you put juice in chili as well?
The beans should be drained and rinsed!
I’m trying to cook it on the chili/bean setting but it doesn’t seem like the time is going down, been at 20 min for like 10 min.. Idk what’s going on. I just got it today.
It takes some time to come to pressure, the time typically doesn’t start counting down until it’s at full pressure.
Is it 38oz of tomato sauce or 3×8 oz?
3, 8 ounce cans, 24 ounces total
Does this call for 3 8oz cans of tomato sauce or tomato paste? I haven’t seen 8 oz cans of sauce?
It’s tomato sauce, usually they sell 15 ounce cans and 8 ounce cans of tomato sauce near the rest of the tomato products.
I love this recipe. I use Rotel with lime and chipotle.
I love this recipe! I want to make it in bulk to freeze some. Do you have a stove top version or one similar I mean I guess the times would just be different right?
Here is my stove top version! https://www.dinneratthezoo.com/beef-chili-recipe/
I’d like to bring the spice up a little without making it too over powering. Would you think adding a bit more chili powder would do the trick or what spices would you suggest?
You could add more chili powder, if you’re looking for it to be a little on the spicy side try ground chipotle pepper powder, hot sauce or crushed red pepper flakes!
We have a batch going on our boat right now. Used the chili/bean setting, but it doesn’t seem to be at full pressure. Is that normal?
What makes you think the pressure isn’t working?
Help!!! I don’t have a bean/chili setting on my instapot. Do you have a way to make this without that setting?
Use manual high pressure!
Can you double the recipe using a 6 qt Instant Pot?
I typically use an 8 quart instant pot when doubling, if it all fits within the fill line you can use a 6 quart, otherwise you might want to try 1 1/2 times the recipe. You can adjust the number of servings in the recipe card and the ingredient amounts will automatically recalculate.
Can’t wait to try this recipe. I have the 8qt instant pot would it work if I doubled the recipe?
Yes that should be fine!