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.
Hi do you know the serving size?? I’m making this today and I can’t wait!!
It’s 1 1/2 cups!
This recipe is delicious! I replaced the ground beef with ground venison! It was equally delicious!
Any idea why i would get food burn each time i try to cook this chilli? Thinking i should not stir up ingredients and let them sit on top so that only meet touches bottom?
You just want to make sure the liquid gets down to the bottom of the pot, otherwise a thick mixture at the bottom of the pot can trigger a burn warning!
I always get the burn signal. I think it’s because it has lots of liquids. I make it in my instantpot duo nova. Turns out fine normally. I just leave it.
This was amazing and easy to cook my husbands only complaint was that it was a little too sweet. Could it be the tomato sauce I used?
What brand was it?
Barilla
You’re going to want the canned tomato sauce, not pasta sauce. You’ll find it with the chopped tomatoes and tomato paste. It will he canned. We really like the Hunts brand!
Great dinner! Planned on chili, got home from work and realized it was getting a little late to make chili- as I was debating on what pot to use and searching for a quick recipe, this came up. I forget to take advantage of my instant pot (love it). Recipe was awesome! Compliments from the family and my son even went on to say that the flavors in this recipe are really good.
I made this chili as the first recipe in my instant pot. Not realizing I wouldn’t be able to test the taste as it was cooking, I picked this recipe. After the 20 mins. The chili looked and tasted perfect, I was blown away by how good it was. The only things I did different was added some red pepper, green chili’s and a package of chili seasoning. You could never have too much seasoning.
This is because they are what I usually add to my stove top chili. I am making a double batch for company tomorrow.
Thank you for making me love my pot and looking for more recipes to try.
The recipe looks delicious with the addition of cocoa and smoked paprika. Three times I have made chili and without fail U get the burn notification. I generally stir it….should I keep it in layers. I have even tried removing the danger meat/onions to clean out the pot. Any suggestions other than the layering?
You just want to make sure the liquid gets down to the bottom of the pot, otherwise a thick mixture at the bottom of the pot can trigger a burn warning!
You might try cooking on meat/stew function for 10 min. I have another chili recipe that cooks on this setting and no burn error. I tried bean/chili setting for this recipe and got the burn error. Meat/stew for 10 min and no burn error.
Forgot to rate!
I leave out the broth for less soupy chili. Great flavor! Made several times,will be on our regular rotation.
My model of Instant Pot doesn’t have the “Chili/Beans” setting. What mode should I put it on?
Use manual high pressure!
So good – used 1 1/2 lb Ground beef & 1 lb venison, cut the chili powder in half, everything else the same. Wasn’t runny at all. Served on mashed potatoes with corn bread.
Really good. Even my pickiest family members have asked me for the recipe. Probably will stick to this recipe for a long time!
We make this all the time and get tons of compliments! I never used the cocoa powder and usually add in green bell pepper and a jalapeño if I have them on hand – when I add the onion to the beef. Today, I’m out of red kidney beans like I typically use. Do you think white kidney beans (cannellini) would work? If not, do you have a cannellini bean chili recipe?
I think the white kidney beans would work just fine! So glad you like the recipe!
I went without the cocoa powder and it’s really good! Also used a 2 cans of kidney beans & 2 cans of black beans that way I could make more! Overall super delicious though, the family enjoyed it as a Christmas dinner!
I cooked mine in a 6qt. It’s a bit soupy but good. Can I add less of the diced tomatoes or drain some of the juice out? What do you recommend, your pictures don’t look soupy at all!
You can simmer it on saute mode to thicken it!
Is there an amount of time? Im assuming on low?
And lid off I am guessing?
This is so flavorful! A classic recipe with depth of flavor. We loved it. I’ve shared the recipe with friends & will definitely be making it again & again. Thank you for posting this!
I have another brand pressure cooker. Would this be high or low pressure?
High pressure!
Do I have to double for an 8qt?
You can double if you’d like to!
This was absolutely delicious! The only change I made was adding a few dashes of cayenne pepper. Best chili I ever made!
Excellent chili. Very flavourful and easy to make.
Can I double for an 8qt instant pot?
Yes that’s fine!
Can you do double in a 6 qt?
That should be fine!