This old fashioned chili recipe made in the Instant Pot is so easy you won’t even believe it. It’s hearty, filling and absolutely irresistible. Our Instant pot chili Recipe will quickly become a family favorite! Just throw everything in and the pressure cooker will do the work for you!
Old Fashioned Chili Recipe In the Instant Pot
There are countless variations of chili recipes, but to this day, nothing comes close to tasting as good as this old fashioned instant pot chili recipe. It’s modern cooking and traditional recipes combined to make a mouthwatering fusion of flavor!
Chili has always been one of my go-to recipes for both hearty mid-week family meals and big get-togethers alike. I’ve yet to find someone who doesn’t love this easy chili recipe.
Don’t have a pressure cooker, no problem. I have a fabulous one-pot chili recipe too that is not to be missed!
Ingredients
Store bought chili will never taste the same after you try this old fashioned instant pot chili recipe. There’s something to be said about homemade chili – It’s a million times better than something that comes out of a packet or can!
I don’t know about you, but I absolutely love it when my home is filled with the smell of fragrant spices. And excuse I get to whip up a batch of instant pot chili, I take it! From onion and garlic to cumin, paprika, and chipotle… Cooking this chili recipe is a feast for the senses!
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds ground beef/turkey
- 2 small green peppers about 2 cups diced
- 1 small yellow onion about 1.5 cups diced
- 2-15 ounce cans Diced Tomatoes
- 1-15 ounce can Tomato Sauce
- 1-6 ounce can Tomato Paste
- 1-15 ounce cans water
- 2-15 ounce cans kidney beans drained and rinsed
- 3 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons onion powder
- 3 tablespoons cumin
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon chipotle powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
- ½ tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon white pepper
How to make Chili in the Instant Pot
The total prep time for this chili recipe is 15 minutes and the cooking time is only 20 minutes… That makes this the perfect quick and easy, hearty and filling family meal! You could even whip up this chili recipe to surprise last-minute guests.
The first time I made this chili recipe, I was impressed with how easy it is to make without compromising on the taste at all! Making this instant pot chili recipe is as simple as dicing and sauteing before you mix all the ingredients together and leave them in the instant pot to work its magic.
Instructions:
- Brown ground beef in instant pot using the Instant Pot saute function.
- Add diced peppers and onions until translucent and they start to caramelize.
- Pour in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, water and tomato paste.
- Add the drained beans.
- Add seasonings and stir to incorporate everything.
- Place and lock lid, making sure the venting valve is sealed.
- Set for 20 minutes on Bean/Chili mode
- Be cautious of steam as you do a quick release.
- Serve topped with cheese, sour cream and green onions. Best enjoyed with sweet cornbread.
Can you brown meat in an instant pot?
Most people might not know this fact, but your instant pot pressure cooker is perfect for browning meat!
When the instant pot reaches it’s working temperature and displays “Hot”, the meat will start to brown. Yet another fantastic function of an instant pot! Perfect when you are making this recipe. You only need to clean one pot!
The chili setting on my instant pot comes in super handy because who has time to slow cook a chili anymore? With an instant pot, you can make a mouthwatering chili in just 35 minutes!
How to Thicken Chili
This recipe should be nice and thick, but if you prefer a thicker chili, feel free to use this quick and easy way to thicken it without compromising the taste.
- Mix together 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of water.
- Add the slurry to the chili and bring it to a boil.
- Let the chili simmer (stirring frequently) for a few minutes until the slurry has completely dissolved.
What to Serve with Chili
Chili is an awesome main course for cozy nights in. You can serve it with just about anything to suit your taste and the occasion. For a simple mid-week family dinner, I like to serve this chili recipe with some white or brown steamed rice.
If there are any leftovers, they go really well on top of a baked potato for an easy lunch the following day. This mild but flavorful chili also goes really well over noodles and any kind of pasta!
If you’re having guests over for a party or game-day, our instant pot chili recipe makes the perfect appetizer. Birthday parties, Super Bowl, family get-togethers… You name it! Who would have thought something so basic could be so delicious!
Depending on how many guests you’re expecting, you can double, even triple the volume of this recipe. Whip up a large batch, place it in a large bowl surrounded by freshly sliced bread, tortilla chips, veggies like celery and carrot sticks and you have yourself a mouthwatering chili-based buffet!
For a unique twist, I sometimes add crispy bacon bits to surprise my guests.
How to Store Chili
Seeing as chili recipe serves eight, you could choose to cut down the recipe to make a family-sized meal or… The far better option would be to make more than you need and store the leftovers! Nothing beats leftover homemade chili because the meat has more time to absorb the flavors and spices.
If you plan to eat your leftover chili within a few days, you can store it in an airtight container inside the refrigerator. Reheat it in the microwave or in a pan on the stove. Serve your leftovers by itself or on your choice of rice, baked potato or tortilla chips. Nothing beats chili made from scratch for lunch!
If you like to batch cook your meals and freeze them like me, this chili recipe is perfect for you! Chili is ideal for freezing and storing as individual or family meal-sized portions. You can keep your chili in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or you can freeze it for up to 2 months.
Pro-Tips for Making Chili in the Instant Pot
- Typically I will use lean ground beef, but sometimes I will substitute ground turkey or ground chicken. All three are delicious.
- This recipe was made in a 6-quart instant pot, you can double the recipe in an 8 quart instant pot.
- Increase or decrease the amount of chili powder depending on the level of heat you prefer.
- Set up all of the toppings separately and let everyone choose what to put on top of their chili! Great if you are serving this for a crowd.
More Great Instant Pot Recipes
- The Best Instant Pot Lasagna
- Instant Pot Chicken Wings
- The Best Cinnamon Roll French Toast {Instant Pot }
- Instant Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
- Instant Pot Loaded Baked Potato Soup
- Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
- Instant Pot Cabbage Soup
- Instant Pot Monkey Bread Recipe
- How to use an Instapot! Everything Instant Pots!
- Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo
Instant Pot Chili
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef or ground turkey
- 2 small green peppers about 2 cups diced
- 1 small yellow onion about 1.5 cups diced
- 2 15-ounce cans Diced Tomatoes
- 1 15-ounce can Tomato Sauce
- 1 6-ounce can Tomato Paste
- 1 15-ounce can cans water (use tomato sauce or paste can)
- 2 15-ounce can kidney beans drained and rinsed
- 3 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons onion powder
- 3 tablespoons cumin
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon chipotle powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne
- ½ tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon white pepper
Instructions
- Brown ground beef in instant pot using the saute function.
- Add diced peppers and onions until translucent and they start to caramelize.
- Pour in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, water and tomato paste.
- Add the drained beans.
- Add seasonings and stir to incorporate everything.
- Place and lock lid, making sure the venting valve is sealed.
- Set for 20 minutes on Bean/Chili mode
- Be cautious of steam as you do a quick pressure release.
- Serve topped with cheese, sour cream and green onions. Best enjoyed with sweet cornbread.
This chili is amazing! I couldn’t find green bell peppers so I used diced green chilies and diced jalepenos. I love that it’s a one pot meal! I added minced garlic and a chopped onion to brown the meat in before hand too.
Thanks so much!! So glad you enjoyed it!
This was delicious! My boyfriend LOVES this chili, perfect for the chilly weather! Thank you!
-Also wondering—How much is each serving?