Chili in the Instant Pot has the taste of chili that has been simmering all day, yet takes less than an hour. It really couldn’t be easier! You can do it all in one pot which means less cleanup too. The better question may be “Why NOT make chili on an Instant Pot?” With this quick and easy instant pot chili recipe, you can’t go wrong with the flavor and deliciousness! In a short amount of time, the instant pot blends and cooks all the flavors together giving it an amazing flavor every time. Top it with your favorite toppings and enjoy this as a family dinner during the colder months!
Instant Pot Chili Ingredients
Enjoy a comforting meal in half the time when using this instant pot chili recipe! Use your favorite type of ground beef, slice, and chop veggies, and add in beans with the perfect blend of seasonings and spices. All cooked together gives this the best chili combination ever!
Beef – You can also use ground turkey or stew meat. We prefer using ground beef because it’s easy and has great flavor. 93/7% or 85/15% ground beef will work great. Chopped Onions and Peppers – For the peppers, we like to use red bell peppers but green, yellow, or orange are delicious too! Tomatoes – I like to use a can of fire-roasted tomatoes as well as a can of Rotel diced tomatoes with chiles. You can use two of just one kind or you can use plain diced tomatoes instead. Just be sure to add a little Beans – There are many different kinds of beans that will work well with this recipe. Our favorites to use are kidney beans, pinto beans, black beans, chili beans, and even canned beans will work too. Seasonings and Spices – Chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper, garlic, oregano, you can even add some dark, unsweetened cocoa powder for a richer flavor. Add a little spice with cayenne pepper. Toppings – Cheddar cheese, sour cream, green onion, fresh cilantro, or chives are all great add-ons to the top of the chili. Builds the chili up as well as gives it more color and flavor!
A Tex-Mex Variation
If you want to add a Southwest flair to your Instant Pot chili, try seasoning your meat with taco seasoning. You can also add some lime juice, chopped adobo chiles, jalapeños, hot sauce, red pepper flakes, and/or diced avocado. Top with tortilla strips or chips.
Steps for Making Instant Pot Chili
In just a few steps, you will be enjoying this homemade instant pot chili with your friends and family! We love to add tortilla chips or corn chips to go along with this chili recipe.
5 Tips for Avoiding the Burn Notice on Your Instant Pot
This cozy and comforting instant pot chili recipe is delicious and full of flavor with simple ingredients combined together. Follow these helpful tips to make this homemade chili even better. Add a side of cornbread and you have a complete meal!
How to Thicken the Best Chili in an Instant Pot
One of the easiest ways to thicken chili is to let it simmer until it cooks down. While this is an easy way to thicken, it takes the longest. If you want to hurry the process you can always add a thickener instead. Remember to wait to add the thickening agents until the chili is done cooking in the Instant Pot. Adding them beforehand will make the chili too thick and will cause your chili to burn.
Tomato paste – I usually only need to add an 8-ounce can of tomato paste to thicken, add more if needed. Refried beans – Stir in ¼ cup at a time until chili thickens. Cornmeal – Sprinkle cornmeal a little at a time into the chili, stirring constantly. Don’t add all at once or the cornmeal will clump and won’t dissolve. Cornstarch/broth slurry – Make a slurry out of cornstarch and water and slowly add to the simmering chili, stirring constantly until you reach your desired thickness. Shredded cheese – Add shredded cheese or cream cheese to thicken. This will make the chili creamy but it will still taste great.
Storing the Leftovers
Refrigerate leftover chili in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. If you prefer to freeze your leftovers, chili can easily be frozen after it has been cooked. Place the leftover chili in an airtight container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw completely in the refrigerator before reheating.
More Incredible Chili Recipes
You will love these easy chili recipes that are simple to make and come together quickly and easily. Most ingredients are right in your pantry for easy grabbing and combining. Enjoy these delicious recipes for chili with your friends and family soon! Read More: 27 Best Instant Pot Recipes
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