This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
The BEST Instant Pot Chili recipe has the perfect blend of meat, beans and spices and is ready in 30 minutes! This Instant Pot chili recipe is perfect for beginners, and tastes like it has been simmering for hours.
Pin this now to save it for later
Pin It NowINSTANT POT PERFECTION: THE BEST CHILI RECIPE IS EASY, COMFORTING AND SO DELICIOUS!
At some point in the first 5 weeks of football season, no matter whether the weather has turned chilly or not, I get the craving for a comforting bowl of chili (weather, whether, chilly chili – so many homophones in that sentence!).
There are a few go-to recipes that I turn to year after year, including this Slow Cooker Chili, and a delicious recipe for Chili without beans.
Today I’m excited to share my go-to recipe for chili in the Instant Pot. Every aspect of this recipe is *chef’s kiss*:
- Perfect for Instant Pot beginners – CHECK
- Only takes 30 minutes yet tastes like it’s been simmering all day – CHECK
- Comforting, delicious, satisfying – CHECK
The Instant Pot is truly magical. Let’s head to the kitchen and make this Instant Pot Chili!
โค๏ธ Ashley
WELCOME TO THE KITCHEN, LET’S MAKE THE BEST INSTANT POT CHILI TOGETHER
Not only does this chili taste incredible, the ingredient list is fairly minimal and it can be customized just how you like it. I offer customization options below.
INSTANT POT CHILI INGREDIENTS
Gather the ingredients to make chili in the Instant Pot. You will need:
- Veggies: red bell pepper, yellow onion, celery, garlic
- Meat: ground beef, Italian sausage – Substitution suggestions: use all ground beef or all ground Italian sausage, or swap in ground turkey. I use and like a combination of ground beef and Italian sausage.
- Canned goods: diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth
- Seasonings: chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt and black pepper
- Optional: 4-6 ounces strong coffee
HOW TO COOK CHILI IN THE INSTANT POT
Making chili in the Instant Pot is so easy. You will use both the sautรฉ functionality along with the manual high pressure function. Here is an overview of how to make chili in the Instant Pot. Detailed instructions are below in the recipe card.
- Sautรฉ the veggies: Press Sautรฉ > Press More so that the sautรฉ temperature is set to high. Add olive oil, then diced peppers, onions and celery and sautรฉ until tender. Add in garlic and cook for 30 seconds longer. Remove the vegetables from the pan and set aside.
- Brown the meat: With the Instant Pot still on the sautรฉ (on high) function – add the ground beef and Italian sausage. Brown the meat, then drain excess fat.
- Add remaining ingredients: to the meat, add in sautรฉed veggies, beef broth, diced tomatoes, and tomato sauce.
- Season it up: stir in chili powder (more or less to taste), cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt and black pepper
- Cook on high pressure: press the “Manual” function on the instant Pot, making sure that it’s set to high pressure, then set the timer for 20 minutes.
- Release the pressure: after allowing the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes, quick release the remaining pressure.
- Serve
SPICES FOR CHILI
Every chili recipe typically has a combination of essential spices that are used to build flavor and spice it up. Adjust the spices according to your taste and heat level preferences.
Essential spices that I use for chili include:
- Chili powder – chili powder is a spice blend made from ground dried chili peppers. Add more or less to taste, depending on your heat preference.
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Oregano
- Salt
- Black Pepper
Additional spices and seasonings that you can add include:
- Onion powder
- Cayenne Pepper
- Smoked Paprika
Add coffee to chili?
Try adding strongly brewed coffee to your chili. It adds depth to the recipe, and balances out the sweetness from the tomatoes. If you don’t have coffee on hand, other options include instant coffee granules or espresso powder.
SIDE DISH AND SERVING SUGGESTIONS
Whether you are serving this easy Instant Pot Chili recipe to your family or making a batch for a chili cook off, here are some side dish suggestions along with serving suggestions.
To serve:
- Ladle chili into a bowl.
- Add toppings: I like shredded cheese, diced onions, Fritos, and a dollop of sour cream. Fresh sliced jalapeรฑos are also delicious and add a beautiful pop of color.
Side Dishes that go with chili:
- Old Fashioned Corn Bread
- Baked Potatoes
- Salad
- Garlic Bread
- Fritos, tortilla chips, Doritos
Or, try serving Instant Pot Chili with hot dogs for a delicious chili cheese dog!
Chili is one of my favorite fall comfort food recipes. I hope you enjoy this magical Instant Pot version as much as I do. It’s hard to beat chili that tastes like it’s been simmering all day long, but is ready in about 30 minutes!
If you try this recipe, please leave a comment or tag me on social media. I love to hear from you. Enjoy!
The Best Instant Pot Chili
Equipment
- Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage (mild or hot)
- 28 ounces diced tomatoes
- 14 ounces tomato sauce
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 tablespoons chili powder (more or less to taste)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon ground oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Sautรฉ the veggies: Press "sautรฉ" then press "More" so that the sautรฉ temperature is set to high. Add olive oil, then add in diced peppers, onions and celery. Sautรฉ until tender. Add in garlic and cook for 30 seconds longer. Remove the vegetables from the pan and set aside.
- Brown the meat: with the Instant Pot still on sautรฉ (on high) – add ground beef and Italian sausage. Brown the meat, then drain excess fat.
- Add remaining ingredients: to the meat add in sauteรฉd vegetables, beef broth, diced tomatoes and tomato sauce.
- Season the chili: stir in chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt and black pepper. Stir to combine.
- Cook on high pressure: press the "Manual" function, then make sure that it's set to high pressure. Set the timer for 20 minutes. After the timer goes off, allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes.
- Release remaining pressure: quick release the remaining pressure by flipping the valve from "sealing" to "venting."
- Serve with your favorite garnishes: cheese, onion, Fritos, sour cream, etc.