Are you wanting to make the Best Instant Pot Chili recipe? Look no further! This is the best ground beef chili recipe out there, and it's so easy to make in your Instant Pot.
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Why This Recipe Works
- Rich and Hearty: This chili is packed with robust flavors that will warm you up.
- Time-Efficient: The Instant Pot significantly reduces the cooking time of traditional chili.
- Customizable: Add your favorite toppings to make this recipe uniquely yours.
📋 Ingredients
Here are the Instant Pot chili ingredients you'll need:
- Ground Beef: Is the protein base of your chili, adding a rich, savory flavor that makes the dish filling and satisfying.
- Olive Oil: Is used to brown the beef, enhancing its flavor and adding a touch of healthy fat to the dish.
- Onion (Diced): Add a layer of sweetness and depth to the chili, complementing the other flavors perfectly.
- Beef Broth: Provides the liquid base for your chili, infusing it with a deep, meaty flavor.
- Tomato Sauce: Adds a tangy sweetness to the chili, balancing out the heat and richness of the other ingredients.
- Chili Powder Seasoning Mix Or Homemade Chili Seasoning: This is where your chili gets its signature smoky, spicy flavor.
- Cornstarch Mixed With Cold Water (Optional): Can be used to thicken your chili if desired, giving it a heartier texture.
- Chili Beans: Add substance and fiber to the chili, making it more filling while also contributing a creamy texture.
- Diced Tomatoes With Green Chilies: Add a chunky texture to the chili, as well as a burst of tangy heat that makes the dish even more flavorful.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
- Add Tomato Paste: This is a popular ingredient in many traditional chili recipes and can be added at any step during cooking. To add tomato paste, simply stir it in with the other ingredients as you are cooking the chili con carne.
- Add Kidney Beans: While this recipe uses canned chili beans, you can always use a can of red kidney beans instead. Kidney beans are a popular choice for chili, as they have a rich, hearty flavor and offer plenty of fiber and protein.
- Add Bell Peppers: Add peppers to your instant pot chili for a little extra flavor and color.
🔀 Best Toppings for Chili Con Carne
- There are many different toppings you can use on your Instant Pot chili con carne, depending on your personal preferences or what is available in your area.
- Some popular options include chopped green onions, shredded cheese, chopped bacon, sour cream, cilantro, avocado slices, and tortilla strips.
- Other desired toppings can include chopped green peppers or jalapeno peppers and don't forget some freshly ground black pepper or a dash of smoked paprika.
🔪How to Make Instant Pot Chili
- Step 1: Set the Instant Pot to saute mode and add the olive oil, and then add the ground beef. Cook the ground beef until browned, adding diced onions halfway through cooking.
- Step 2: Once the ground beef is cooked through, turn off the Instant Pot and add tomato sauce and seasoning mix. Stir with a wooden spoon.
- Step 3: Add beef broth, chili beans, and diced tomatoes with green chilies. Stir to combine.
- Step 4: Pressure cook on high pressure for 30 minutes. Once the pressure has released, stir to combine ingredients and serve with your favorite toppings.
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Brown the Meat: Use the sauté function to thoroughly brown the meat before adding other ingredients. This enhances the flavor through caramelization.
- Layer Spices: Add your spices early while sautéing aromatics to allow them to bloom, which deepens the overall flavor of the chili.
- Natural Pressure Release: Let the pressure release naturally after cooking. This helps the flavors meld and ensures the meat stays tender.
💭 FAQs
No, chili is not a soup. Although it is often referred to as a chili “soup” or “stew”, true chili is considered a thick, hearty dish made of ground meat, beans, and spices.
Chile con carne is typically served with chili toppings like cheese, sour cream, or green onions, and can be eaten on Tortilla chips, baked potatoes, sweet potato or rice.
Yes, chili typically contains beans. There are many variations of chili recipes out there, each with its own ingredients and spice combinations, but most include beans in some form.
Common types of beans used in chili include black beans, kidney beans, and pinto beans. We used canned chili beans in this Instant Pot Chili recipe.
If choosing to thicken chili, combine cornstarch with two tablespoons of cold water and create a slurry. Stir the cornstarch slurry into the chili mixture and place the Instant Pot on Saute mode for 5 minutes stirring occasionally.
When the chili begins to thicken, turn off the Instant Pot and allow the chili to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Yes, you can cook a double batch of chili in one go by simply doubling all of the ingredients. This will allow you to feed a larger crowd or have leftovers for later.
You won’t need to change the cooking time for the food but the Instant Pot may take a little longer to come to pressure with more food in it.
Be sure to use a large pot or Instant Pot when making your double batch so that there is plenty of room for the ingredients. This classic chili recipe is perfect for Potluck Dinners!
To store leftover chili, let it cool for no more than 2 hours, then transfer it to shallow, airtight containers. Refrigerate for up to 3–4 days or freeze in portioned, freezer-safe containers with a label for the date.
Serving Suggestions
These are my favorite sides to serve with Beef Chili:
- Garlic Breadsticks: Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside – the perfect dipper for your hearty chili.
- Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread: Spice up your meal with this cheesy, moist cornbread, a delightful contrast to the chili's warmth.
- Loaded Baked Potato Skins: Crispy potato skins topped with cheese, bacon, and green onions, a satisfyingly savory side.
- Black Bean and Corn Salad: Fresh, colorful salsa with black beans and corn for a vibrant kick alongside your chili.
- Rice: Serve your Chili with fluffy white Instant Pot Rice.
🍜 Related Recipes
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Instant Pot Beef Chili
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Ground Beef
- 1 Onion Diced
- 4 Cups Beef Broth
- 1 Can Tomato Sauce 8 oz
- 1 Pkt Chili Seasoning
- 2 Tablesppons Cornstarch Mix with 2 tablespoon Water
- 1 Can Chili Beans 27 Ounce
- 1 Can Diced Tomatoes And Green Chilis 10 Ounce
Instructions
- Set the Instant Pot to saute mode and add ground beef. Cook ground beef until browned, adding diced onions halfway through cooking.
- When beef is cooked through, turn off Instant Pot and add tomato sauce and seasoning mix. Stir to combine.
- Add beef broth, chili beans, and diced tomatoes with green chilies. Stir to combine.
- Place lid on Instant Pot and seal the valve. Set Instant Pot to pressure cook for 30 minutes.
- When cook time is up, do a natural release. Stir to combine ingredients and serve immediately or continue to next step for a thicker chili.
- To thicken chili, add cornstarch and water mixture and stir to combine.
- Set Instant Pot to saute mode and allow chili to simmer for at least 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. When chili begins to thicken, turn off Instant Pot and allow chili to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
More Fantastic Chili Recipes
If you want to try your hand at making chili in the Instant Pot, there are many delicious recipes to choose from. Here are some easy Instant Pot chili recipes to try:
How much time is the natural release for this chili recipe? Do I turn it off or leave it on warm?
10 minutes and turn off after that.