Experience the rich flavors of classic chili in no time with this Instant Pot Chili Beans recipe. Perfect for any season, from cool autumn days to winter blues and football season, this hearty dish is sure to please.
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Why This Recipe Works
- More flavor. With a variety of different kinds of beans, veggies, and spices, you get a bowl packed with flavor like never before.
- You can stop before the chili part. If you aren't a fan of chili, but want to make some beans, you can use this recipe to make your beans and skip the chili part.
- Simple ingredients. This easy Instant Pot chili recipe is made with simple ingredients so you won't be searching high and low for what you need.
📋 Ingredients
- Black beans: Add a rich, earthy flavor and creamy texture to the chili, making it hearty.
- Kidney beans: Their robust size and slightly sweet taste add variety and substance to the dish.
- Pinto beans: Contribute a nutty flavor and smooth texture, thickening the chili nicely.
- Cooking oil: Used to sauté the onions, garlic, and beef, providing the base flavors.
- Onion, diced: Offers a slightly sweet and aromatic foundation to the chili's flavor profile.
- Jalapeños, diced: Bring a fresh, spicy kick that can be adjusted to taste by deseeding.
- Cloves garlic, smashed and sliced: Infuse the dish with a pungent, earthy flavor essential to chili.
- Ground beef: Adds richness and protein, making the chili more filling and satisfying.
- Southwestern Seasoning: Imparts a blend of spices for that classic, warm chili taste when cooking chili beans.
- Dark Cocoa Powder: Provides a subtle, deep flavor complexity that enhances the chili's richness.
- Beef broth: Adds moisture and depth to the chili, enhancing the overall flavor.
- Can tomatoes: Offer sweetness, acidity, and a saucy texture, balancing the hearty ingredients.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
- Fire-Roasted Diced Tomatoes: Can be used as a substitute for the regular tomatoes in the Instant Pot Chili Beans recipe. These fire-roasted tomatoes add a smoky flavor and richness, enhancing the overall taste when added in place of the regular canned tomatoes.
- Ground Turkey: Can replace the ground beef in your chili beans recipe. It's a leaner option that still adds amazing flavor and texture to the chili.
- Chili Powder: Adds depth and warmth to the dish, blending well when added along with the other spices during the cooking process.
- Tomato Paste or Tomato Sauce: Helps by adding a rich, concentrated tomato flavor and thickness to the chili; use it by stirring in 2-3 tablespoons along with the tomatoes.
- Sour Cream: Adds a creamy texture and a slightly tangy flavor, complementing the spicy and rich taste of the chili. Dollop on top before serving.
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese: Adds a creamy texture and rich flavor, sprinkled on top just before serving.
🔪How To Make Instant Pot Chili Beans
- Step 1: Rinse the beans and combine in the inner pot of your Instant Pot. Cover the beans with water. Then, secure the lid.
- Step 2: Cook your beans for 30 minutes on high pressure. Allow your Instant Pot to naturally release. Just let it sit there until the pin drops and the lid unlocks.
- Step 3: Remove the lid, drain, and rinse the beans. Clean out your inner pot.
- Step 4: Set Instant Pot to sauté and add the cooking oil. Once the oil is hot, add the onion and diced jalapeños. Cook for 3 minutes.
- Step 5: Add the garlic and continue cooking for one more minute. Stir occasionally. Add ground beef, seasoning, and cocoa powder. Stir well and cook until the ground beef is well-browned.
- Step 6: Turn off the Instant Pot, and then add the cooked beans, broth, and tomatoes. Secure the lid and set the Instant Pot to the "beans/chili" setting for 20 minutes. Finally, allow the chili to naturally release, again. Serve and Enjoy!
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Tomato Trick: Canned diced tomatoes add flavor and save chopping time.
- Bean Choice: When using canned beans instead of dry ones, for your Instant Pot Chili Beans recipe, you can save time as they're already cooked. Just add at the end and saute for 5 minutes.
💭 FAQs
I personally like the variety of all the different beans in this recipe, but if you only have 1 kind of bean, you can use that instead. All the beans you use call for 1 cup, so just use 3 cups of the beans you prefer! Traditional chili beans are made from kidney beans.
The best thing about using your Instant Pot to make chili beans is that you don’t have to soak them like you do when making traditional chili. All you need to do is rinse them and pressure cook them.
Most beans require 25 to 30 minutes in the pressure cooker, so if you want to just make beans, you can do that with this recipe too. Simply rinse the beans, throw them in the Instant Pot, cover them with water, and set the time for 30 minutes.
Once your Instant Pot chili beans have satisfied your taste buds, let them cool to room temperature, then store them in an airtight container or wrap them up like a flavor-packed gift with plastic wrap.
Label the container with a dash of preparation and the freezing date, then freeze your chili beans for up to 2-3 months. They'll be ready to spice up your mealtime when you defrost and devour.
Serving Suggestions
These are my favorite sides to serve with chili beans:
- Cheesy Jalapeño Cornbread: A moist and flavorful cornbread with a kick of jalapeños and gooey melted cheese.
- Chipotle Lime Roasted Sweet Potatoes:
Tender sweet potatoes seasoned with smoky chipotle and zesty lime for a flavorful twist. - Quinoa Salad: Protein-packed quinoa tossed with black beans, corn, and colorful veggies in a Southwest-inspired dressing.
🍜 Related Recipes
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The Best Instant Pot Chili Beans Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup Black Beans
- 1 cup Kidney Beans
- 1 cup Pinto Beans
- 1 Tablespoon Cooking Oil
- 1 Onion diced
- 2 Jalapeños diced (can deseed if desired)
- 4 cloves Garlic smashed and sliced
- 1 lb Ground Beef
- 2-3 Tablespoons Southwestern Seasoning
- 1 Tablespoon Dark Cocoa Powder
- 3-4 cups Beef Broth
- 1-32 oz Can Tomatoes
Instructions
- Rinse the beans and combine in the inner pot of your Instant Pot. Cover the beans with water. Then, secure the lid.
- Make sure the sealing vent on the lid is in the “sealing position” Push your “beans/chili” button and set it for 25 minutes.
- Allow your Instant Pot to naturally release. Just let it sit there until the pin drops and the lid unlocks. Then, remove the lid, drain, and rinse the beans. Clean out your inner pot.
- Set Instant Pot to sauté and add the cooking oil. Once the oil is hot, add the onion and diced jalapeños. Cook for 3 minutes.
- Then, add the garlic and continue cooking for one more minute. Stir occasionally.
- Add ground beef, seasoning and cocoa powder. Stir well and cook until ground beef is well-browned.
- Turn off the Instant Pot, and then add the cooked beans, broth and tomatoes.
- Secure lid and set Instant Pot to the “beans/chili” setting for 20 minutes.
- Finally, allow the chili to naturally release, again. Serve and Enjoy!
This will be a great recipe for winter. Add some cornbread and it is a perfect meal.
Sounds so good, I love chilis too when it's rainy days.
I love beans so this recipe is something that I do want to make at home.
It's great that you used a mix of different beans. Looooove chili beans it's so yummy!!!
It's great that you used a mix of different beans. Looooove chili beans it's so yummy!!!
We love a good chili and we love having it in the wintertime. Yum!
We love a good chili and we love having it in the wintertime. Yum!
I have not tried chili beans yet but looking at your post makes me wish to taste them soon!
I have not tried chili beans yet but looking at your post makes me wish to taste them soon!
I've never made a chili dish before. This sounds easy enough to make especially because of the Instant Pot!
I've never made a chili dish before. This sounds easy enough to make especially because of the Instant Pot!