This Best Instant Pot Chili is a rich and flavorful beef and bean chili that’s made in a pressure cooker! Tastes as if it was simmering on your stove all day.
This chili is pure comfort food, just like my Instant Pot Beef Stew or the Instant Pot Whole Roasted Chicken.
I have finally perfected my recipe for beef chili that cooks in my Instant Pot. It’s time to share it here, on my blog, because you have to make it asap! It’s rich and so flavorful! Thanks to my secret ingredient, it tastes as if it was simmering on the stove all day, but in fact, it takes only 20 minutes to make, start to finish.
This Best Instant Pot Chili is perfect enjoyed on a chilly winter day, when a big bowl of comfort food is all you are craving. It is the best way to take advantage of the Instant Pot and make rich and delicious beef chili in just 20 minutes. Serve it topped generously with shredded cheese (cheddar or even Pepper Jack), sour cream and chopped parsley or green onions. Add a handful of Frito chips and enjoy!
Ingredients needed (your shopping list):
- green bell pepper
- onion
- garlic
- carrots
- celery
- ground beef
- red kidney beans
- soy sauce
- Marsala or red wine
- tomato sauce
- crushed tomatoes
- chili powder
- ground cumin
- paprika
- salt and pepper
- water
Instructions:
- Set the Instant Pot to saute, add olive oil and gently swirl around to coat the bottom of the insert. Add onions, garlic, pepper and carrots. Cook for a few minutes, stirring often.
- Add ground beef and cook until browned.
- Add all of the liquid ingredients, beans and spices. Stir well. Place lid on the Instant Pot, set the valve to sealing, press “manual” and set timer to 10 minutes.
- After the timer is done, press “cancel/off” and do a quick pressure release. Open the lid carefully, away from you. Stir the chili.
Can I use ground turkey instead of beef?
Yes! You can use ground turkey, chicken or even bison for a leaner option. Feel free to skip the meat and make it vegetarian.
Can I use frozen beef to make this chili?
Absolutely! If you have frozen beef and no time to thaw it, place it on a trivet in your Instant Pot and add 1.5 cups of water to the insert. Close the lid, set the valve to sealing position, press Manual setting and set timer to 25 minutes. Once done, switch the valve to the venting position. Carefully open the lid and remove the meat from the Instant Pot. Remove the trivet, drain the liquid and proceed with the recipe for chili.
Can I freeze this chili?
Yes! Make sure the chili is completely cooled before freezing. Place in freezer-safe Ziploc bags or containers and freeze for up to 6 months. To thaw, place in the fridge and let it defrost overnight. You can also place the frozen chili in your Instant Pot, add 1 cup of water to the insert and cook for 25 minutes.
How to make flavorful Instant Pot chili?
Looking at the ingredient list, you may notice two ingredients that are not typical in chili recipes. It’s soy sauce and Marsala wine. They are my two secret ingredients, one more than the other. I almost always add soy sauce to ground meat as it adds rich, meaty flavor to the dish. Always use low-sodium soy sauce. Marsala wine is my true secret ingredient. I absolutely love the rich, deep flavor and it is absolutely perfect for this hearty chili.
More Instant Pot recipes:
- Instant Pot Beef Stew
- Instant Pot White Chicken Chili
- Instant Pot Pot Roast
- Instant Pot Soup Recipes Roundup (all in one place)
- Instant Pot Meatloaf
For more recipes using the digital pressure cooker, feel free to browse our Instant Pot Category.
Also, check out my Instant Pot Guide for Beginners, filled with all the info you need to get started with your new appliance! Seeing BURN message on your IP? Read my Instant Pot Burn Message post to learn why and how to save your dish.
If you like this recipe and make it, snap a photo and share it on INSTAGRAM! Tag me @crunchycreamysweet so I can check it out and leave a comment! 😀
Best Instant Pot Chili
Ingredients
- 1 green bell pepper chopped
- 2 medium carrots chopped
- 1 celery rib chopped
- 1 small sweet onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1.5 lbs ground beef
- 1 can red chili beans drained and rinsed
- 1 cup water
- 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
- ¼ cup marsala wine see note
- 8 oz can tomato sauce
- 1 cup crushed tomatoes
- 2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ¾ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Press "saute" on your Instant Pot. Add olive oil to the insert and swirl gently to coat the bottom.
- Add garlic, onion, pepper,celery and carrots. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring often.
- Add ground beef and cook until brown, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Stir often.
- If needed, drain grease.
- Press "off/cancel".
- Add beans, soy sauce, water, Marsala wine, tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes. Stir well.
- Add chili pepper, cumin, paprika, salt and pepper. Stir well.
- Cover pot with lid, set valve to "sealing". Press "manual", set timer to 10 minutes. The Instant Pot will start by itself.
- When done, the Instant Pot will beep a few times. Press "off/cancel". Switch the valve ( very carefully) to do a quick pressure release.
- Open lid carefully, away from your face. Stir chili. It will thicken a bit.
- Serve with your favorite chili toppings: sour cream, chopped cilantro or parsley, tortilla chips or slices of avocado.
Notes
- This chili is even better the next day. Cool completely after cooking, place in a large pot with lid and refrigerate until ready. Let sit in room temperature for 15 minutes, then reheat.
- The Marsala wine is optional but highly recommended. It is a cooking wine, often found in the vinegar and oil section in your grocery store. It gives the chili rich and deep flavor as if it was simmering on the stove all day. If you can't use Marsala wine, replace with water.
- Please note, that the nutrition value can vary depending on what product you use. The information below is an estimate. Always use calorie counter you are familiar with.
Suzy says
I made this amazing chili tonight and it was a hit! I followed the directions exactly as outlined with once exception. I accidentally used chili powder instead of the chili pepper, but it still tasted fabulous!
Super easy to make and the vegetable chopping can be made in advance to make a super quick and delicious meal.
Thank you for an amazing recipe! Will be .aking this regularly!
Melissa says
Thank you for great IP recipe, delicious and flavorful!
Erica Lee says
Thank you for IP recipe for chili i"m currently learning to cook with my new instapot and i love chili. Thank you
Krissy Allori says
I love that I almost always have all these ingredients on hand so I can whip this up quickly anytime. Thanks for a great recipe.
Sara Welch says
This is my kind of comfort food! Perfect for a cold evening like tonight; looking forward to making this for dinner, indeed!
Eddie says
I am on my second bowl of this chili right now. It's DELICIOUS!!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Woohoo! Thank you, Eddie! So glad it's a hit!
Becky Hardin says
Love that I can make this in the instant pot! This maybe dinner one night soon. Delicious
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Thanks, Becky!
Sommer says
This chili has so much depth and zest. Love it!!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Perfect! Thanks, Sommer!
Aimee Shugarman says
LOVE using my instant pot for dinner...this turned out amazing!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Yay! I am so glad! Thank you, Aimee!
Alli says
This chili looks absolutely amazing. We love making IP chili and yours is a family favorite.
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Awesome! Thank you so much, Alli!
Emily Hill says
Totally pinning this recipe ! I need more hearty Instant Pot dishes!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Thank you so much, Emily!
Audrey says
No more waiting all day for one of my most favorite winter foods! Thank you!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
You are very welcome, Audrey!