Best Instant Pot Chili Recipes – Including Our Family Beef Chili IP Recipe!

Looking for cold weather food? Try one of these Instant Pot Chili Recipes!

We are in the mood for some chili! Since we make pretty much everything in the Instant Pot (yes, even Instant Pot sweet tea) – we are of course going to use it for chili!

Instant Pot Chili Recipes

As soon as the temperature starts dipping down below 70 degrees, I get chili on my mind! I love a good bowl of chili, but now that I make just about everything with my electric pressure cooker – you know I am making it in my IP!

Chili is one of those things that certain people like certain ways. I am including my favorite chili recipe – but have also including what we think are the best Instant Pot chili recipes, to make sure that you get that bowl of chili that you are looking for!

Don’t miss our chili memes!

Beef Chili Instant Pot Recipe

I’ve made this beef chili for years. Previously I would cook in the slow cooker, but in recent years, we’ve adapted this for the Instant Pot.

This is a quick Instant Pot chili recipe, but the beauty of the IP, you can gain more flavor by changing the Instant Pot mode to slow cooker. When you let the chili sit in slow cooker mode, it will bring out more and more flavor. 

This is our family chili recipe and the beautiful thing is it’s very forgiving. You can add and subtract ingredients to make this the way you like it.

If you need to make more, just increase the ingredients – though you may need an 8 qt Instant Pot if you make much more. I use a 6 qt Instant Pot and it suits my family just fine. Not sure which Instant Pot to get?  Compare Instant Pots

Our beef chili instant pot recipe can be made in less than 30 minutes. We LOVE quick recipes, but this also tastes amazing when left in slow cook mode.

This dish also tastes better each and every time you reheat it. Let’s stop yapping about how this is the best chili instant pot recipe ever, and let you just try it for yourself. From our kitchen to yours, enjoy!

Best Beef Chili Instant Pot Recipe

The best beef chili Instant Pot recipe – make this for the masses, perfect for a cold night or for eating while watching football! This recipe is hardy.

Instant Pot Beef Chili Ingredients

Here are the Instant Pot Beef Chili ingredients that you will need:

• 1/2 bag frozen chopped onions (use as much or as little as you like)
• 1 lb ground beef (I use 90% – I know, not traditional for chili, but I try to reduce fat where I can)
• 1 can kidney beans (either light kidney beans or dark kidney beans)
• 1 can black beans
• 1 can chili beans (or pinto beans work too!)
• 2 cans rotel tomatoes (can use regular canned diced tomatoes for less spice)
• 1 can tomato sauce (16 oz)
• 1 cup water
• 1 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tbsp cumin
• 1 clove crushed garlic (or 1 tsp garlic powder)
• salt (to taste)
• pepper (to taste)
• cayenne pepper (optional – 1/2 – 1 tsp)

How to Make Instant Pot Beef Chili

Let’s start cooking. Here are directions on how to make this delicious cold weather dish.

1. Set Instant Pot to saute
2. Cook beef, onions and garlic together
3. Brown the ground beef until no longer pink
4. Add in all spices
5. Saute for 2 minutes with spices
6. Add in beans, tomatoes, and water – jump dump into the Instant Pot
7. Push the manual button on your Instant Pot
8. Let Instant Pot natural release
9. The best beef chili is complete! 

Not quite ready to eat? NO problem.

Let it cook a bit longer for a more developed flavor. Stir and set Instant Pot to slow cook. With the slow cook function, the Instant Pot should stay on for 4 hours. Perfect for cooking ahead or if your family wants to eat chili thru-out the day. 

If the chili it too thick, or if you are leaving on slow cook function, I add more water. This is a VERY forgiving chili recipe and you can make it your own. If you don’t like garlic, don’t add it! If you like more garlic, add it!

Making chili in the Instant Pot is super easy and hope you find this recipe delicious! 

Chili Topping Ideas

To garnish, our family eats our beef chili with sour cream and cheese. Half of the family adds saltine crackers. The other half of the family adds Frito corn chips.

Here is a curated list of fabulous chili topping ideas to spice up your dish.

• shredded cheese
• sour cream
• chopped green onions
• red chili pepper flakes
• chopped red onions
• diced avocados
• chopped cilantro
• saltine crackers
• sliced jalapenos
• crushed tortilla chips
• lime wedges
• chopped tomatoes
• cliantro-lime crema
• chopped pickled onions
• crumbled cornbread
• chopped scallions
• rice

Growing up, my parents always served chili over rice. My family had mixed reactions to this, but this is just another alternative to serving this dish. The rice does make it even MORE filling. So if you need this dish to go a LONG way – add in rice.

How to Reheat Chili in the Instant Pot

How you eat it is up to you! This meal is versatile, very filling and gets better each time you reheat chili in the Instant Pot or on the stove top.

Make sure the Instant Pot is clean and functioning properly. Ensure the sealing ring is in place, the steam release valve is closed, and the inner pot is properly seated.

Add Chili to the Instant Pot

Transfer the desired amount of chili into the Instant Pot. If your chili is frozen, you can still put it in the Instant Pot directly, but you may need to break it up into smaller chunks.

Depending on the consistency of your chili, you may want to add a small amount of liquid to prevent it from sticking to the bottom and burning. Start with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of liquid, and adjust as necessary.

Set your Instant Pot to the “Sauté” function on the low or medium setting. This will gently heat the chili.

As the chili heats, stir it occasionally to ensure even warming and to prevent sticking or burning.

Keep an eye on the chili’s temperature as it reheats. Once it reaches your desired serving temperature (usually around 165°F or 74°C for food safety), you can turn off the Instant Pot.

Carefully ladle your reheated chili into bowls and serve it with your favorite toppings, such as shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped cilantro, or sliced green onions.

Remember that the exact time it takes to reheat your chili will depend on its volume and starting temperature. Be patient and use the “Sauté” function as needed to achieve the desired temperature.

Using the Instant Pot for reheating chili is convenient because it prevents hot spots and helps maintain the chili’s flavors and consistency. Plus, it’s easy to clean up afterward.

The best Instant Pot Chili recipes from across the internet! From chicken chili to vegetarian chili, here are the best recipes for making chili in the Instant Pot! Hungry yet? Don’t miss our hungry memes!

Now you are set! No excuses, get out your Instant Pot and start pressure cooking!

If you enjoy your chili with rice, make sure to check out our how to make Instant Pot Japanese rice. Japanese steamed rice has a slight stickiness that makes the chili absolutely delicious!

Looking for a dessert? Try this Instant Pot Cheesecake that is Keto friendly.

Instant Pot Chili is part of the Digital Mom Blog series of Instant Pot Recipes