Gather round all, and grab yourself a bowl of Instant Pot Chili. This filling, healthy pressure cooker chili recipe is made with wholesome ingredients, packs just the right amount of spice, and saves and reheats like a champ.
What is the best thing to cook in an Instant Pot?
Whether I’m cooking for a crowd or looking for a yummy meal to last us all week long, this easy Instant Pot chili is one of my favorite recipes to make (along with this Instant Pot French Onion Soup).
Made with simple, nutritious ingredients like ground turkey (or ground beef if you prefer), canned beans, and sweet potatoes, it’s healthy, hearty, and will warm you to your core.
Whether you’re new to Instant Pot cooking or trying to reconnect with the neglected pressure cooker in your cabinet, a healthy Instant Pot chili like this one is a great place to begin.
You’ll love how quickly the recipe comes together, cuts down on dishes, and tastes like it’s been simmering away on the stove all day.
5 Star Review
“This chili was wonderful! I followed the recipe exactly and loved it so much. The spice was perfect.”
— Dylan —
How to Make Healthy Instant Pot Chili
This Instant Pot turkey chili recipe with beans is inspired by my favorite Slow Cooker Turkey Quinoa Chili.
I used a similar blend of spices but omitted the quinoa in favor of a second type of canned beans.
I like the variety of textures between the two, and the added bonus of extra fiber and protein.
The Ingredients
- Ground Turkey. Turkey is rich in filling protein and vitamins, making it the perfect healthy meat option for this chili (and this Healthy Turkey Chili).
- Veggies. I LOVE packing nutrient-dense vegetables into my chili (and this Instant Pot Carrot Soup); this recipe is no exception. A tasty combination of sweet potatoes and bell peppers helps make this chili extra hearty and nutritious. The veggies’ natural sweetness balances the smoky spices too.
- Canned Beans. It’s chef’s choice here! You can use black beans, pinto beans, red kidney beans, chickpeas, or a mixture. The beans give the chili body and help keep you full for hours.
- Chipotle Chile Powder. The secret, smoky somethin’ somethin’ that sets this chili apart from other recipes you’ve tried.
- Chili Powder + Cumin + Garlic Powder. A little heat from the chili powder and a lot of flavor from all three. These spices help give the chili that simmered-all-day flavor. (This Whole30 Chili is also bursting with spices.)
TIP!
For an extra spicy Instant Pot chili, try one of these spicy additions:
- Cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes (start with 1/4 teaspoon cayenne and 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes).
- One or two diced chipotle chili peppers in adobo.
- Crushed Tomatoes. The tomatoes help provide both liquid and richness to the chili. Do not substitute for tomato sauce or tomato paste as they will not provide the quite same flavor, texture, or moisture.
Favorite Chili Toppings
Customize your Instant Pot chili with your own blend of tasty toppings. The more, the merrier, in my opinion!
- Avocado. Cool, creamy, and scrumptious with this chili (and this Chicken Tortilla Soup). This is a house favorite!
- Plain Greek Yogurt. My favorite healthy substitute for sour cream. We usually purchase nonfat, though low fat works well here too.
- Cilantro or Green Onions. Fresh and flavorful toppings that add a burst of color to and chili recipe (like this Crockpot White Chicken Chili).
- Cheese. For added indulgence, sprinkle some shredded cheddar cheese or a Mexican cheese blend on top of your bowl.
- Jalapeño. Turn up the heat with some diced jalapeño.
- Bacon. Instant Pot chili with bacon would be delicious! Add some cooked and crumbled pieces of Oven Baked Bacon over the top of your bowl. You could also start this recipe by sautéing chopped bacon directly in the Instant Pot until crispy, then remove it to a paper towel-lined plate, finish the recipe as directed, and sprinkle the bacon on before serving.
- Tortilla Chips or Oyster Crackers. Offer some contrasting crunch.
- Lime Wedges. A squeeze of fresh lime juice is great for adding some acidity to balance the flavors in the chili.
The Directions
- Using sauté mode, cook the turkey and onion in the Instant Pot. Once the meat is browned, stir in the spices, then the remaining ingredients.
TIP!
Be sure to scrape up any stuck-on brown bits of food on the bottom of the pot to keep the chili from registering a “burn error” in the Instant Pot.
- Cover, seal, and cook chili on HIGH pressure for 10 minutes, then do a quick release. Serve with desired toppings, and DIG IN!
Storage Tips
- To Store. Leftover chili can be stored in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- To Reheat. Gently rewarm chili in a Dutch oven on the stovetop over medium-low heat, adding splashes of broth as needed to thin the chili. You can also reheat this recipe in the microwave.
- To Freeze. Place leftover chili in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Meal Plan Tip
Chop all vegetables up to 1 day in advance, and store them in the refrigerator.
What to Serve with Chili
Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe
- Instant Pot. Other electric pressure cooker brands with similar cooking functions should work too. This is a great tool for making any of my Healthy Instant Pot Recipes.
- Ladle. I use this to transfer the chili to bowls and storage containers.
- Chef’s Knife. Perfect for chopping the vegetables in this recipe.
6-Quart Instant Pot
This useful kitchen appliance saves oodles of time on so many recipes. Plus, there’s only one pot to wash at the end!
Love your Instant Pot? Once you try this chili, be sure to check out Instant Pot Mac and Cheese (and Chili Mac for the best of both worlds).
Frequently Asked Questions
I do not recommend making this Instant Pot chili with frozen beef (or any other frozen ground meat) since meat needs to fully brown and cook through to ensure it is safe and gives it great flavor.
I have not tried making this Instant Pot chili recipe with dried beans before, so it would be an experiment. Dried beans take much longer to cook than canned beans and require much more cooking liquid, so I fear by the time the beans cook, the other ingredients would be cooked to smithereens. See Instant Pot Black Beans and Instant Refried Beans to use dry beans in your Instant Pot.
Stir, scrape, and stir some more. Getting the dreaded burn notice on an Instant Pot is easier than you think. The appliance will issue a burn error if anything settles or sticks to the bottom, which is frustrating. However, I’ve found that being diligent about scraping up anything stuck on the bottom before sealing usually solves the issue of getting a burn error while cooking.
Some brands and models of pressure cookers have a chili setting. This setting is intended to be set to the best temperature and pressure settings for making chili in an Instant Pot. Honestly, I think it’s a bit gimmicky. For best results, following the cooking time (10 minutes on high pressure) suggested in this recipe.
Instant Pot Chili
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 1 large yellow onion chopped
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons chipotle chile powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 medium sweet potatoes peeled and cut into 1/2-inch dice
- 1 medium red bell pepper diced
- 1 can crushed tomatoes (28 ounces)
- 2 cans beans of your choice* (15-ounce cans), rinsed and drained
- 1 1/2-2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth or beef broth
- For serving: cilantro avocado, shredded cheese, tortilla chips, and sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
Instructions
- Set an Instant Pot** to saute and drizzle in the olive oil. When the oil is hot and shimmering, add the turkey, onion, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Cook, breaking apart and browning the meat until the turkey is no longer pink and the onion begins to soften, about 7 minutes.
- Add 1 tablespoon of chili powder, chipotle chili, cumin, and garlic powder. Let cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Add the sweet potatoes, bell pepper, crushed tomatoes, beans, and 1 1/2 cups of chicken broth. Stir well.
- Cover, seal, and set to cook on high pressure for 10 minutes.
- Quick release to vent the remaining pressure immediately. If the chili seems too thick, stir in additional chicken or beef broth to reach your desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasonings. Serve hot with desired toppings.
Video
Notes
- *INGREDIENT NOTE: Choose any mix of black beans, dark red kidney beans, light red kidney beans, pinto beans, or chickpeas. I used 1 can of black and 1 can of light red kidney.
- **TIP: If your Instant Pot is 6 quarts (this is the standard size), do not try to multiply this recipe. As written, it will fill the Instant Pot almost to the max line.
- TO STORE: Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- TO REHEAT: Gently rewarm chili in a Dutch oven on the stovetop over medium-low heat, adding splashes of broth as needed to thin the chili. You can also reheat this recipe in the microwave.
- TO FREEZE: Instant pot chili can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator before warming.
- TO MAKE IN A SLOW COOKER: Sauté the meat, onions, and spices in a large nonstick skillet on the stovetop. Transfer to a lightly greased 6-quart or larger slow cooker. Add the remaining ingredients in the order listed. Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours or low for 3 to 4 hours, until the sweet potatoes are tender.
- TO COOK ON THE STOVETOP: Sauté the turkey, onions, pepper, and spices as directed, then add the remaining ingredients. Let simmer, uncovered, until the sweet potatoes are soft and the chili is thickened, about 45 minutes.
Nutrition
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In addition to my Blue Ribbon Chili (my favorite chili ever!) that can be found in The Well Plated Cookbook, I also have a plethora of other chili recipes on my site.
AMAZING!!!!!!!
Thank you Roberta!
Has anyone tried this as a freezer meal? If so, how did you adjust the recipe? TIA!
Hi Margot, I’ve only frozen this after it was cooked.
I’ve had this recipe saved for years now – it’s my go-to chili and always hits the spot! Sometimes I cook a little tomato paste with the spices and add a little coffee with the liquids (something I took from a different chili recipe long ago) for a subtle depth of flavor. But really this chili doesn’t need it. I always use a combo of black and kidney beans topped with sour cream, cilantro and chips. I’ve also started cooking it for 12 minutes instead of 10 because I think I cut my sweet potatoes a little larger than Erin.
Hi Taryn! So glad you enjoyed the chili time and time again! Thank you for this kind review and your feedback!
This is my go to. Omitted the two tablespoons chipotle powder
Hi Cjc! So glad you enjoyed the chili! Thank you for this kind review!
All the Well Plated chili recipes are fantastic! I highly recommend them! One question, why are the beans added before the pressure cook in this recipe, but stirred in after the cook for the vegetarian recipe?
Hi Crystal! So glad you enjoyed the recipe. For the Instant Pot Vegetarian Chili, the beans do not need to cook as long as the quinoa, which is why they are added in later. Hope this helps!
This chili is very tasty. I wouldn’t consider these changes, but I followed the recipe with the exception of using half of the chipotle chili powder so each of us could add spice as our preference. I did go with about 1 1/2 cups of broth and I was glad I did because we like our chili thicker. This way I didn’t have to thicken it by cooking it longer or adding a slurry. We ate with cheese, cilantro and tortilla chips and look forward to leftovers with avocado (if it ripens before we gobble up all of it). Erin: thanks for providing consistently yummy, healthy recipes! It keeps me coming back for more.
Hi Leslie! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Really loved this one!! I was apprehensive about the amount of chili powder it calls for but the spice level is perfect as is! I used 1.5 sweet potatoes and served over a small amount of rice. Delicious!!!
Hi Ellen! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Make 1/2 recipe if you have a smaller pressure cooker or alternatively, add cooked beans at the end.this recipe is too large for a smaller version of the instant pot.
Hi Sharon! Could you tell me which size you used? I recommend a 6qt or more, and you are correct, this wouldn’t fix into anything smaller. Always a good rule of thumb with the instant pot is to never fill it above the fill line. Hope you still enjoyed it!
This was delicious, easy, and healthy! Thanks for the recipe. I added a full can of chicken broth and it was a little watery, so I added a little cornstarch to thicken it a little. Perfect with some bread on the side.
Hi Karla! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank for this kind review!
So good!! And if you chop up the veggies the day before, this would be ready SO FAST. Start to finish and eating I’d say it took me 40 mins, and that was without any prep and by myself. And it’s a one pot meal – minimal dishes!!
I used cannellini and light red kidney beans and they were perfect – not overwhelming with their own flavor but added a little something :) Loved the addition of sweet potatoes, which I don’t usually put in chili. Definitely filled my normal 6-qt instant pot to the top. I think my husband could’ve used a little more meat, but what else is new 😆.
Hi Sarah! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
We made this last night and WOW it was so good and easy! Definitely a staple recipe going forward.
Hi Jamie! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
This is my new favorite chili! So so easy and delicious!
Hi Cheri! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
This is in the regular rotation here. I can’t emphasize enough how the chipotle powder elevates this dish. I specifically keep Urban Accents Mesa Rosa Chipotle Powder on hand for this recipe. We use a bag of frozen sweet potatoes (Aldi alert) or the butternut squash (also at Aldi) as a short cut. At times I have changed things up a bit depending on what’s in the pantry. I always add an extra can of beans. It’s an incredibly forgiving recipe that’s quick, healthy and delicious. Keeper all the way!
Hi Cyndi! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Delish!!!! Made with only 1 insignificant omission (thought I had chipotle chili but used extra chili powder plus cayenne). This is yummy, healthy, and came together relatively quickly and very easily. Thanks Erin!
Hi Leslie! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Lifesaver! I was short on time and wanted a warm meal for dinner. Instant pot chili to the rescue!! Quick, easy to set up. We served it with rotini and some shredded cheese.
Hi Jennie! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
I’ve made this recipe twice and it’s absolutely delicious. My family loves it. I have gotten the burn notice both times though, any recommendations for preventing that?
I am so sorry that this happened! If you have a newer IP model, they’re typically more sensitive and trigger the burn warning easily. The best option to prevent the burn notice, I believe it is really important to make sure to scrape up any stuck-on bits of food on the bottom. Hope this helps!
I make this recipe on the reg. I kind of just use what’s around the house whether it’s a different kind of potato or even butternut squash. I always switch up the beans. And I even just used whatever kind of canned tomatoes I have around. Always good.
Hi Mallory! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Easy and turned out great! I did not use some of the ingrediens becausei didn’t have them on hand and I was in a hurry. Thank you!
Hi Wanda! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!