Best Instant Pot Chili

This recipe is filled with nourishing, delicious ingredients. This hearty chili is easy to make and full of flavor, making it the Best Instant Pot chili!

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I know, I know, it is a bold claim to label your recipe the BEST Instant Pot Chili. I do not share this claim with you loosely, I promise.

Over the years, as in many, many years, I have been on the hunt for a good chili recipe. I LOVE chili. In fact, there is nothing better to me than a warm bowl of this heartiness on a cold, winter evening. I make it at least every other week throughout winter.

To be honest, I have tried a gazillion recipes. Okay, maybe not that many, but it felt like a gazillion! However, I never really found what I was looking for. I couldn’t bear to tackle one more recipe, so I began brainstorming.

Why don’t I just make up my own chili recipe? I began toying with ingredients and measurements, and…boom! One day, I stumbled upon the perfect combination for my pallet to say, um best chili ever!

I know what your thinking. Of course you think it is the best Instant Pot chili ever, you made it. But, my friend, this is not true. I have now made this chili recipe for many of our friends and they keep coming back for more. Now, perhaps you will enjoy it too!

So what makes it the best?

For starters it is all about the quality of your ingredients. (See Tips for Good Chili.)

Aside from the ingredients, it is the ease of it all. The Instant Pot makes it so easy to combine everything, set it, and go.

Before the Instant Pot, I was cooking my dried beans separately and then making the chili. But, I love that I can combine everything in one step. There is less dishes to wash (because let’s be honest, a family of 8 can have an enormous amount of dishes) and it takes less of my time.

Tips for good Chili

Okay, before we dive into the recipe there are few things we need to talk about. Ingredients, ingredients, ingredients. One of the things that makes this chili so delicious is the quality of ingredients.

The food you make will only be as good as the ingredients you use. Keep that in mind and don’t scrimp on the quality of your ingredients.

Now, I know that not everyone has a jar of tomatoes canned from their garden or a jar of bone broth from the animal they butchered. However, there are other ways to get quality ingredients. (Although, I would encourage you to give a vegetable garden a try and to source your meat and bones from a local farmer you trust.)

The bottom line is, you want to know where your food comes from!

Okay the suspense is killing you, I can tell. Your wondering, what is in this amazing chili?? I’m glad you asked.

Ingredients for Chili

• 1 Onion
• 2 Cloves of Garlic
• 2 cups of chopped tomatoes (juices included)
• 1 T tomato paste
• 1 cup of beef broth
• 1 lb. grass fed ground beef
• 2 cups dried beans, soaked for 8-12 hours or overnight (black beans, kidney beans, or pinto beans)
• 1 T chili seasoning (click here for recipe)
• Salt to taste

How to make the Best Instant Pot Chili

Start by turning your Instant Pot to saute.

Now, let’s chop the onions.

Once chopped, throw them in the Instant Pot, along with your ground beef. You want to cook everything together until the meat has browned. Then, turn off the Instant Pot.

Next, chop the garlic and add it to the Instant Pot.

From here, we just want to begin dumping the remainder of the ingredients. So, add the chopped tomatoes (including juices), beef broth, beans, tomato paste, and chili seasoning. Sometimes I like to throw in a little fermented bell pepper (or you can use fresh bell pepper) if I have it on hand.

Next, just stir it all up and try to push down the beans with a spoon so they have a chance in life (well, to get cooked).

Put the lid on and push the bean/chili button. Also, make sure your pressure release valve is down.

And, that is it folks! Now, you can let the Instant Pot do the work.

When it has finished cooking, let it naturally release for 10 minutes.

After 10 minutes, release any pressure still left and open the lid.

At this point, I typically add a little thickener. Nothing crazy, I just take a spoonful of flour and mix it with water to form a liquidy paste. Then, I stir that into the pot and let it sit for a few minutes. But, this is optional.

Salt to taste and…you’re done (you and the chili)! Now, you can add your toppings!

Topping Ideas

• tortilla chips
• shredded cheese
• yogurt/sour cream
• sliced avocado