Instant Pot Chili that is award winning and bringing home cook-off victories across the country. You don’t want to miss diving into a bowl of our best chili!
If you want from scratch, our traditional chili is your answer. It took us 10 years to discover an award winning recipe and this is finally it, plus it’s an instant pot recipe which means it’s all done in less than 1 hour (with instructions for cooking on the stove top or crock pot as well)!! It is full of bacon, ground beef, beans, classic chili spices and all the toppings you want!
Let’s talk about how to make this homemade chili step by step, and discuss what goes well with it, and how to freeze it to eat later. So much to talk about, so let’s get going!
We attended a chili cook-off and brought this awesome Cheesy Ground Beef Enchilada Chili. It was so good, but soooo many arteries were clogged that night. It’s pretty unhealthy, but I heard a rumor that if you don’t eat it alone the calories don’t count.
Pretty sure that’s true.
If you want a healthy chili recipe, you should definitely try our award winning healthy turkey instant pot version, which uses ground turkey instead of beef. And imho, all chili, healthy or not so healthy, should be accompanied with a side of cornbread or our crazy easy 7-Up biscuits!
Chili Cook-Off Idea!
- Muffin Tin Trick
Oh! And listen to this, at the chili cook-off a couple of people brought muffin tins and then placed a sample scoop of each kind in the well so they could try them all and vote without going back or over eating. GENIUS. That’s seriously the smartest thing ever.
Next to figuring out this award winning instant pot chili recipe, right?! 😉
We hurried and made you all a video to help with the questions. Thank you for all of your love and support with making this the #1 chili out there!
Ingredients for Instant Pot Chili
- Meat: Ground Beef and Bacon
- Beans: Kidney Beans, Pinto Beans, and Black Beans
- Tomatoes: Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes and Tomato Paste
- Vegetables: Red Onion, Red Bell Pepper, Garlic, and Jalapeño
- Broth: Beef Broth and Worcestershire Sauce
- Spices: Oregano, Ground Cumin, Kosher Salt, Ground Black Pepper, Smoked Paprika, Chili Powder
- Toppings: Sour Cream, Cilantro, Cheddar Cheese, Corn, Limes, Chips, Green Onions, etc.
The measurements and all the details for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
How to Make Chili in an Instant Pot
Making this recipe in an instant pot is really easy because there’s an actual setting for chili and beans (if you don’t have that setting, you can totally use “manual”). That pretty much takes all of the thinking out of this, and everything can be done in the instant pot, which means only one dish to clean!!
Let’s go through it step by step:
- Turn your instant pot to “saute” and cook the bacon until crispy.
- Remove the bacon and saute the bell peppers and onions until tender.
- Add the ground beef and cook until browned and drain any excess grease.
- Add all the remaining ingredients and stir everything together
- Place the lid on the instant pot and set to “chili” mode (“manual” can be used too).
- Cook for 18-20 minutes and allow a natural release for 10-15 minutes. If you get the burn notice, please see the section below.
- Once it is cooked, serve it up and top with all your favorite toppings.
All these instructions can also be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
Watch How this Chili Recipe is Made…
What to Eat with Homemade Chili
Really any sort of bread will get the job done beautifully, but if you are making this in an instant pot, then you probably want dinner done in a hurry, so these 1 Hour Rolls are your answer! I often like something light and fresh with my chili like this garden balsamic avocado salad. I’ve also heard that people eat cinnamon rolls with chili, and I fully endorse this! Try our World’s Best Cinnamon Rolls!
Burn Notice on Instant Pot
We’ve had a lot of questions, comments and concerns about the burn notice on the instant pot. We really think it just depends on your Instant Pot. Some are more sensitive than others. We have not ever had a burn notice on ours, but if you are getting them, here are a few tips and tricks…
Cooking the Bacon Burn Notice
- Is your bacon extra thin or lacking fat? Both of these can cause the bacon to stick to the bottom of the pot and cause a burn notice. Those browned bits stuck to the pot because of the lack of fat can make the pressure cooker think that you’ve walked away and left meat to burn.
- To counter this, please use a good quality bacon and stir often to keep it from sticking. You can also add a little oil to the pot if not much fat is rendering off the bacon.
Clean Pot
- Prior browned bits on the pot- If your pot had previous food stuck to the bottom of the pot it will continue to cook and confuse the pot to thinking that something is burning. Clean your pot well after every use. Bar Keeper’s Friend is my go-to cleaner for browned bits in pots and pans.
Burn Notice After the Chili Has Been Combined
- If your chili has been combined and then you get the burn notice you probably didn’t thoroughly stir everything together or something is stuck to the bottom of the pot. This is why that bacon step is important. If you added those heavy ingredients and added the lid something will probably stick and burn. Stir well, make sure you measured properly.
If none of these tips work, you should contact instant pot as you may have a model that needs to be replaced.
This recipe is too big to be doubled in both a 6 qt Instant Pot and an 8qt. It can be one and a halved in an 8qt Instant Pot. We also been told you can double it in an 8qt Instant Pot if you take out 1 or 2 cans of beans.
1. Alright, start with your bacon. Always.
Whenever bacon is going in a dish we crisp it first, drain the fat and leave the browned bits in the pan. All it does is add extra flavor to whatever comes next.
Start by pressing the “saute” button and once you can feel the heat, add the chopped bacon, stirring occasionally until crisp. Remove to a paper towel lined plate and drain the fat.
2. Next, grab your ground beef. Any kind is fine for chili since other flavors are in there, but there’s more flavor in an 80/20 versus 90/10, though you will need to drain out the fat before continuing on.
Make sure you stir occasionally in order to crumble the meat instead of having big chunks. Chili shouldn’t be big and chunky. Leave that to the hippopotamuses. (Totally had to spell check that one. Who knew hippos could be so difficult.)
To make slow cooker chili (I linked up to the brand and model we prefer) or of course make chili in a crock pot if that’s what you have, you’ll need to cook the bacon and ground beef in a pan, then add the peppers and onions to sauté them all nice and tender.
Then dump it all in a slow cooker and we prefer 5-6 hours on low or 3 hours on high, though I have probably only used the high function twice.
Low and slow really allows the spices to bloom, or in other words to open up and really do their thing.
Toppings for Homemade Chili
The toppings you choose for your chili is totally up to you! You can add more crunch, creaminess, heat, freshness, acidity…really anything that makes you happy! Here are a few of our favorites:
- Cheese
- Sour Cream
- Sliced Jalapenos
- Green Onions
- Cilantro
- Tortilla Chips or Fritos
Storage Tips
Leftover chili should be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. It will keep for up to 5 days.
If you want it to last a little longer, classic chili is really easy to freeze. Cool your chili completely and store in ziplocs with all the air pressed out, or we prefer to use our Food Saver. You can store individual servings to eat for lunch or larger portions to feed the whole family later. They will last in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To reheat the chili, let it thaw in the fridge overnight and then warm it up in a pot on the stove top.
When it comes to classic chili, I want it to be full of flavor, bold and comforting! Friends, this recipe is the result of me making dozens of recipes in order to find the greatest of all time. So I tell you hands down this is the VERY BEST CHILI!
P.S. Have you seen our Instant Pot cheat sheet? Head there are all our tips for cooking all the basics in your Instant Pot!
Here are some more CHILI RECIPES that you’ll love:
- Instant Pot Turkey Chili
- Best Stove Top Chili
- Ground Beef Enchilada Chili
- Brisket Chili
- Slow Cooker Pumpkin Chili
- Pumpkin Apple Cider Chili
- White Chicken Chili
- Surprise Chili
- White Bean Turkey Chili
- Dr Pepper and Chocolate Chili
- All our Chili, Soup, and Stew Recipes here!
Looking for more Instant Pot recipes?
Instant Pot Award Winning Chili Recipe
Description
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 Pounds Ground Beef
- 6 Strips Bacon, good quality, chopped
- 1 Can Kidney Beans, 15 ounces, drained
- 1 Can Pinto Beans, 15 ounces, drained
- 1 Can Black Beans, 15 ounces, drained
- 1 Can Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes, 15 ounces, with juice
- 1 Can Tomato Paste, 6 ounce
- 1 Red Onion, chopped
- 1 Red Bell Pepper, seeded and chopped
- 1 Jalapeño, seeded and minced *optional
- 2 Cups Beef Stock
- 1 Tablespoon Dried Oregano
- 2 Teaspoons Ground Cumin
- 2 Teaspoons Kosher Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
- 1 Teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- 2 Tablespoons Chili Powder
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 Tablespoon Garlic, minced
For Garnish
- Sour Cream
- Cilantro
- Cheese, shredded
- Lime, fresh, optional
Instructions
- Turn your instant pot to sauté and add the bacon.6 Strips Bacon
- Cook until crisp, stirring often to cook evenly.
- Remove the bacon to a paper towel lined plate.
- Add the onions and peppers and cook until tender.1 Red Onion, 1 Red Bell Pepper
- Add the meat and cook until browned.1 1/2 Pounds Ground Beef
- Drain off any excess grease, we just tilt the pot and use a large spoon.
- Add all of the remaining ingredients and 3/4 of the bacon and stir to combine.1 Can Kidney Beans, 1 Can Pinto Beans, 1 Can Black Beans, 1 Can Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes, 1 Can Tomato Paste, 1 Jalapeño, 2 Cups Beef Stock, 1 Tablespoon Dried Oregano, 2 Teaspoons Ground Cumin, 2 Teaspoons Kosher Salt, 1 Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper, 1 Teaspoon Smoked Paprika, 2 Tablespoons Chili Powder, 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce, 1 Tablespoon Garlic
- Turn the instant pot to chili (if you don't have a "chili" setting, use the "manual" setting) and cook for 18-20 minutes*. Allow pressure to release for 10-15 minutes or quick release with the vent.
- Serve with limes, sour cream, cheese, and a little bacon!Sour Cream, Cilantro, Cheese, Lime
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
Recommended Products
If you are still looking for another excellent chili recipe, this Old Fashioned Chili Recipe, this All Beef American chili recipe, and this 5 Ingredient Crockpot Chili Recipe have been some of our favorites!
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Taylor buotte
How many cups does it make?
Rachel
Do you have any suggestions on how to incorporate dried beans instead of canned?
Cant wait to try!
Sweet Basil
Hi Rachel! Dried beans work great in this recipe! You have a couple of options. You could soak and then cook the beans beforehand can then follow the recipe as written. The other option is to add the dried beans to the recipe and increase the cooking time…probably 30-35 minutes. Enjoy!
Leah
Usedd this recipe twice for our chili cook off, won 2nd on the first one and 1st this time! Thank you
Sweet Basil
Yessssss! Thanks Leah!
Genevieve
Didn’t get the burn notice and it tasted really good but I would cut the salt in half! That was way too salty (and I like salt!)
Sweet Basil
Thanks for the feedback Genevieve!
Crystal
I unfortunately also have gotten the dreaded burn notification numerous times, and that’s also with adding broth along with the stock. I just then throw it in a pot and cook it. It’s a delicious recipe so that burn is so frustrating!
Sweet Basil
I’m so sorry Crystal! After all these years I haven’t found any rhyme or reason as to why it happens to some people but not to others. Sorry for the frustration!
Sal
The recipe sucks. I tried it three times and each time I get the burn notice! Doesn’t matter how much broth I put in. I am an instant pot veteran and this is the worst recipe I have ever tried. I don’t know who is getting paid for these reviews. All three tries became dog food.
Sweet Basil
Hi Sal! I’m so sorry for the frustration! We have found that some models of Instant Pot are much more prone to get the burn notice unfortunately. In all my hundreds of times making this recipe, I haven’t ever gotten it once. You could always try it on the stove top or crock pot. Again, I’m sorry for the frustration!
Garry Tyree
When do I add the 1/4 bacon ,on top as a topping ?
Sweet Basil
Hi Garry! Yes, that gets sprinkled on top. Enjoy!
Christine D.
This Chili recipe is AMAZING! I have made this several times , and it never disappoints! Friends and family just love it! It will continue to be a Fall/Winter favorite in our home! Thank you for sharing it!
Sweet Basil
You’ve made my day Christine! Thank you!
Lanni
This recipe is just the best! I make it all of the time and it just never disappoints. After reading the comment section, I think its time I look deeper on your site and try more recipes!
Sweet Basil
Yay!! Thank you so much Lanni!!
Nez
This chili is everything to me! I made a few changes only because I didn’t have some of the ingredients on hand so I was forced to make some changes
– no bacon added
– used only 1 1b of beef
– added black beans because I had a can lying around
– I had a can of diced tomatoes that had “chili seasoning” in it already
– I added a half tbsp of chipotle spice
– I also added a couple pinches of salt to the onion and bell pepper mixture that was sauteed
Okay that’s it. Anyway, I’m obsessed with this chili and I usually never want to eat things multiple times in one day, several days in a row because I get bored. But the flavors here are immaculate.
Sweet Basil
Thank you SO much Nez! We appreciate your feedback so much!!
Angel O’Leary
This is the BEST chili. I have made it with all sorts of leftover meats, most often rotisserie chicken. My only negative is that you should add limes to the ingredient list. I usually screenshot the ingredients before going shopping and because limes aren’t listed I forget to buy them and if I don’t have any at home I am sad because they really add something.
Sweet Basil
Hi Angel! You are totally right…a squeeze of lime is perfection! I’ll add it as a suggested ingredient. Thank you so much for the support!
Victoria Williams
Holy Jesus… I was skeptical about the cilantro, lime, and bacon but WOW!!! This recipe is one for the books. Amazing flavor. I did add a second can of tomato because I’m a big tomato gal. can’t wait to try again with more jalepenos! Substituted red onion for vidalia, will try the red onion next time because this woman knows what shes doing!
Sweet Basil
Yay!! Thank you so much Victoria! So glad you enjoyed it!
Miranda
I was married for a year and was looking for a chili recipe. Of all the other recipes, I decided to make yours because I knew everything you make is good.
And I was right!!
Now, I make this chili every time! The flavor is high quality and it is pretty cheap to make! I especially love it is made in the instant pot, so quick and easy!
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much Miranda!! We appreciate the support so much!!
Lorene in Idaho
I made this chili- doubled the recipe since we had guests over. I chopped up yellow, orange and red pepper slices I had left over from a veggie tray. Used a white onion because I had it on hand. I also added two tablespoons of dark cocoa powder (remember I doubled the recipe so needed 2 Tbsp instead of 1) along with the mix of seasonings in recipe. The cocoa powder adds a depth to the flavor and enhances the other spices. I love that you use smoked paprika, I often use it in my recipes- so delightful! The rest of the recipe was followed as written.
It was/is a crowd pleaser chili! We thoroughly enjoyed the flavor, texture and color of this chili. Using the different peppers made for a colorful display too. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much for your feedback and support Lorene! I’m so glad you and your guests enjoyed this recipe!! Made my day!
Benjamin Popwell
This is award-winning. I made it for my office Chili cook-off and won best Chili.
Sweet Basil
Love to hear this Benjamin! Thank you!
Lauren
I’ve been making this chili for a few years now and love it! The first time I made it, I followed the recipe exactly, but subsequent times I’ve added my own flair. Every time we make it for friends, they ask for the recipe!
Sweet Basil
Yay Lauren! I love that you add your own flair to it! That’s what cooking is all about! Thanks for taking time to leave a comment!
Jamey
Making this for the first time tonight! Question- do you rinse your beans?
Sweet Basil
I hope you enjoy it! Sometimes I do and sometimes I don’t…just depends on my mood…haha!
Jill
This is my “go-to” beef chili recipe for several years now. The first time I made it, I followed the seasoning measurements exactly. We found 1 tablespoon of dried oregano to be WAY too much. I have changed it to 1 teaspoon and my family loves it.
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much Jill! We love the feedback!
Olga
I made this chili recipe in the instant pot and it came out amazing. The flavor in the chili were delicious. I did sprinkle on top a little bit of cinnamon on my dish.
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much Olga!! So glad you enjoyed it!
Kim
I’ve been making this chili in the instant for a few years. I decided to use it in a chili cook off at a Rally. I made it in the crockpot 3 hrs on high due to time constraints. I won 1st place out of 17 entries. It really does live up to the name “Award winning Chili”.
Kim Hinshaw
I’ve been making this chili in the instant for a few years. I decided to use it in a chili cook off at a Rally. I made it in the crockpot 3 hrs on high due to time constraints. I won 1st place out of 17 entries. It really does live up to the name “Award winning Chili”.
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much Kim!! Made my day!
Jade Cary
This is my go-to chili recipe and I’ve been making it for years! In fact, it was one of the first, if not the first, “from scratch” recipes I ever made!! And it’s always a hit! Thank you!
Sweet Basil
Music to my ears, Jade!! Thank you so much!!
Sheana
I tweaked this recipe ever so slightly and it was still one of the best I’ve had, and is now my go-to. I added andouille sausage, mixed the bacon, left out the black beans and increased the ground beef to 2 lbs. the fire roasted tomatoes had garlic, so I didn’t add any, and I used a yellow onion and a green pepper, and no jalapeño. I used regular paprika instead of smoked, and only 1 1/2 Tbs chili powder as our little one can’t handle the heat. Can’t wait to use this for the next chili cook off at work!
Sweet Basil
Yay!! Thank you for the feedback Sheana! I love how you’ve totally made it your own! Now I need to try adding andouille sausage next time. Sounds amazing!
Lindsay M.
Hey this is THE BEST CHILI I have ever had! Thanks for the recipe! Could I double this or would it not fit in my crock pot?
Sweet Basil
Hi Lindsay! Thank you so much! It depends on the size of your crock pot. A double recipe should fit in a 7 or 8 quart crock pot.
Lindsay M
Thank you! I omitted one can of red kidney beans and it all fit in my crock pot! Thanks so much for the fast response! It’s a family favorite!
Sweet Basil
So glad you love it! Thanks Lindsay!
Tom
Been using this recipe for a couple years now, great chilli, our go to.
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much Tom!
Becca
Excellent recipe. Will definitely make again. Loved the bacon. It added another level of depth. Thanks for posting this recipe.
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much Becca!
Angela C
This is the best chili I’ve ever made – I have four teen boys and they love it. My oldest is 18 and asks to take a batch to college with him. Thanks for the delish recipe!
Sweet Basil
This makes my whole day Angela! Thank you so much!
Sarah
My husband and I have very different chili preferences, both in bean-to-meat ratio and in heat profile, and we both love this chili. Bonus? Our 6- and 3-year old love it too!
Sweet Basil
Thank you Sarah!! This makes my day!
Raj D.
Just fantastic…everything blends together superbly. This reminds me of chili from my childhood—a friend’s mom made it and I always looked forward to dinner at their place. Many thanks for such a wonderful easy to make dish and the new memories our family will create!
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much Raj!!
Tammy
This is absolutely hands down the best chili recipe I have ever made. I don’t change a thing and it comes out perfect every time. Our friends had a chili cook off and I made your chili. Of course, I won. I just want to say thanks. It’s a great feeling to have family and friends beg you to make that “so good chili” for them.
Sweet Basil
Yessssssss! You’ve made my day Tammy!! Thank you so much for taking time to leave a comment!
Tiff
I made this for Super Bowl Sunday and everyone loved it. It was a big hit, and I’ll definitely keep this in rotation.
Sweet Basil
Hurray!! Love to hear this! Thanks Tiff!
Vanessa
I made this and I added the cocoa powder ingredient from your other recipe and I won the chili contest from my work! Thanks for the recipe, it was a hit!
Sweet Basil
Yay! Love to hear this Vanessa!
Barbara Butler
Great recipe! I am a good cook, but I like to try others recipies as well. This one is a keeper!
😁
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much Barbara!
Rich
This is my go-to chill recipe! I admit that I use more jalapeños than called for. This allows me to use my Instant Pot for convenience and time; the results are consistently good!. There is always the fun of tweekng it if you’re adventurous. Thank you for sharing!
Sweet Basil
Yay! Love to hear this Rich! Thank you! Cooking is all about tweeking!
Swathi K.
Thank you so much for this great recipe! I was in a chili cookoff and I won! This is the best chili I have tasted and it is so easy to make!
Sweet Basil
Yay!! We love hearing about chili cook off victories! Thank you so much for taking time to leave a comment!
ECS
I’m not sure if I made a mistake with the recipe or messed up some small step, but the chili just had no flavor. I’ve never had chili turn out bland before, and with this recipe having so many ingredients, I thought surely it would be AMAZING, but it didn’t impress.
Sweet Basil
Hi Emily! Hmmmmm…this is a comment we almost never get on this recipe. With all the spices, the bacon, the peppers, etc. I’m not sure how it could turn out bland. Do you have COVID? Haha! I shouldn’t joke about that I suppose. Sorry for your disappointment!
Shannon
Literally the best ever! I make it at least once a month or more. Thank you!
Sweet Basil
Yay! Love to hear this Shannon! Thank you!
Lindsay M
Did you use smoked paprika? I feel like this ingredient really sets the flavor off and brings out all the other delicious flavors.
Sweet Basil
Yes, smoked paprika is one of my favorite spices!
Michelle P.
This is now my go to chile recipe! Seems like a lot of ingredients and a few steps but so worth it. We crumble cornbread on top with shredded cheese and sour cream.
Sweet Basil
That sounds like absolutely perfection! Thank you so much for taking time to leave a comment!
Tiffiny
I have to watch my sodium so I used all “no salt added” canned ingredients and unsalted broth. Also left out salt from the seasonings, but used a half salt substitute instead and reduced the amount by half. The recipe was amazing. My teens enjoyed it as well! We will definitely keep this as our go to chili recipe! Thank you!
Sweet Basil
Love to hear this! Thank you so much Tiffany and thank you for all the low sodium tips!
Tricia
Wow it really is super good! Made it tonight. Followed the recipe except I did not add the black beans and for beef stock I used the Better than Boullion Roasted beef base. Didn’t add jalapeño but might next time. Fire roasted tomatoes were great. I didn’t think we would like the bacon but it didn’t distract from the chili. Will definitely make this frequently!! Thank you for sharing with us.
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much for the feedback Tricia! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe! It is one of our most often repeated meals!
Dominic
How would I double the recipe?
Sweet Basil
You would just double everything. It won’t quite fit in an 8 qt instant pot, but you could double everything and cook it on the stove top or in the slow cooker. You could also eliminate a could cans of beans and fit it into an 8 qt instant pot. I hope this helps.
Janet H.
I love this chili so much! It’s so easy in the instant pot and I have made it several times now. I am glad I found a chili recipe that I can go back to time after time!
Sweet Basil
Yay! Thank you so much Janet!
Greg
Read all the comments basically before attacking this.. my changes
1. Drained most of the fat from the bacon before adding peppers and onions. Deglazed with a few ounces of white wine and it freed up all bits on the bottom beautifully.
2. Increased saute on beef to Normal from Low.
3. Mixed in all spices first once beef was done BEFORE adding broth, beans and mixing tomato paste and fire roasted tomatoes together and dumping on top. Many commenters said to not stir and I did not.
4. Let natural release go for 10-12 mins before opening valve.
5. Stirred everything together once lid was off and served over rice with sour cream, parsley and sour cream like the picture.
Verdict? It was incredible. My wife had 2 portions as did I. It will be my non crockpot chili version from now on. Lordy, incredibly great. Will def. look at rest of site to find other top ranked recipes.
Notes section has some weird sentences adding together crockpot and Instant Pot directions and that needs editing btw.
Parsing it out into individual freezer containers right now. I have been disappointed by random “best” recipes on Pinterest. Not this time. Absolutely sensational. What a find.
Sweet Basil
Yay! Thank you so much Greg! Thank you for taking time to give your feedback and for leaving all your tips. I’ll review the crockpot instructions now and see if I can clear them up at all. I’m so glad you and your wife enjoyed it!
Kelli
What spice rating would you give this? I’m wanting to try it, but I don’t really can’t handle much spice at all haha.
Sweet Basil
Hi Kelli! I am a total wimp when it comes to spice and this one is just perfect for me. If you are worried about the heat, you can half the jalapenos or omit them. You could also add regular diced tomatoes instead of fire roasted tomatoes. I think you are going to love it!
Greg
It’s not spicy at all, just flavorful. My wife hates spice too and we did the full Jalapeno and it was just great. Don’t worry about it being too spicy.
Cindi M
Now my go-to chili recipe
Sweet Basil
Yesssss! Love it! Thanks Cindi!
RONNIE
Double the recipe including the spices no jalapeno. My pressure cook for 2 3 minutes and 1 hour rest wit very little pressure. The meat and veggies were good and I drained excess grease before I pressure cook. I can taste a little to much chili season (maybe) . It just doesn’t taste right and it’s for a non-profit fundraiser and I’m in a chili cook-off. I added no hot peppers. I have it on 195 crackpot mode and going to bed. Any suggestions?
Sweet Basil
Hi Ronnie! I’m not sure what you are asking help on. How did it taste after being in the crockpot all night? Did you add the bell peppers? You could add more beans to spread out the chili flavor.
Linda Cousineau
Tasty recipe, but too watery. Will add more tomato paste next time, and less than 1.5 cup broth.
Sweet Basil
Hi Linda! That is one criticism I’ve never had for this recipe! Adding more tomato paste and reducing the broth should definitely thicken it up!
Deb Keynton
I made the “Best Chili Recipe” today in the slow cooker and it was delicious. Definitely a keeper!
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much Deb!! I love when the weather cools down a little. Chili is perfect for this time of year!
Christine
I make mine in the crockpot and substitute beer for the beef broth (since I forgot to get broth from the store the first time I made it). Love it with the substitution. This recipe has now gone in my recipe box to make over and over again. And I’m not normally a chili fan.
Sweet Basil
This makes my day Christine! Thank you so much for the feedback!
Donna
Absolutely love this chili! I don’t make any changes. I do have a question though. My IP’s chili/bean setting is 47 minutes. I’m always scared to try that because you say 18-20 on high manual. Do you know if the chili setting cooks at a lower level of heat? I’ve always wondered but nit brave enough to try.
Thanks for such a great recipe!
Sweet Basil
Hi Donna! Don’t quote me on this, but I believe the chili/bean setting on the Instant Pot assumes you are using uncooked beans so it is a longer cook time. You should be able to change the time on it though if you want. Then you could reduce it to 18-20. I hope this helps! Thank you so much for taking time to leave a comment and I’m so glad you enjoy this recipe!!
Cuppy
I’ve made this twice but added corn, and everyone adores it. Even the picky non-chili lovers. Great recipe!
Sweet Basil
Love to hear this!! Thank you so much! And I love the idea to add corn! Yum!
cindy
Thank you for this recipe. I have made it several times and am ashamed it has taken me so long to review it. It was quickly a family favorite! I often substitute half chorizo ( bulk not the stick stuff) for the ground beef because we like a bit of bite.
This recipe did win the Eagles Chili Cook off!
Sweet Basil
Yahoo!! Thank you so much Cindy! I love substituting in some chorizo! I bet that is delicious! I’ll be trying that next time!
Genevieve
This Chili is really really good! Maybe one of the best easy weeknight chilis I’ve had. Its great that you can just make it all in the instant pot and the actual hands on time is low. I make this about once a month!
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much Genevieve!
Don
We love this recipe and I probably get a “Burn” notice about 25% of the time with our pot, but work around it.
It’s pretty easy to address “Burn” situation:
– Release the pressure (if it’s locked already) and remove the lid
– Stir everything around so nothings sticking to the bottom
– Put the lid back on and set it to sealing again
After doing this the pressure should build pretty quickly (since everything is still hot) and once it kicks into the pressure cook countdown everything should be golden.
Thanks for this recipe, we make it almost once a week in the winter.
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much for the feedback Don and the great tips!
JK
The burning and burn notices…We have two Insta Pots. The older one never burns of has the notice, the newer one it’s almost a chronic problem. My husband (a mechanical engineer) believes it’s a manufacturing defect, but since it doesn’t cause fires, no recall/replace. I’ve heard it’s been “fixed” but who knows in what models/dates.
JK
Also, spray well with Pam cooking spray, use a metal spatula to scrape as you go, and for the “sauté” setting use normal and/or low. It takes a bit longer but worth it. If you see sticking pull out the insert to scrape and let it cool for 60 seconds. I see the same issue on many sites and many recipes other than just chili….
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much for all the tips!
Sweet Basil
Interesting! Thank you so much for the feedback! I knew it definitely had to be something on the Instant Pot because we have never had an issue with it.
Christy
Best chili recipe hands down! My kids and I loved it. I took the recommendation from another reviewer and added 1 tbsp of cocoa powder and 1 tbsp of sugar and it turned out great. Delish!!
Sweet Basil
Yay!! Thank you for the feedback and I’m so glad you enjoyed it!!
Silya
Love the recipe! I added 1tbs cacao and 1tbs peanut butter for the extra kick.
Sweet Basil
Yum! What a great idea! Thank you for the support Silya!
April
Love love this recipe! The only thing I do different is I add the canned beans after the pressure cook to avoid them becoming overly soft or mushy.
Thank you for the recipe!
Sweet Basil
Thank you April! And thanks for the tip on the beans! That is a great option!
GoOnYahGoodThing
You keep calling this an Award Winning recipe… but you haven’t said WHAT award it won?
I’d really like to know cos I’d like to see what other instant pot award winners might be out there…
Sweet Basil
A neighborhood chili cook off! And if you read several of the comments, it has won a lot of other chili cook offs out there! Enjoy!
Dominic
This is the best chili recipe I’ve tried and I’ve tried many. I’ve made it over a dozen times at least. My family fights over the last bowl of this chili. A couple changes I tried on my last batch that resulted in the best overall so far: used 8 slices of bacon and added all of it to the chili. Used a little extra meat – half chili meat, half ground chuck. Used a very large jalapeño and added extra tsp of salt.
Sweet Basil
Yay! I love this! Thank you so much Dominic!
Stephanie
I tried my best to prevent a burn notice, did the bacon veggies and hamburger in a separate pan. Got a burn notice almost immediately and the entire bottom of the instant pot was burnt. Fairly disappointing when you’re putting dinner together at 6:00 and now have to transfer to a stovetop and hope it reduces quickly.
Sweet Basil
I’m so sorry for the frustration Stephanie! It really seems to vary from instant pot to instant pot. We have still never had the burn notice happen, but I know a lot of people get it frequently.
SAMUEL NAPPI
Burn notice every F-ing time. Stainless pot, non-stick pot, stir thoroughly, add more liquid- it’s very irritating! The recipe is good, when it worked the ONE time out of at least 50 that we’ve made it.
Sweet Basil
Ugh! So sorry! It seems like some versions of the Instant Pot are more prone to the burn notice than others. I still have never gotten a burn notice before. I’m so sorry for the frustration! I know it defeats the purpose, but there is always the stovetop and crockpot method as well.
Moya Jarboe
This is delicious! Second recipe I’ve made using the insta pot. I cut it way down since there are only two of us. I did not have the fire-roasted tomatoes, so I used habanero tomatoes and chiles instead. This was so fresh tasting – just amazing! Thank you…
Sweet Basil
Love to hear this Moya! Thank you so much!
Dawn D
Just made this for the Super Bowl. I used dried beans (3/4 cup dry of each kind), soaked overnight and then increased cooking time for the chili in the Instant Pot to 32 minutes with a full natural release. SO, SO GOOD! Thanks for the recipe!
Sweet Basil
Yesssssss Dawn!! I’m so glad you enjoyed this chili! It is perfect for a Super Bowl party!
Sneadly
FABULOUS! I only had Rancho Gordo ayocote beans (I brag—I tried the expensive beans), and I should have used more chili powder, but still—absolutely stellar. Don’t skip the red crunchy onions on top. I’m gonna make this once a month for the rest of my life.
Sweet Basil
Love to hear this!! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the support!
Savannah
Hey I was wondering if you have nutrition info by the cup? “Bowl” is an extremely arbitrary serving size and makes it hard to estimate nutrition info. Thanks!
Sweet Basil
Hi Savannah! It’s about 1 to 1 1/2 cup of chili.
Jessica
Can you use dry beans?
Sweet Basil
Hi Jessica! Yes but they will need to be cooked first before adding them to this recipe.
C Taplin
I made this last night and it was amazing! I had some for lunch today and it was even better! Best chili I have ever made. I can’t wait to try some of your other recipes.
Sweet Basil
Yeah!! Love to hear this! And you’re right…it’s totally better the second day!
Emma
I too won a chili competition with this one! I just made it again so I could have it all to myself!
Sweet Basil
Haha…you’ve made my day Emma! That’s amazing!
Bernadette
Thanks for sharing the recipe.
I didn’t use the bacon because I have to watch my husband’s sodium level since he had a stroke a month ago. But otherwise, I followed the recipe for verbatim.
I did notice that the chili had a bitterness from the chili powder. So I added another portion of the roasted diced tomatoes, which did cut the bitterness. 😊
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much Bernadette!
Liza
I have never been able to make delicious chili at home and now I can. This is fabulous! It makes a huge amount so I have enough to freeze and have some on hand when the chili urge strikes. Thank you for this wonderful recipe!
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much Liza!! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe!
Tina Ward
This turned out amazing!!! My husband couldn’t stop talking about how good it was.
Sweet Basil
Love to hear this!! Thanks Tina!
Tootie
Excellent recipe! I’ve been making this for a couple of years and experienced my first “burn” notice on Instant Pot. Realized I had the setting on “high” pressure instead of “normal” pressure. That seemed to do the trick. Also, I add one tablespoon of baking cocoa powder (to deepen the flavor) and one tablespoon of sugar to cut the bitterness of the chili powder. I also added red, yellow, and orange peppers. Delicious every time:) Thank you!!!
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much for the feedback! And I love the addition of cocoa powder…yum!
Lori
Second time to make this award winner! Taking it to our horse barn Christmas party tonight. This time doubled the recipe in our big cast iron pot, substituted 2 lbs ground venison from a deer my daughter harvested. The bacon adds perfect amount of fat. Added 3 bay leaves…can’t wait to share great food with great company! Merry Christmas from Louisiana!
Sweet Basil
Yay! This made my night Lori! I love thinking about this chili going going to a horse barn Christmas party! Happy holidays to you and all your loved ones!
Rachel Bond
What’s the serving size of this? Thinking of doubling for a large family gathering. Would cook time remain the same, in the instant pot? Thanks!! Looks amazing.
Sweet Basil
Hi Rachel! The serving size is about 1 cup of chili. I know that this recipe doesn’t fit in an 8qt instant pot if you double it. You would have to take a can or two of beans out for it to fit. The cook time would remain the same though. I hope this helps! Enjoy!
Ali
This was my first time making chili ever! This recipe was perfect the right amount of spice and flavor. Thank you for sharing, i will be making it again
Sweet Basil
Love to hear this Ali! Thank you so much for the feedback and so glad you enjoyed this recipe!!
Marshall
Damn good chili!! I’ve been using this recipe for probably close to 3 years now and it just keeps getting better. I do add about 3/4 of a good beer, maybe a ipa or sometimes a lighter beer. I like my chili HOT!! So I add extra jalapeños and 3-4 habeneros. This time I added some Diablo chili’s and I might regret that decision tomorrow 😖.
Thank you “oh sweet basil” I really enjoy making alot of your recipes!
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much for your feedback and for your support! You’re the second person who has left a comment today about adding habaneros. My mouth is one fire just reading the words…hahaha! I’m so glad you enjoy this chili and you have made it your own!
Johnny
I have now made this chili for over a year and a Half in the Pressure cooker- Excellent recipe – I am one for more of a kick – I usually make a Double batch and add about 4 more Jalapenos depending on size and 2 or 3 Habenero’s depending on size, with a teaspoon of Cayanne. It sounds like alot of heat but it really adds a little BITE to it.
Not overbearing and everyone seems to like it alot.
Today we are replacing the Habeneros with a Ghost pepper just to see how it goes.
Thanks for sharing this recipe
Sweet Basil
My mouth is on fire just reading this! Haha! I’m so not a spicy person! I am so glad that you enjoy this recipe and you have made it your own! Thank you so much for taking time to leave a comment and some feedback! How was it with a ghost pepper??
Amy Patel
I had to make quite a few substitutions due to what I had on hand but this still came out really delicious.. thank you!
Sweet Basil
Love to hear this! Thanks Amy!
Carole
Better than Wendy’s old mild chili recipe!
I did use Great Value Seasoning Mix with frozen chopped onions, celery and bell peppers, and a nylon meat chopper to break up my meat in a separate fry pan so no burn notices ever. Used a green bell pepper instead of jalapeño.
Using all salt free products, I add Herb Ox and No Salt.
Also, I always add a few bay leaves and a quarter cup of ketchup because that is what Grandma always did. Your recipe is almost PERFECT! Thank you so much. I am now deleting all my other chili recipes.
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much Carole! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe and I love all the ways that you made it your own!
Sara
I also won a chili competition with this, thanks! I made a couple tweaks but pretty close.
Sweet Basil
Love to hear this!! Thanks Sara!
Jesse
I followed the recipe pretty closely, except: one pound of 80/20 one pound of 93/7 both ground sirloin, one jalapeno and 2 serranos and I used all of the bacon in stead of using 1/4 as a garnish. I did win my local chili cook-off against 6 others and many people asked me how long I had been working on the recipe lol. The burn notice came up but I just stirred and scraped the bottom well and it pressurized and cooked afterwards. If I cook it again I will probably add more spice.
Sweet Basil
Yay! Congrats on the chili cook off victory! I’m so glad you enjoyed it and made it your own!
Lorri
Kept getting burn messages. Had to transfer to a stovetop pot to finish
Sweet Basil
Hi Lorri! I am so sorry! This happens frequently with certain Instant Pots. It seems that some are more sensitive than others. There is a whole section in the post about tips for avoiding the burn notice. Hopefully that information will help in the future!
Leigh
Followed the recipe exactly. It was easy, pretty (I like the three different colored beans), and delicious!! My new favorite recipe! Will double next time and cook it in my dutch oven on the stove.
Sweet Basil
Yay! Thank you so much for the feedback!
TGlow
This chili was great!!! I made it in the crock pot, I’m not super confident with my insta pot. I used ground turkey instead of beef because we were having hamburgers the next night and we couldn’t taste a difference 🙂 thanks for the recipe
Michele
We enjoyed the chili over baked potatoes the first night and then for leftovers it in a pie plate baked with a cornbread casserole over the top. Thank you, I will make this again!
I can see how many are getting burn messages. The newer models have a highly sensitive heating element which makes them more susceptible to burn. This explains why some are able to make the recipe as written, while others are not. I made this in the original Duo, but I’m pretty positive my newer ULTRA would give me a problem for sure.
Still, not willing to possibly burn I prepared as follows:
After beef is browned add onions and peppers to pot and cook until tender.
Stir well and add spices. Allow to heat through 2 minutes. Turn off pot.
LAYER beans on top of beef, DO NOT STIR.
Pour Rotel and tomato paste and layer over beans. DO NOT STIR. (I mixed the Rotel and tomato paste together and then poured it over the beans).
Add broth to pot, continue as written. Hope that helps.
Sweet Basil
Hi Michele! Thank you so much for the feedback on the chili and for all the tips for avoiding the burn notice! Any tips to help fellow readers avoid the burn notice is so appreciated!
Chef Jeff
To lessen the chance of hetting the dreaded BURN notice, after sautéing anything, be sure to deglaze the pot thoroughly with a liquid and wooden spoon before continuing. I have eliminated it this way for years and it works every time unless there is not enough liquid for the recipe in the first place. Hope this helps.
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much for the tip Jeff!!
Andrew McMahon
This recipe does not work my instant pot stoping saying food burning
Sweet Basil
I’m so sorry for the frustration! There is a whole section in the post on possible reasons for the burn notice and how to avoid it. It really seems to depend on what version of Instant Pot you have.
Val
I put this recipe up for review with my instant pot community. They think the burn notice is due to the stirring. Not enough thin liquids. It’s a bit bland for my taste but my kids liked it.
Sweet Basil
Thanks Val!
Bekah
I’ve been craving chili and I LOVE bacon so this sounds delicious. Has anyone tried it without the beans? Curious if it’s just as delicious, I’m not a huge fan of beans in my chili for some reason.
Brooke
It isn’t chill without the beans … to me it’s just meat sauce.
Sweet Basil
I prefer beans as well!
Taryn
This was great! I usually don’t like chili and I got seconds! I used H-E-B Hayride Bacon which has pumpkin pie spice flavoring and it added a nice fall flavor. Next time I will try regular bacon. For people with burn problems, a lot of IP recipes say not fully stir in the tomato ingredients (the diced tomatoes and paste in this case). I put those two ingredients in the end and just lightly stirred them into the top—no burn issues.
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much for the feedback Taryn and for the tips on the burn notice! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe!
Jillian
I skipped the bacon but this recipe was still amazing!
Sweet Basil
Yeah!! Thanks Jillian!
Rochele
A fantastic chili recipe!! I added my own touches-some churrizo chunks and a Scotch Bonnet as it was in its final stages for a blast of flavor and heat. This will be my go to chili recipe from now on!
Sweet Basil
Yessssss! That sounds amazing! Thank you so much Rochele!