Taco Ground Beef Instant Pot Chili Recipe is a favorite! Roasted pasilla peppers, hearty ground beef and beans and a secret, no TWO secret ingredients you might be shocked by. This
I love how instant pot recipes have become such a thing, but I always wonder, do you really just want instant pot recipes?
AND if you don’t have an instant pot are you changing it to work for you in your slow cooker or on stove top?
Is that something you want us to give you options for in the recipe card?
Take a quick second and click comments to let us know. Your opinion totally matters so fill us in!
Instant Pot Chili
When something is working well I can’t help but see what else it can become.
Our Most Viral Winter Recipe
Our most viral winter recipe last year was our instant pot chili. And guess what, it’s only fall but it has stayed our most popular recipe!
That’s so fun!
THANK YOU!!! You all are so amazing for supporting our love of eating, errrrr I mean, cooking. 😉
Have you made our best chili yet?
THOUSANDS OF OTHERS ALREADY HAVE AND LEFT A BILLION STELLAR REVIEWS!
I will stop yelling.
I’m actually not a great yeller. I have a wimpy Disney Princess voice.
Such is life.
Taco Ground Beef Instant Pot Chili Recipe
This is it! A fun-totally kid-friendly version of both chili and taco soup.
And guess what, you can make it spicy or not. It’s all about the peppers you choose to add. We added one jalapeno, but skip it if your kiddos don’t like a bite.
How to Make Instant Pot Taco Chili
- Start by buying a ground beef that is not higher than 90% lean. We need some fat to keep the burn notice away and to add flavor. Plus the fat will act as the grease for the veggies to be cooked in too.
- Blend a portion of peppers and tomatoes together and set aside.
- Turn your instant pot to saute mode and once hot, add the ground beef. After a few minutes add the seasonings and veggies.
- Cook until no pink remains and drain most of the grease.
- Add all remaining ingredients.
- Set the valve to seal with the lid on and cancel saute. Turn the mode to high pressure and cook 18-20 minutes.
TWO SECRETS
Did you already scroll down to our recipe to see what the two secrets are?
- Ranch Seasoning Packet! This handy trick thickens the chili and adds an extra burst of flavor that doesn’t at all taste like ranch dressing.
- Creamed Corn! Again, it acts like a small thickener and adds a little subtle sweetness. Don’t worry, it doesn’t make your chili sweet but you’ll pick up on that extra somethin’ somethin’ as you’re eating and you will LOVE IT!
What Makes Chili Chili?
Chili is a thick stew that should be made up of a few simple ingredients that make it a true “chili”.
- Meat-generally ground beef
- Tomatoes
- Beans
- Chili peppers- often in the form of spices
These ingredients are simmered stovetop until all of the flavor melds together to create a flavorful, thick stew that is often served with sour cream, cheese and additional peppers.
Does Chili Have Beans?
Chili uses a variety of beans but some can stick to just one kind, typically black beans. Here are other beans you can throw into your chili.
A white bean or lighter brown is often used in a poultry chili while the darker beans accompany a beef chili.
- Pinto Beans
- Black Beans
- Kidney Beans
- Navy Beans
- Northern White Beans
Is Chili Supposed To Be Thick?
Chili should be thick and hearty. It should be thick enough that it feels like it will stick to your bones and warm you up from the inside out on a cold day.
Chili is meant to be a meal on its own.
Sometimes your chili ends up with a bit more liquid, in that case, how do you thicken chili?
How to Thicken Chili
- Those beans can act as a thickener along with your tomatoes. Use a potato masher and smash some of the beans and tomatoes together. This will release their natural starches will help thicken the excess liquid.
- Sprinkle in a tablespoon or so of cornmeal, which commonly has been done in chili recipes for decades in South-western chilis. Cornmeal will sop up the excess liquid.
- Tear up tortillas or cornbread to sop up the excess liquid and give you even more to eat!
What Is The Difference Between and Yellow Onion And A Red Onion?
A red onion, or as I used to say, purple onion has that bold, bright purple skin, but it’s very similar to a yellow onion.
A red onion has a slightly more mild flavor than a yellow onion when served raw and can help to mellow out a tomato based dish instead of the more bold yellow or white onion.
What Is the Difference Between A Pressure Cooker And An Instant Pot?
An Instant Pot is very similar to a normal pressure cooker, the difference is that heat-source is electric. It doesn’t require a gas or electric stove, thus making it more energy efficient, and you can multi-task in the kitchen.
An Instant pot also allows you to do many things in one appliance because you can saute, cook yogurt, slow cook and more. A pressure cooker is like a pot on the stove but with a special lid that allows you to cook at a high pressure.
High pressure cooking is faster and keeps food extra tender as all of the steam is trapped inside.
More Chili Recipes
- The BEST Ground Beef Chili
- Healthy Turkey Instant Pot Chili
- Cheesy Ground Beef Enchilada Chili
- White Chicken Chili
- Slow Cooker Pumpkin Chili
- Pumpkin and Apple Cider Chili
How to Make Taco Chili Video
Taco Ground Beef Instant Pot Chili
Description
Ingredients
- 2 Pounds Ground Beef
- 3 Cloves Garlic, minced
- 1/2 Red Onion, Diced
- 1 Can Black Beans, 15 Ounces
- 1 Can Kidney Beans, 16 Ounces
- 1 1/2 Cups Corn, We buy the frozen roasted corn at Trader Joes
- 1 Can Creamed Corn
- 2 Cans Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes
- 3 Pasilla Peppers, Roasted, peeled and diced
- 1 Can Tomato Sauce, 8 ounces
- 1 Envelope Ranch Dressing
- 1 Envelope Taco Seasoning
- 1 Can Tomatoes with Diced Green Chiles
- Salt, To taste
- Toppings of choice, fritos, cheese, sour cream etc
- 1 Jalapeno, blistered and minced with or without seeds. See note
Instructions
- In the instant pot on the saute mode, cook and crumble the ground beef using a meat chopper, adding the onions and garlic halfway through and cooking until no longer pink, 8-10 minutes, drain any grease.
- Rinse and drain all beans. Add beans corn and creamed corn to beef, along with 3/4 canned tomatoes, and half the roasted pasilla peppers, tomato sauce, the dressing and seasoning mixes and salt.
- Puree remaining pasilla peppers and remaining diced tomatoes in a covered blender until smooth; stir into beef mixture
- Place the lid on with the valve on seal and cook for 18-20 minutes then allow a natural release for 15 minutes. Serve with toppings as desired like Fritos, cheese, sour cream, etc.
Janice
I have been cooking in my IP for about 3 years now. I have never had a BURN error until trying this recioe, and I followed it exactly as written. Not sure where things went wrong.
Sweet Basil
Hi Janice! I’m so sorry! Ugh…the burn notice will be the death of me I just know it! Ha! I have a whole write up in another one of our posts on how to avoid the burn notice. I hope this helps! https://ohsweetbasil.com/instant-pot-award-winning-chili-recipe/
Melanie
This is delicious! Loved by the whole family. Thank you!
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much Melanie!
Becky
I can’t wait to try this. I like crockpot as well as instant pot recipes because my instant pot is an off brand and doesn’t always work. What adjustments do I need to make for crockpot?
Thank you!
Sweet Basil
Hi Becky! For this recipe, follow the instructions up to step 4 but sauteing on the stove. Then for the slow cooker, place all the ingredients in the slow cooker on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours. I hope you enjoy it!
Debbie
If I do this in the crockpot what would the cook time be on low and or high?
Sweet Basil
You can do either one. Go for 2-3 hours on high or 4-6 on low. Enjoy, Debbie!
Sandra Henslee
I would love it if you would include cooking options for slow cookers or stove top versions. I do not have and instant pot and usually don’t have time to change it myself. Thanks for your wonderful recipes!
Sweet Basil
Hi Sandra! Thank you so much for reminding me! For this recipe, follow the instructions up to step 4 but sauteing on the stove. Then for the slow cooker, place all the ingredients in the slow cooker on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours. For the stove top, same thing but simmer on medium low for 2-3 hours.
Kathryn
Weird, I can’t find Pasilla peppers! I’m in the Midwest so maybe not a big demand here? I’m not real crazy about jalapeno so wondering what to substitute with? Also when I Googled the pepper most are shown dried but in your video it looks fresh. Thanks for your help!
Sweet Basil
Hi Kathryn! Great question! I would try an ancho pepper if you can find a pasilla. An anaheim pepper would work great too. Enjoy!
Kathryn
I found a Poblano pepper and used it. Love this chili!
Sweet Basil
Yay!! So glad you loved it!
Deb Lowther
For someone trying to watch their calorie intake, what exactly is
“a bowl” when it comes to serving size?
Sweet Basil
Hi Deb! About 1 cup, maybe a little more. Enjoy!
Ann
I don’t have an instant pot.
Will not be buying one .
Please do the recipes so I can do them on a regular stove.
Thanks in advance.
Sweet Basil
We are working on it! Thank you for the feedback Ann!
Kara Thompson
I do not own an instant pot, and I could buy one. I love my crockpot. Evenings are crazy for me. I like to make my meals in the morning so they are ready at night. I’m sure instant pots are awesome, but if I had time to cook after I teach all day, I would do it……I love to come home to my food cooking. It’s a huge relief that it is done and basically ready to go.
Sweet Basil
Thank you for the feedback Kara! I totally understand everything you are saying! Mornings are usually my better time to get dinner ready too!
Meg
Made it for lunch today and my family loved it!! Delicious!
Sweet Basil
Yay! Love to hear that!
Becky
Yes please please include how to make the recipe without an instapot as I don’t have one and I don’t plan on getting one.
Thank your for all of the cooking recipes and your information you share.
Sweet Basil
Thank you for leaving a comment! We will work on it!
Elaine Anderko
Please give alternative directions for crockpot or regular pressure cooker or stovetop
Sweet Basil
Thank you for the feedback! We will get to work on it!