This easy five ingredient Instant Pot beef chili is a quick, one-pot recipe great for a weeknight meal! Ground beef, chili beans, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, beef broth, and seasonings make up this cozy meal. Beef can be sauteed directly in the Instant Pot, which makes clean up a breeze.
This chili recipe is a great base for other add-ins like bell peppers, jalapenos, garli c, onions, or extra seasonings. Chili is a total comfort meal in my house and that is primarily because of the toppings options! Load your bowl of chili with cilantro, crushed Fritos, green onions, cheddar cheese, sour cream, and more.
If you’re a fan of this beef chili, try my Turkey Chili Recipe or White Chicken Chili. Check out all of my Instant Pot Recipes for more weeknight inspiration!
Highlights of The Beef Chili
- Easy Instant Pot recipe: the instant pot does pretty much all the work for this recipe, no standing over the stove. Sauté and pressure cook all in one, even better you only have to wash one pot and you can keep your stove top clear!
- Dump and go: this chili recipe couldn’t be any easier! Simply sauté the ground beef in the base of the Instant Pot using the sauté function. Add in the stock, seasonings, and canned goods. Secure the lid and pressure cook for 15 minutes and you have a delicious meal in no time.
- Family favorite: kids and adults will love this dish. It’s protein packed from the beans and ground beef and mild enough to satisfy everyone. Serve with all of your favorite fresh toppings!
- Budget friendly: canned tomatoes and beans are affordable and they can stretch a long way. The flavorful broth takes this dish a long way. This recipe is made with simple ingredients, many you probably already have on hand!
Utilizing canned shortcuts like chili beans and fire roasted diced tomatoes help add flavor while keeping things easy. If you can find chili ready diced tomatoes or tomato sauce, this will help add even more flavor to your dish.
I like to add in additional seasonings that I have on hand like cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, paprika, or cayenne pepper. Extra beans can be added to your chili for more protein and a heartier texture. Serve a bowl alongside a simple lettuce salad or kale salad for a complete meal.
Key Ingredients
Below are notes about each ingredient and substitutions for ingredients that can be swapped or left out of the recipe:
- Ground beef: I typically keep an 80/20 blend on hand as it works for most recipes. Any blend of ground beef will work for this recipe or you can grind your own.
- Diced Tomatoes: canned diced or petite diced tomatoes are easy to find at the store. If you can find chili ready diced tomatoes or fire roasted diced tomatoes, they will add extra flavor.
- Tomato sauce: plain tomato sauce works great here or if you can find chili ready tomato sauce or roasted garlic tomato sauce they will add extra flavor.
- Chili Beans: you want chili beans in chili sauce, this way they already have some seasonings on the. If using plain canned beans, add in extra additional seasoning.
- Beef stock: any stock works for this recipe. Use beef stock, beef bone broth, chicken bone broth, or vegetable broth. Homemade stock is a great option as well.
- Spices: kosher salt, fresh ground black pepper, ground cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, or onion powder can all add extra flavor.
- Toppings: crushed tortilla chips or Fritos, sour cream, shredded cheese, green onions, cilantro, or fresh lime.
How To Make Instant Pot Chili
Let’s talk a little about how to make this Easy Five Ingredient Instant Pot Beef Chili (The printable instructions are in the recipe card below.)
Quick overview:
- Sauté ground beef in Instant Pot.
- Add in canned goods, stock, and seasonings.
- Pressure cook for 15 minutes and enjoy.
- Turn the Instant Pot on to sauté function, on high. Once warm, add in ground beef and cook until browned. Season with salt and pepper, drain fat if needed. Season ground beef with additional seasonings as desired*.
2. Add in the chili beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and beef stock, stir to combine. Secure the lid onto the pressure cooker, turn on, select the “Pressure Cook” setting, set to “high pressure” for 15 minutes, and start. Once the timer has expired allow the pressure to release naturally.
3. Serve topped with toppings of choice. Leftover chili will keep for 4-5 days in an airtight container in the fridge.
Tools I Recommend
- Instant Pot Pressure Cooker – A versatile counter top appliance perfect for quickly cooking this soup! My favorite electric pressure cooker. I use my Instant Pot for rice, quinoa, soup, stew, meatballs, and more!
- Rubber Spatula – a must have! I like these because they don’t come apart so I don’t have to worry about water getting inside the spatula and causing mold.
More Comforting Soup Recipes
If this chili was a favorite of yours, you’ll love these other delicious and hearty recipes!
- One-Pot Lasagna Soup – a hearty one pot recipe!
- Easy Roasted Cherry Tomato Soup Recipe – great for fresh cherry tomatoes.
- Panera Bread Chicken Tortilla Soup – a fan favorite copycat recipe.
- Slow Cooker Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup – a soup made to simmer in the slow cooker.
- Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato Soup – a light, fresh soup.
- Simple One-Pot Black Bean Soup – my favorite use for dry or canned black beans!
Does making chili completely from scratch intimidate you? Well now it doesn’t need to! Store-bought shortcuts make this dish easy and stress free. Need a quick meal in under 30 minutes, with little prep time this chili will be your go to! It is cozy and comforting, perfect for chilly fall and winter nights.
This beef and bean chili makes a wonderful meal prep dish as it is simple to make in batches and contains lots of protein from the beans and ground beef. Easily store and reheat chili for a quick meal all week long. Try my Lentil Chili for a vegetarian option or use leftover chili in this Crockpot Chili Cheese Dip.
Recipe Variations
Check out my post on Side Dishes For a Chili for easy side dish inspiration!
- Use ground turkey or ground chicken or a combo of both.
- Mix in other beans like pinto beans or black beans.
- Leave out the ground beef and add in extra beans for a vegetarian option.
- Top with green onions, cilantro, shredded cheese, sour cream, or crushed chips.
Recipe FAQs
Make sure you have enough liquid in the instant pot, keep beans and beef fully submerged . Start with less cooking time and add more as needed. Before placing on the lid, use a wooden spoon to scrap the bottom of the instant pot to ensure nothing is stuck on.
Leftover chili can be cooled completely and transfer to an airtight container. Store chili in the fridge for 3-4 days. Or in the freezer for up to a month.
Simple ingredients like minced garlic, finely diced white onion, fresh jalapenos, bacon, hot sauce, or additional seasonings can all be added to this chili for additional flavor and texture. Toppings can also add some freshness and flavor.
Easy Five Ingredient Instant Pot Chili
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb. Lean ground beef
- 2 tsp Kosher salt
- Fresh cracked black pepper
- 2, 15oz. cans Chili Beans , in chili sauce
- 1, 14.5 oz. can Fire roasted diced tomatoes, drained
- 1, 15 oz. can Tomato sauce
- 12 oz. Beef stock
Instructions
- Turn the Instant Pot on to sauté function, on high. Once warm, add in ground beef and cook until browned. Season with salt and pepper, drain fat if needed. Season ground beef with additional seasonings as desired*.1 lb. Lean ground beef, 2 tsp Kosher salt, Fresh cracked black pepper
- Add in the chili beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and beef stock, stir to combine. Secure the lid onto the pressure cooker, turn on, select the "Pressure Cook" setting, set to "high pressure" for 15 minutes, and start. Once the timer has expired allow the pressure to release naturally.2, 15oz. cans Chili Beans , 1, 14.5 oz. can Fire roasted diced tomatoes, 1, 15 oz. can Tomato sauce , 12 oz. Beef stock
- Serve topped with toppings of choice. Leftover chili will keep for 4-5 days in an airtight container in the fridge.
Notes
Nutrition
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