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Instant Pot Chicken Chili

A chili that tastes like it’s been slow smoked over a campfire all day, yet only cooks for about 15 minutes! With the help of your Instant Pot and a few special ingredients, this will become your new favorite chili recipe.

bowl of chili with cheese and sour creamI’m going to take a wild guess and assume you are like me some days and you need a recipe that you can make with ingredients you have on hand and the 15 minutes you have available.  

Chili is easy and versatile, and I’ve created a simple chili recipe that is packed with flavor and perfect for simply enjoying in a bowl or as a topping for other favorite dishes like chili cheese fries!

Special ingredients needed or this recipe include:

Ancho chili powder and fire-roasted crushed tomatoes. This ensures the chili has a cooked all day on the campfire taste in minutes.

This recipe is perfect for the Instant Pot, but can also be made in a dutch oven.  

instant pot full of chili

How to make chili in an Instant Pot:

If you haven’t made chili in the Instant Pot before, here are a few important instructions..

  1. When you first plug in the Instant Pot, push the saute button and add the oil.  When the display reads “hot” then you can add the chicken and brown it.
  2. Once the chicken is cooked and seasonings are added, push the “keep warm/cancel” button.
  3. Put the lid on and ensure the valve on top is set to “sealing”.
  4. Next, push manual and adjust to high pressure if needed/if your pot has that functionality (this is the default function for pressure cooking).
  5. Use the “+/-” buttons to adjust the time to read 10 for 10 minutes.
  6. The pot will beep then read on.  This means it’s coming to pressure which can take 10-15 minutes.
  7. Once it starts cooking the timer will come on and count down from 10 to 0.
  8. Once cooking is complete, the display will read “L 0:00” and the timer will start counting up.  This is the natural pressure release.  If you turn the valve to release now it will perform a “quick release”.  This is not recommended for soup and chili recipes.

ollage of Instant Pot settings

How do you make ground chicken chili?

Ground chicken chili is pretty much the same as any other ground beef chili and just as easy.  While many people like to use chicken breasts for chili recipes and shred it, I find ground chicken easier and the texture preferable.

The thing to keep in mind is that chicken will have less flavor, so you will need to adjust the seasonings of your chili to account for this.  But the beauty is that it lends itself to taking on the flavors that you add, and pairs well with so many options.

Once the chicken is mostly cooked, we will add the seasonings.  After that the tomatoes and broth are stirred in before pressure cooking the chili.

step by step photos of instant pot chicken chili

The best toppings for chicken chili include…

  • sharp cheddar cheese – just a little goes a long way
  • fresh cilantro – for the fresh flavor and splash of color
  • sour cream – to tone down any spiciness and give a little tangy kick
  • crushed tortilla chips – because I love them on everything

Feel free to customize to your liking!  Be sure to let me know by commenting below how you like to serve your chili.chili with gold spoon

Have you made this Instant Pot Chicken Chili recipe? I’d love for you to leave a comment and star rating below!

instant pot full of chili

Instant Pot Chicken Chili

Print Recipe
A chili that tastes like it's been slow smoked over a campfire all day, yet only cooks for about 15 minutes! With the help of your Instant Pot and a few special ingredients, this will become your new favorite chili recipe.
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Prep Time:10 minutes
Cook Time:10 minutes
Pressurize + Natural Release:20 minutes
Total Time:40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground chicken
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon ancho chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 28 oz fire-roasted crushed tomatoes
  • 1 cup chicken broth

Instructions

  • Set Instant Pot to saute and add olive oil
  • When display reads "hot" add ground chicken
  • Break apart with spatula while cooking
  • Once chicken is cooked through add seasonings and continue to stir for 1-2 minutes
  • Turn pot off by selecting "cancel" and then add tomatoes and broth and stir to combine
  • Add lid and ensure valve is set to "sealing"
  • Select manual and set to high pressure for 10 minutes
  • Once cooking has completed, allow 10 minutes for natural pressure release before quick releasing any remaining pressure
  • Serve with shredded cheese, sour cream, crushed chips, fresh cilantro or as desired

Notes

You can use a 3 quart or 6 quart pressure cooker to make this recipe.  If you'd like to double it, you can do so by doubling all ingredients and using a 6 quart pressure cooker.
If this is your first time making chili in the Instant Pot, please read the detailed directions below to ensure you allow enough time to make this recipe.
  1. When you first plug in the Instant Pot, push the saute button and add the oil.  When the display reads "hot" then you can add the chicken and brown it.
  2. Once the chicken is cooked and seasonings are added, push the "keep warm/cancel" button.
  3. Put the lid on and ensure the valve on top is set to "sealing".
  4. Next, push manual and adjust to high pressure if needed/if your pot has that functionality (this is the default function for pressure cooking).
  5. Use the "+/-" buttons to adjust the time to read 10 for 10 minutes.
  6. The pot will beep then read on.  This means it's coming to pressure which can take 10-15 minutes.
  7. Once it starts cooking the timer will come on and count down from 10 to 0.
  8. Once cooking is complete, the display will read "L 0:00" and the timer will start counting up.  Allow this to reach 10:00 minutes before releasing any remaining pressure.

Nutrition

Calories: 181kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 774mg | Potassium: 852mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 680IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 3mg
Course: Soup
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6
Calories: 181kcal

 

A chili that tastes like it's been slow smoked over a campfire all day, yet only cooks for about 15 minutes! With the help of your Instant Pot and a few special ingredients, this will become your new favorite chili recipe. #chili #chickenchili #instantpotchili
A chili that tastes like it's been slow smoked over a campfire all day, yet only cooks for about 15 minutes! With the help of your Instant Pot and a few special ingredients, this will become your new favorite chili recipe. #chili #chickenchili #instantpotchili

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