Cooler weather calls for soul-warming comfort food, not more hours in the kitchen! Instant Pot Southwestern Chili is a hearty recipe full of ground beef, black beans, corn, savory spices and more that takes little prep and cooks in about 30 minutes (but tastes like it’s been simmering all day long)!
Just like clockwork, with the first day of fall our weather has switched from sweltering days to chilly turn-the-fire on cozy weather. We’ve been socked with fog for the past four or five days and I love it. I’ve had the fire blasting and loving the dreary skies. It’s the perfect backdrop for comfort food and there is nothing better than chili.
Ever since returning from Scotland and Ireland at the end of the summer I’ve been nursing pneumonia. I thought I had it licked then 10 days of being socked in with the smoke from fires in the Pacific Northwest kicked it all back up again. It’s left me exhausted and completely not motivated to cook. Between that and the weather my Instant Pot came to the rescue to effortlessly prepare a delicious batch of Instant Pot Southwestern Chili.
I recently learned that I could have my groceries delivered from Whole Foods and feeling so under the weather I ordered all the ingredients I needed and they showed up on my front porch less than an hour later! I was craving a meaty chili with signature ingredients from my favorite southwestern dishes: black beans, roasted tomatoes, corn, chipotle, and earthy spices.
Something I love about the Instant Pot is that it has a sauté feature. The onions, pepper and ground beef can be all sautéed in the Instant Pot insert and then the rest of the ingredients added to pressure cook into a deeply flavorful chili in 15 minutes cooking time. Pressure cooking expedites the deep blending of flavors in It only left clean-up of the insert and no extra pots and pans (more laying on the couch watching Mad Men for me).
A fun thing about serving chili are all the toppings. Did you know if a food is too spicy the way to dampen the heat is with dairy products? Tangy sour cream is a wonderful flavor compliment to chili anyway but it also helps take the heat down for more spicy-sensitive diners. Shredded cheese, sliced avocado, chopped cilantro, sliced scallions and charred tortillas are my favorite things to serve with chili.
No Instant Pot? No problem! There are several chili recipes in the Slow Cooker recipe section. Slow Cooker Pumpkin White Bean Sausage Chili, Slow Cooker 3 Bean Winter Chili and Slow Cooker Tangy Baked Bean Chili (Vegetarian/Vegan) are all great places to start!
How to Make Instant Pot Southwestern Chili:
Instant Pot Southwestern Chili
This hearty, southwestern chili is easy to whip up using an Instant Pot. Only 15 minutes cooking time with a natural release producing a chili that tastes like it cooked all day long! Note: the time for the Instant Pot to come to full pressure is not included in the cooking time.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Olive or Vegetable Oil
- 1 large Yellow Onion peeled and chopped
- 1 large Bell Pepper cored, seeded and chopped
- 3 Garlic Cloves
- 1 pound Ground Beef (85%)
- 1 15-ounce can Black Beans drained and rinsed
- 1 10-ounce can Rotel Chipotle Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies & Chipotle Peppers*
- 1 cup Frozen Corn (doesn't need to be thawed)
- 1/4 cup Chili Powder
- 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika (not hot, regular smoked paprika)
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1 tablespoon ground Cumin
- 1 tablespoon Oregano
- 1 cup Low Sodium Chicken Stok
- Instant Pot (6 quarts)
Instructions
Set the Instant Pot on Saute. When the insert is hot, add the oil. When the top is shimmering add the onion, bell pepper and garlic. Saute for 3 minutes and add the group beef, breaking it into small pieces as it sautes. Saute until no pink remains on the meat.
Select the Keep Warm setting while adding the rest of the ingredients. Stir well to combine. Place the top on the Instant Pot, seal (ensure the release valve is set to Sealing) and select Manual. Cook on High Pressure for 15 minutes and then let naturally release. When the pressure has fully released serve!
Recipe Notes
*if Rotel with Chipotle and green chilies is not available in your area, use a 10-ounce can of diced tomatoes (can be fire-roasted), a 4 ounce can (drained) of mild green chilies and 2 teaspoons adobo sauce. If you like it spicy, cut up a canned chipotle chile in adobo sauce and add that too!
Stacie @ Divine Lifestylest says
I can’t wait to make this! I use my Instant Pot all the time, but I haven’t tried chili yet. Om nom nom.
Colleen Lanin says
Ahhh! Get in my belly! Since moving to Arizona, I’ve come to adore the southwestern flavors in the food of the area. I can’t wait to make this!
Randi says
That looks delicious and it sounds like it has a little kick to it, which I love! Chili is one of my favorites in the cooler months.
Heather @ Kraus House Mom says
My family loves chili and I love my InstaPot.I’m going to try this one next time I make chili.
Jeanette says
This is something that I can use over the weekend. It’s tasty it’s delicious it’s hot and it’s perfect for a camping trip.
Melissa Chapman says
I have never used an instant pot is it different than a pressure cooker? This chili sounds great but I would have to cook it the old fashioned way until I get the instant cooker!
Toni Dash says
An Instant Pot is an electric pressure cooker Melissa but also has additional features, like the saute function that can be done in the insert. It can be used as a slow cooker, makes yogurt and many more things. I completely agree on the all day cooking flavor for less than 30 minutes cooking! It’s great for that.
Meagan says
This sounds absolutely amazing! I love a good pot of chili when the weather cools down.
brianne says
This chili looks incredible. I still need to get an instant pot, question would you be able to make this in a crock pot too?
Toni Dash says
Yes! This recipe is using the pressure cook function but you can use the Instant Pot as a slow cooker.
Pam Wattenbarger says
Chili is one of my favorite things to make in the fall. This instant pot chili sounds delicious.
Olivia S Douglass says
WOW! I need an instant pot for sure. This recipe looks amazing.
Claudia Krusch says
This Southwestern Chili looks so delicious it is sure to be a big hit in my house. I am always looking for new Instant Pot recipes to try.
colleen cayes says
Oh, boy, this looks so delicious! Santa Fe has had the same cold, rainy weather; we even got our first snow on the mountains yesterday. I will be giving my new Instant Pot its inaugural run with this recipe tomorrow! Thank you so much for including corn, my favorite. I also love the blue spatterware spoons.
Michelle Waller says
You had me at Instant Pot, and Chili, and well, Southwest!! This recipe sounds just amazing and perfect now that the weather is finally starting to get cooler. I cant wait to give this a try.
travel blogger says
I need to get an instant pot! This is such an amazing recipe for a nice chilly fall afternoon. We will have to give this a try. I hope you are feeling better soon!
Toni Dash says
Thank you!!
Kristin says
YUM! This sounds so so great!
Marissa Zurfluh says
Avocado and Chili! Great combination and perfect for this fall weather. Adding this to my menu plan.
Hali says
I’ve never made anything like this, looks so flavorful and hearty looking!
Carol Cassara says
That sounds and looks delicious! I love a good bowl of chili especially during the colder months of the year! Love that you used an instant pot to prepare this! It makes things easier.
Kiwi says
This looks amazingly delicious. I would love to make this for my next Taco Tuesday.
Ron says
Well Fall is certainly upon us. The tree’s leaves are turning to yellows and vivid oranges and that makes me hungry for chili!
I’ve been wanting to make a big batch of Chili in my Instant Pot, so the timing of your post was perfect.
Thanks
Autumn Reo says
Love our insta pot! This looks like a great fall recipe. We also like to use ground turkey in lieu of beef.
Nancy at Whispered Inspirations says
Oh yum! There is nothing better than a yummy chili on a cold day. This sounds like an amazing recipe.
reesa says
I am hoping Santa brings me an Instant Pot. This looks just delicious!
Crystal says
Cbili is one of our fall favorite comfort foods. It’s all about the yummy toppings, in my opinion. Love how easily this recipe comes together in an instant pot.