This Instant Pot Chili recipe combines chunks of tender beef with a smoky chili paste sauce. (No beans.) Using the pressure cooking setting brings Texas-Style Chili to the table in half the time. Perfect for Game Day!
If you’ve been following my Insta Stories over on my Instagram account, you’ve already heard “the news” that I bought an Instant Pot!
Having had an electric pressure cooker in the past, I’d held off on getting one. My older unit was so finicky and inconsistent that I rarely used it for anything more than cooking potatoes. I’ve been reading about the Instant Pot’s multicooker functions everywhere over the past few months, and decided it was time to take the plunge.
The verdict? I like it! While I won’t be breaking up with slow braises in my Dutch Oven any time soon (we’re practically married), the Instant Pot has brought some really delicious meals to my table in a fraction of the time. The first two days alone, I had Osso Buco “on a whim,” Saffron Risotto (no stirring), and Pots de Crème that were the epitome of indulgence.
(If you’re looking for a good Instant Pot cookbook, I highly recommend Melissa Clark’s Dinner in an Instant, home to all three of the recipes I mentioned above.)
With a certain big football game on the horizon, I decided to try my hand at Instant Pot Chili. Loving how tender the pressure cooker made stew meats, I made a variation on Texas Chili con Carne. My crew said it was one of the best bowls of chili they’ve had.
What is Texas Style Chili?
“Chili” (more specifically, what belongs in chili) can be something of a hot button topic. Styles of chili vary across regions and even households; each recipe equally beloved and defended as the best and rightful bearer of the name. Simply stated: chili is a dish that people are passionate about!
In the great chili debate, the first question to come up is usually whether or not to include beans. (Check out: “To Bean or Not To Bean: Jumping into the National Chili Debate” from National Geographic.) Ask this question in the frame of Texas-Style Chili, and you’ll find a resounding “no.”
Texas Chili (also called “Texas Red Chili”) is generally made with cubed beef, browned in lard or bacon fat, and slow-simmered in a rich chili sauce. That’s it. I’ve seen a few recipes with ground beef, but the overwhelming majority utilize beef chuck cubes. Most recipes contain no tomatoes and most certainly, no beans.
Homemade chili paste gives Texas-Style Chili it’s characteristically deep flavor and color. Some recipes swap out a hearty proportion of chili powder for the fresh paste, with particular devotion to the Gebhardt’s brand.
I strayed just a bit in my adaptation by deglazing the Instant Pot with a little bit of beer after browning the beef and sautéing the onions. I absolutely love beer-stewed meats, and a cold beer and chili are a match made in heaven, so I decided to add a splash to the pot. It doesn’t seem to be an authentic addition, but we loved it.
How to Make Texas-Style Instant Pot Chili
Made in a cast iron pot or Dutch Oven, Texas-Style Chili is an all-day affair. The process for pressure-cooked chili is similar to slow cooking, but requires less liquid, and a lot less time.
You start by browning the beef and onions in bacon fat, directly in the Instant Pot insert on the “sauté” setting. Be sure not to crowd the pan so that the meat doesn’t steam. Instead of a slow simmer on the stove, the chili cooks with the sauce in 30 minutes on high pressure, with a 10 minute natural steam release.
The beef that emerged was ethereally tender, infused with the flavors of the homemade chili paste. A few tablespoons of masa harina (corn flour) thickened the cooking liquid to a glossy sauce. (If you like a looser sauce, reduce the amount of masa harina accordingly.)
Looking for another beef recipe to make in the electric pressure cooker? Try my Instant Pot Corned Beef! It’s a reader favorite.
Serving Instant Pot Chili
This Texas-Style Chili is delicious right out of the pressure cooker, if you have time to let the chili sit overnight in the refrigerator before re-warming and serving, it will be even better. Stir gently so the tender beef cubes don’t break up too much.
(Lesson learned: I manhandled the chili a bit too much as I was moving it in and out of different colored bowls for styling. The Instant Pot Chili was still delicious, but there were fewer large beef chunks when I finally plated it in a bowl I liked than when it was finished cooking.)
Like most chili recipes, this Texas-style version can be served with a number of toppings. My crew liked it best with a little bit of diced onion, sharp cheddar, chopped cilantro, a squeeze of lime, and a dollop of sour cream. Honestly, it’s so well-flavored you could forego the toppings entirely and have an amazing bowl of chili.
Instant Pot Chili is fantastic served with a cold beer and warmed tortillas, cornbread, or my easy Beer Bread recipe. No matter who you’re rooting for in the game, the chili on the menu will be a touchdown!
Looking for more chili recipes? Also check out this stovetop Spicy Chili Recipe with 3 meats and beans.
More Game Day Recipes
- Spinach and Artichoke Dip
- Maple-Sriracha Devils on Horseback
- Crab Stuffed Mushrooms with Gouda
- Loaded Potato Chips with Bacon and Gorgonzola
- Mojo Beef Burgers with Tequila-Lime Aioli
- Muffuletta Sandwiches
Instant Pot Chili (Texas Style)
Ingredients
- 4 ounces bacon , cut into 1/4-inch dice
- 1 teaspoon canola oil
- 3 pounds beef chuck , cut into 1-1/2 inch pieces
- 1 large onion , diced (about 1-1/2 cups)
- 3 large garlic cloves , minced
- ½ cup beer (lager-style, nothing too bitter)
- ¾ cup homemade chili paste (1 recipe)
- 1-1/2 cups beef broth
- 2-3 tablespoons masa harina (depending on how thick you like your chili)
- kosher salt and freshly-cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Add bacon and canola oil to your multi-cooker insert and set the “Sauté” function to high. Cook until the bacon fat is rendered and the bacon is just beginning to crisp. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon, leaving drippings in the insert. (You should have about 2 tablespoons of bacon fat in the pan.)
- Season beef cubes all over with salt and pepper. Add to the multi-cooker insert in small batches and brown on all sides. Remove browned beef cubes to a plate to hold while searing each batch of meat.
- Add onions to the insert with 1/2 each teaspoon kosher salt and pepper and sauté until onions begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Deglaze the insert with beer, and simmer until reduced, about 3 minutes. Stir in chili paste and beef broth until combined.
- Add beef cubes and reserved cooked bacon back into the pot. Stir to coat with the sauce. Place the lid onto the multi-cooker and lock into place with the vent in “sealing” position.
- Switch to the pressure cooker function and set it to HIGH pressure for 30 minutes. When finished cooking, let the steam naturally release for 10 minutes, and then quick release the remaining pressure.
- Switch the multi-cooker back to the Sauté function. Stir masa harina into the chili until smooth and simmer until thickened. Season to taste with salt.
- Serve hot with toppings such as lime wedges, sour cream, shredded cheddar, chopped cilantro, sliced jalapeño, and diced onion.
Nutrition Estimate
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Please note that our recipes have been developed using the US Customary measurement system and have not been tested for high altitude/elevation cooking and baking.
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The Chili Paste MAKES this dish for sure. I had a few substitutions including using ground meet and adding tomatoes – but the flavoring for the chili is amazing.
Holy moly, this is a delicious recipe! We are sheltering in place in Seattle and found a way to make this chili with what we had on hand. The chilis weren’t quite what you recommended, but the end result was fabulous. Hard to believe it didn’t have a tomato base. I’ll definitely make this again.
Thanks!
thank you..
Made this recipe today with a variety of peppers and it is a smashing success. Really taken with how deep and intense the flavors are. Next time I am thinking of doubling up the recipe. Any reason why this can’t be done? Even with 3lbs of chuck roast (trimmed) as called for I had been expecting more output. But with no beans as a filler and basically only meat and chili paste it’s not surprising. As others have mentioned the chili paste is the critical component to this amazing chili.
This recipe brought me to your site over the weekend :) I searched for an instant pot version of chili and mistakenly thought you were from Texas given the accuracy of your recipe! It really is Texas chili. We’ve made it twice this weekend since my friends ate the entirety of it the first day we made it. They couldn’t believe it could be done in an instant pot (it usually takes us all day to make). Thanks, I’ll be back!
Great chili. I’ve made it twice, once with beans and no masa, and once as written. It was great both times; the homemade chili paste really makes it.
When I made it with beans it was great as a stew. Without beans, it was amazing on a baked potato with cheese, white onion, and cilantro. This will be my go-to chili recipe from now on. If you haven’t tried it, do.
Today is our 2nd time making this chili. The first time I could not believe how delicious it was as we are used to tomato based chili. We will be surprising some friends tomorrow with this awesomeness while we watch the Saints game!! Thank you for sharing your recipe. WHO DAT!!
I got an Instant Pot for Christmas and this is the first recipe I made (after hardcooked eggs). My husband couldn’t get enough of this chili. It’s the best chili we’ve ever had and the Instant Pot made it really convenient. I’m going to make this for our Super Bowl party.
I seriously don’t understand why some many people who have admittedly never even tried this recipe rate it 5 stars. Having said that, I made this last night, and the chili paste makes all the difference between a good and a great chili. Not only was this the best chili, of any style, I’ve ever made, it was right up there with the best chilis I’ve ever eaten. Your chili paste recipe will serve as the base of any style of chili I make moving forward. It was a little mild for me, but perfect for my wife. The next time I make this just for myself, I’ll add some hotter chilis to the paste. Seriously outstanding recipe. Even if one doesn’t have an Instant Pot and wants to make chili in a crock pot or using another method, should follow this basic recipe.
So good! We added in some extra spices to give it more of a kick, and did put in some beans and tomatoes. SO GOOD. I want to make this every week.
I’m one of the few that actually made this recipe and it was awesome. Although I use my Instant Pot religiously, I’ve never made chili without ground beef or turkey, beans or tomatoes, but we wanted to see what real Texas chili was all about. Safe to say this will be made over and over again. I followed the chili paste recipe, as I browned the meat since it took about an hour to make. I started everything later than I’d wanted to, and I always forget that browning 3 pounds of meat in batches will take more than a half hour, so it wasn’t done until around 11:30pm. I figured we’d eat it the next day but it smelled so good that we had decided to go ahead and eat it. Midnight chili might just become a tradition in our house!
– “I’ve never made chili without ground beef or turkey, beans or tomatoes”
Then prior to this you’ve never made actual chili (which is generally used as a shorthand for “chili con carne”). What you describe is actually a bean and ground meat soup that has, over the years, been mislabeled as “chili”. There’s nothing wrong with such a dish, and many versions of it are quite tasty. But they simply are not “chili”. This recipe, on the other hand, is a proper chili.
This is the best recipe for chili that I’ve found. I made it twice, the first time I used chuck and the 2nd I used beef short rib. The rib was more expensive but made a big difference with the flavor and the texture. I used ancho and guajillo chiles for the paste and it was the perfect heat level compromise between me and my wife. If i want it hotter I can always add a splash of hot sauce to my bowl.
My favorite way to eat this is over fritos topped with raw diced onion, shredded cheddar and a dollop of sour cream. Mmmm, gonna go have a bowl right now!
I have not bought an instant pot yet, but your post sure is making me want to get one. This chili looks delicious!!
I just got my Instant Pot about a month ago and love to experiment with new recipes. Yours look sooo delicious, it is definitely on my list now!)
Instant pot or pressure cooker is the best invention ever and your photos look gorgeous and yummy!