This simple Instant Pot turkey chili has everything going for it: easy, fast, and flavorful! Made with lean ground turkey, it's a quicker and deliciously lighter version of the slow-simmered beef chili you know and love.
This is a sponsored conversation on behalf of Conagra; all opinions and text are my own. Thanks for supporting me and the brands I love!
Pressure Cooker Turkey Chili
I don't know about you guys, but I *might* have indulged in just one too many cookies + a few too many extra helpings of comfort food over the holiday season... So right now my body is craving something (anything!) healthier — but still hearty, easy to prep, and quick to cook.
In other words, something like this yummy Instant Pot turkey chili! It's got all the slow-simmered flavor of your favorite ground beef chili. But it's lightened up thanks to ground turkey and a hefty dose of good-for-you veggies.
Oh, and it's also waayyy faster, with much less cleanup, courtesy of my electric pressure cooker! Pressure cooking soups and stews is a great way to significantly reduce their cooking time. Yet you're still infusing them with rich flavors that normally need a long, slow simmer to develop.
Sound good?! One delicious & nourishing turkey chili recipe comin' right up...
Ground Turkey Chili Ingredients
At first glance, the ingredient list for this Instant Pot ground turkey chili recipe appears to be a little long. But never fear, a good part of it is the spices!
And I've broken these up under a chili seasoning heading to make it easier on the eyes. Because long recipe ingredient lists with lots of spices tend to overwhelm me... So I figured you might feel the same way?
Plus, this way you can mix up a bigger batch of homemade chili seasoning to have on hand for ALL your chili needs. Just multiply the spices by four and store in an airtight container. If you go this route, about four-ish tablespoons of seasoning is a good amount to use per batch of chili.
Aside from the spices, the main players in this yummy turkey black bean chili are:
- ground turkey — no surprise here, right? Ground turkey is a lean protein that easily substitutes one for one in any dish. I've also used ground chicken in this recipe with excellent results.
- chopped onions and bell peppers — besides providing flavor, these boost the good-for-you veggie component of this easy & wholesome chili. While I used a white onion and yellow and orange bell peppers, you could also use a green pepper and/or a red onion.
- Rotel Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies — you didn't think Rotel was just for cheesy dips, did you? Turns out that its unique, zesty, fresh-from-the-vine taste is perfect in your favorite chili, too. And with only 25 calories, it helps keep this ground turkey chili light but still hearty.
- Hunt's Tomato Sauce — tomato sauce is excellent for thickening chili up! I choose Hunt's because of its vine-ripened tomato flavor and from scratch feel and taste. Plus, I'm a big believer in avoiding added sugar whenever possible. And Hunt's contains no added sugar, corn syrup, or other sweeteners.
- black beans — I know this is controversial, but chili is NOT chili without beans, in my opinion. Normally I go for some dark red kidney beans, but black beans just felt right in this instance. Added bonus? They're high in protein and fiber to help keep you full longer! Pinto beans or white beans can be substituted, if you prefer.
- chicken broth or stock — stock or broth serves to add rich flavor to this chili. And it helps avoid that pesky burn warning that Instant Pots give when there's not enough liquid in a recipe.
How To Make Turkey Chili in the Instant Pot
Using the Instant Pot for this turkey chili is SUCH a timesaver! And trust me, you won't miss that slow-simmered flavor at all. Cooking this ground turkey chili under pressure infuses everything with bold flavor from the chili seasoning. All in a fraction of the time it would take to cook it on the stovetop.
AND it's hands off cooking — so you can get other chores done in the meantime... Or maybe even pick up a book and read a chapter or two!
- Step 1: Start by using the Sauté mode function to brown the ground turkey in some olive oil. This can be done right in the Instant Pot insert.
- Step 2: Next add the chicken stock and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any stuck-on browned bits off the bottom of the pot. Then dump in the Rotel and Hunt's tomato sauce.
- Step 3: Rinse the black beans and add them to the pot, along with the chili seasoning/spices.
- Step 4: Stir all of the ingredients together until well mixed, and then lock the pressure cooker lid into place.
- Step 5: Set the Instant Pot to cook at high pressure for 20 minutes. It will take roughly 10 to 15 minutes for the pressure to build before the timer starts to count down.
- Step 6: When the timer goes off, release the pressure carefully using the quick release method. Stir the chili and adjust the salt and seasonings to your tastes.
Don't you just love a good one pot meal? It really could not get any easier... Or could it?!
Even Faster Turkey Chili
This healthy Instant Pot chili recipe is the perfect meal to serve for dinner after a busy day. From start to finish, you can be serving this flavorful chili in well under an hour. And that's including the prep time!
But do you want to know how you can save EVEN MORE TIME on this easy weeknight dinner?
PRO TIP: Buy your Instant Pot turkey chili recipe ingredients, including Rotel Original Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilies and Hunt's Tomato Sauce, from Walmart using Online Grocery Pickup!
If you haven't tried it, it's an insanely easy way to get groceries in a flash. Seriously, I ordered all of the ingredients and toppings for this pressure cooker chili on Sunday night before heading to bed...
The next morning, I used the Walmart app to let them know I was on my way to pick them up. I even dropped my son off at school and was still home with my groceries in under 15 minutes!
My Favorite Chili Toppings
My family thinks this chili recipe is fabulous as is. But I know the toppings are what make the chili for many. Some of my favorite chili toppings are:
- Greek yogurt
- sliced green onions
- diced avocado
- sliced jalapeño peppers
- chopped cilantro
- and cheddar cheese
And I will never turn down a squeeze of lime in ANY chili...
If you're not counting carbs, a small handful of crushed tortilla chips or corn chips are also tasty. Top your chili how ever you want without any regrets!
Souper Cubes 2-Cup Freezer Trays with Lids
If you like to freeze leftover soup for later, you NEED these sturdy silicone trays with lids!! These are the perfect size for freezing and reheating individual servings. AND they're easy to use and clean like a dream, with no residual odors!
Printable Recipe ↓
Easy Instant Pot Turkey Chili
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground turkey 93% lean
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 1 medium bell pepper chopped
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 2 (10-ounce) cans Rotel diced tomatoes & green chilies undrained
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 2 (15-ounce) cans black beans drained and rinsed
For the homemade chili seasoning:
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Combine chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, kosher salt, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl. Set seasoning mix aside.
- Press Sauté then Start to heat your pressure cooker.
- While the Instant Pot is heating up, combine 2 tablespoons water, 1 teaspoon salt, and baking soda in small bowl. Break the ground turkey up into ½" pieces and place in a large bowl. Drizzle the baking soda mixture over the turkey and, using your hands, toss to combine.
- When the word Hot appears on the display, add the olive oil to the pot and heat until shimmering. Add the onions and bell peppers and cook until softened, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the turkey meat, and brown until crumbly, 3 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle the seasoning mix over top of the turkey mixture, and stir for 30 seconds.
- Turn off the Sauté function. Deglaze the pot by carefully pouring in half the chicken stock. Stir with a wooden spoon, making sure to scrape any browned bits up from the bottom of the pot. Pour in the remaining stock, then add the Rotel tomatoes, Hunt's tomato sauce, and black beans to the pot. Mix to combine.
- Lock the Instant Pot lid into place and make sure the valve is set to the sealing position. Using the Pressure Cook setting, cook the turkey chili at high pressure for 20 minutes. Allow 12 to 15 minutes for pressure to build.
- When the pork is done cooking, press the Keep Warm/Cancel button to turn off the cooker. Release the pressure carefully using the quick release (QR) method according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Unlock and remove the lid. Stir chili and adjust salt and seasonings, as desired. Serve with your choice of chili toppings, including (but not limited to) Greek yogurt, sliced green onions, diced avocado, sliced jalapeño peppers, chopped cilantro, shredded cheddar cheese, and/or crushed tortilla chips or corn chips.
Recipe Notes
How To Make Chili Spicy
This turkey chili recipe as written is fairly mild. If you want to make a very mild chili, just omit the cayenne pepper. A squeeze of lime can also help tone down a too spicy chili, as does adding a small dollop of Greek yogurt or sour cream. On the other hand, if you're like me and crave an extra spicy turkey chili, you have a couple of options. 1) Increase the cayenne pepper to 1 teaspoon, and/or 2) swap the regular chili powder for chipotle chili powder or ancho chili powder. Keep in mind that you can always adjust the seasonings and salt to taste after cooking.How To Thicken Up Chili
Want to thicken up your turkey chili? Remove the lid and turn the Sauté function back on after releasing the pressure. Allow the chili to cook until the liquid is reduced the desired amount. You could also stir in a tablespoon of Hunt's tomato paste to speed it along.How To Store And Reheat Leftover Chili
Leftover chili can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. Reheat on the stove over medium-low heat until warmed through. You may also freeze chili in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.Featured Products
More Delicious Instant Pot Recipes
If you like this pressure cooker turkey chili recipe, here are a few other tasty Instant Pot recipes you have to try:
- Instant Pot Salsa Chicken made with just 4 ingredients
- Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes that are perfectly cooked every time
- Hearty and comforting Instant Pot Beef And Potatoes Stew
- Creamy and delicious Instant Pot Chicken Chili Verde
- The ideal Instant Pot recipe for beginners: Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
- The best 3-ingredient Instant Pot recipe: Coconut Quinoa
Did you make this recipe?
I'd love to see how your Instant Pot turkey chili turns out... Tag me @Unsophisticook on Instagram or use the hashtag #Unsophisticook so I can check it out. Enjoy!
Leah H says
Okay INCREDIBLE!! Spice level is perfect and love the change in beans and meat with the ground turkey for an alternative! Not a fan of kidney beans so this recipe is what I’ll be using from here on out! Thank you so much!
Claire Becker says
I took this instapot dish to a potluck in Brooklyn on Sunday, I didn't even taste before I served it, I just followed the recipe blindly and WOW they all loved it :) Thank you!
Deb says
This recipe was delicious and full of protein!
Tara Kuczykowski says
Yay, so happy you enjoyed it, Deb!
Wendy says
This has made it into our regular rotation for dinners. The whole family loves it! Tonight it will be served over baked potatoes.
Debbie T says
The spices are just right! I sauted after pressure release to allow chili to thicken (10-15 min). Perfect thick chili... sorta like Wendy's!
R says
Can I doube the recipe?
If so do I increase cook time in pressure cooker?
Tara Kuczykowski says
If you have a standard 6-quart Instant Pot, I would not recommend doubling it. However, if you have the larger 8-quart model, it should work. I’d add an additional 5 minutes to the cook time. Also, keep mind that it will increase the time it comes to pressure by a few minutes.
Michelle says
That sauce looks amazing! Chili is my favourite kind of comfort food, and this recipe sounds delicious, can't wait to try it!
Sophie says
This chili looks so so good. Thank you so much for this recipe. It looks amazing!
Dannii says
Turkey chili is such delicious comfort food. This sauce looks so rich too!
Claudia Lamascolo says
What an amazing chili recipe this is! I can't make it often enough everyone raves about it and its gone so fast! Thank you!
Renee Goerger says
It's recipes like this that keep me using my instant pot. Thank you for the delicious chili.
Renee Goerger says
It's recipes like this that keep me using my instant pot. Thank you for the delicious chili.
Renee Goerger says
It's recipes like this that keep me using my instant pot. Thank you for the delicious chili.
Erika says
I can't wait to try this. I love chili!
Rebecca says
SOOO good! The tomatoes and green chiles add so much easy flavor!
Beth says
This came out so flavorful! And easy with the instant pot!
Krissy Allori says
This was so yummy. My family loved it and it was so quick and easy to make.
stephanie says
I will be trying this for dinner tomorrow night. Thank you for sharing.