Chili Con Carne Instant Pot Recipe

Why is this the best damn chili con carne you've ever tasted? Well, because it's made in the Instant Pot which means it's FULL of flavor, and only takes a few minutes of your time because… the Instant Pot is magic!

Instant Pot Chili Con Carne

We don't like to draw things out, telling long stories that have nothing to do with the recipe just to make a few bucks, so let's get to it!

Oh, I almost forgot… have you joined my free WW Facebook group yet? It's full of awesome recipes, support, and more!

Chili Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 white onion; diced
2 lbs ground beef***
1 cup tomato sauce
3 tablespoons smoked paprika
1 tablespoon cumin
1 teaspoon soy sauce
2 tablespoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cocoa powder (unsweetened)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper
1 cup broth***
2 teaspoons cayenne pepper

Serves: 4

Weight Watchers Points in Chili Con Carne

On Weight Watchers? Here are the points! Just like with anything, using chicken instead of beef is going to drastically reduce your points. That doesn't mean you have to use chicken, it just means you've gotta plan your points! 🙂

NOTE: Healthi formerly iTrackBites is a more complete app and a FRACTION of the cost of WW. Check out all of my iTrackBites posts here.

BLUE: 13 points if using 90% lean ground beef, 1 point if using ground chicken breast
PURPLE: 13 points if using 90% lean ground beef, 1 point if using ground chicken breast
GREEN: 13 Points if using 90% lean ground beef, 5 points if using ground chicken breast

***NOTES***

I used ground chicken in the soup I created for my family because it's much lower in points. If you aren't counting points or bites, or have some weeklies left, feel free to use ground beef.

The photos here are of beef chili con carne. The ground chicken doesn't take away from the flavor much, if at all. If anything, I noticed it was less greasy feeling when I tried it with chicken.

Make vegetarian chili con carne by swapping the ground beef out for veggie crumbles, and using vegetable broth instead of beef or chicken.

How to Enhance the Flavor of your Chili

We use the saute feature to cook our chili but… we did try it another way and LOVE it.

If you would like to pressure cooker it for super tender meat and more enhanced flavor, turn off the saute mode. Set valve to sealed position.

Select the pressure cook/high pressure/manual button on your pot and set to zero minutes. It will come to pressure, then beep.

Release the pressure by turning the valve to open position. This keeps it under pressure for about 10 minutes as it comes to pressure.

The chili is already cooked before you put it under pressure so this part is optional.

You may also set it to “keep warm” and wait some time to eat as this will also slow cook it which will enhance the flavors, too.

Best Toppings for Chili Con Carne

Jalapenos: Spice it up a bit and add a little crunch with some jalapenos, fresh or jarred, or even some roasted poblanos!

Sour Cream: I love sour cream even though I'm supposed to avoid dairy, but it's just so delicious and mixing it in right before I take my first bite makes it perfect … mmmm!

Shredded Cheese: Cheese makes everything better of course. Even fat-free cheese that usually won't melt and tastes like plastic, well, it ain't bad in chili!

Again, if you're supposed to be avoiding dairy like I am, this probably isn't the best option. Dairy-free cheese tastes like crap, with the exception of Chao vegan cheese!

Crushed Red Pepper: Because what's chili without a little extra spice?

Bread: While crackers and bread aren't necessarily toppings, you can use a low point bread or cracker to dip in your chili… it's delicious!

How to Make Chili con Carne in the Instant Pot

Turn your pressure cooker (we use a Ninja Foodi but this is perfect for your Instant Pot also) to saute mode.

Add in olive oil and onions.

Saute for 2 minutes. Add in meat or meatless crumbles. Cook meat thoroughly.

Add in tomato sauce and stir. Add in cocoa, soy sauce, paprika, cumin, chili powder, salt, cayenne, and cracked black pepper. Stir well.

Shouldn't chili have beans?

Ah, the great debate. Doesn't chili have beans?! Yes, if you want your chili to have beans, add a cup or two – or a can or two! My wife doesn't like beans, at all, so unfortunately my chili doesn't get beans. It's probably for the best, considering the gas they cause LOL

Favorite Instant Pot recipes

Cuddle up with a good book and a fuzzy blanket this winter, while your soups are cooking and your Instant Pot is doing all of the most of the work.

Instant Pot Cheeseburger Soup
Instant Pot Tomato Basil Soup – my FAVORITE tomato soup recipe ever!
Chili Cornbread Casserole – a DELICIOUS way to cook chili and cornbread in the same pot!

See all of my low point Instant Pot recipes here.

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