Instant Pot Ground Turkey Chili

Get all of the classic flavors you know and love but much FASTER in this Instant Pot Turkey Chili recipe– a family favorite for Fall! It’s simple to make with kidney beans, veggies, diced tomatoes, ground turkey, and a homemade seasoning blend. You only need a pressure cooker and 45 minutes for a healthier spin on a traditional game day dish!

Favorite Instant Pot Turkey Chili Recipe

Nothing is quite like snuggling up to a cozy bowl full of piping hot ground turkey chili! (Or any Insant Pot Beef Chili for that matter!)

Serve it with a piece of Honey Jalapeño Cornbread or Mini Cornbread Muffins and you’ll have yourself one comforting winter dinner.

Most traditional recipes seem to take FOREVER to cook. Especially if you want to get super tender ground meat that is full of chili flavor.

But did you know you can make the BEST chili in a pressure cooker – and it takes less than 45 minutes?

And all of that flavor is thanks to a homemade chili seasoning mix.

Your family will think you slaved away all day over a hot stove to make this bowl of deliciousness!

We’ll let them be fooled.  Because you and I both know you simply popped it into your pressure cooker and let it do the work for you. 😉

Ingredients

The ingredients you will need are very similar to those a traditional chili recipe calls for:

• Ground Turkey. You can also substitute ground beef, venison, or chicken.
• Onion. A sweet onion is used, but you can opt for a yellow or white one.
• Bell Pepper. Feel free to use a red, green, or yellow bell pepper.
• Celery. This ingredient sets it apart from most other chili recipes and completes the “trinity” of ingredients.
• Beans. Dark, red kidney beans are found in this recipe and the typical chili beans. However, black beans may also be used. Canned beans are definitely quicker and easier to use, but feel free to cook your beans from dried if you’d prefer.
• Tomatoes. A combination of both canned diced tomatoes and tomato sauce are used in this chili recipe.  You can substitute the diced tomatoes with crushed tomatoes if needed.
• Chicken Broth. A little additional liquid is needed when making chili in a pressure cooker. Water can be used, but broth has quite a bit more sodium and flavor.
• Homemade Chili Seasoning. This recipe was created with a homemade spice blend of cumin, chili powder, paprika, cayenne, oregano, garlic powder, and cinnamon, and not a store-bought packet. If you’re using a packet, please test and adjust to your taste preference.

Cook’s Tip: Make sure you rinse and drain the beans thoroughly before using in the recipe.

How to Make Instant Pot Turkey Chili

The simple steps to follow to make this ground turkey chili are easy to follow:

Sauté the Veggies

Dice the onion as well as the bell pepper and celery.

Set the Instant Pot to the sauté function. Add some oil and allow it to heat up.

Toss the onion, bell pepper, and celery into the pot.

Cook the vegetables for 2 to 3 minutes.

Add the Meat and Beans

Push the vegetables to the side of the pot and add the ground turkey.

Cook the meat for 4 to 5 minutes or until the turkey is almost cooked through. Be sure to break it up as it browns.

Pour in the broth and scrape the bottom of the pot to release any of the stuck bits and pieces. If you don’t do this, there may be an error warning.

Add the kidney beans and chili seasoning mix.

Then, carefully pour in the canned tomatoes and tomato sauce. Sprinkle sugar over the top.

Be sure you do not stir at this step. The tomatoes need to stay away from the bottom of the instant pot or you might get an error.

There are two reasons you may get a burn notice:

• The bottom of the pot had browned bits stuck to it.  Next time, scrape the bottom of the pot thoroughly.
• The tomatoes were stirred in.  Make sure you pour your tomatoes on the TOP of the ingredients when adding them into the Instant Pot.

Pressure Cook

Cover the pot with a lid and set to High Pressure for 12 minutes.

Allow a 10-minute natural pressure release for the most tender and flavorful chili.

You may do a quick release if you are pressed for time.

Do you want to learn How to Use an Instant Pot?  All of the basics are covered in this post!

Serve the Chili

Some of the best toppings to add to this homemade chili include:

• Sour Cream: Tofutti makes an incredible dairy-free sour cream if you need that!
• Shredded Cheese: Cheddar cheese and Monterrey Jack blends taste great.
• Jalapenos: Sliced or pickled jalapeño peppers will add an extra level of heat to the chili recipe.
• Tortilla Chips: Crushed tortilla chips give chili a wonderful crunch and texture.

Meal Prep and Storage

• To Prep-Ahead: Make up the seasoning mix beforehand. You can dice the vegetables the day before, if needed.
• To Store: Store leftover chili in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 to 4 days.
• To Freeze: Chili is a great dish to freeze for later. Place leftovers in a freezer-safe container and store for up to 4 to 6 months.
• To Reheat: Warm up the chili in a pot on the stove over medium-low heat.

FAQs

Expert Tips and Tricks

• DIY seasoning. Mix up your own chili seasoning for the best flavor. Plus, you can adjust it to your taste preferences.
• Use your own. If you like to freeze tomatoes, you can use them in this recipe.
• Serve it up. Dish this chili up in a big bowl with some cheese, tortilla chips, and sour cream. Don’t forget the cornbread!
• Double up. Make a large batch and store the rest for easy freezer meals.
• Get creative. Try different spices and seasonings to customize the chili.

What to Serve with Turkey Chili

When you’re ready to enjoy a bowl of this chili, pair it with any of these recipes to complete your meal:

• Jalapeño Cornbread
• Pickled Jalapeños
• Air Fryer Zucchini Chips
• Corn on the Cob
• Instant Pot White Rice

Other Healthy Instant Pot Recipes

If you loved this easy turkey chili, try one of these other Instant Pot recipes next:

• Instant Pot Beef Stew
• Instant Pot Tacos al Pastor
• Chicken Vegetable Soup
• Instant Pot Turkey Meatballs
• Instant Pot Beef Chili