This Instant Pot Turkey Chili is made with ground turkey, beans, veggies and spices quickly in your pressure cooker with a taste like it has been simmering all day. You can also make it with dried beans!

Love healthy chili recipes? Try our reader shared Instant Pot beef chili or wildly popular Instant Pot white chicken chili.

Instant Pot turkey chili garnished with sour cream, cheese and green onion in white bowl.

This Instant Pot turkey chili tastes like the best turkey chili that has been simmered on the stove all day! Flavorful, comforting and hearty bowl of homemade chili entire family will love. Even kids because this soup is not spicy.

Not all but many recipes make sense to be converted to Instant Pot recipes. And turkey chili is one of them. Because it’s easy!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Make it your own: This is why I love making chili! Because I can customize it and I know everyone will dinner. Even kids’ picky friends, let’s face it!
  • Healthier: By using ground turkey instead of ground beef, we avoid eating about 28 grams of saturated fat. Healthier is only Instant Pot vegetarian chili.
  • Easy recipe: Although total cooking time with pressure build up is about 30 minutes, prep time is only 15 minutes and you walk away. No waiting to boil or stirring. And chili will taste just like your mom used to make.

Ingredients for Instant Pot Turkey Chili

Ground turkey, diced tomatoes, corn, canned beans, tomato paste, bell pepper, spices, oil, onion, garlic and broth.
  • Ground turkey: Lean or extra lean ground turkey, even ground chicken will be great in this recipe.
  • Beans: You can use any combination of beans. I like to use red kidney beans, pinto beans and any white beans like navy, cannellini or lima. More varieties, more flavor. If you cook dried beans without salt, add 1 teaspoon salt.
  • Corn: Fresh, canned (drained) or frozen corn (no need to thaw).
  • Canned diced tomatoes and paste: No need to drain diced tomatoes. If you have Rotel, diced tomatoes with green chilies, even more flavor.
  • Broth or stock: Pick low sodium. I like to use organic low sodium bouillon cubes mixed water to save storage space, packaging and money. Or Instant Pot chicken broth or Instant Pot beef bone broth when I have it on hand.
  • Spices: Chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, salt and pepper.

How to Make Turkey Chili in Instant Pot

This Instant Pot turkey chili can be made in 6 quart Instant Pot and 8 quart Instant Pot as written. For 3 quart, half the ingredients and keep same cooking time.

How to make Instant Pot turkey chili step by step.
  • Brown the meat: Saute ground turkey just enough to separate into small pieces. It doesn’t have to be cooked through or browned.
  • Add remaining ingredients: Add broth, onion, garlic, bell pepper, corn, beans, chili, powder, cumin, oregano, paprika, salt, diced tomatoes and tomato paste in this exact order, just like listed in the recipe. Do not stir to avoid the Burn message.
  • Cook: Pressure cook chili on high pressure for 15 minutes. Release pressure using Quick Release or you can let pressure cooker come down on its own with Natural Release.

Tips for Best Results

  • Browned bits of meat stuck to the pot: Deglaze the pot only if you see the bottom has stuck bits to it. Add 1/2 cup broth and deglaze the pot. My 6 quart Instant Pot runs hotter and browns more than 8 quart one.
  • Make sure tomatoes are on top: Add ingredients in the order listed in the recipe with diced tomatoes and tomato paste going in last. This is to avoid the Burn message.
  • Don’t stir before cooking: Again it helps to avoid the Burn message. If you stir, tomato can be touching the bottom of the pot and its sugars burning.
  • Don’t double the recipe: I do not recommend to double this recipe even in 8 quart Instant Pot because ingredients will not fit and pot won’t come to pressure! What you can do though, add extra 1 pound of meat and a can of beans, then adjust seasonings to taste at the end.
  • To thicken the chili: This chili will thicken with time but if you want it to be very thick right away, whisk 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water and add to the pot. Then press Saute, stir and simmer for a few minutes until thickened.

Can I Make It with Dried Beans?

Yes! By super popular demand I have tested this Instant Pot turkey chili with dried beans. Result was ah-mazing.

Not only it is convenient, cheap and lower in sodium version of chili, the stew comes out more hearty thanks to a bean broth. Texture wise similar to healthy white chicken chili where we mash some beans for hearty thick stew texture.

To make chili with dried beans, you do not have to soak them. Use 2 cups rinsed dried beans with 4 cups of broth and pressure cook for 40 minutes.

If you cook red kidney beans in Instant Pot or black beans in Instant Pot, they only take on average 12 minutes with NPR. But because we have many other ingredients in the pot, cooking time is 3 times longer. Just like with Instant Pot rice and beans cooked together in a pressure cooker. Science!

Instant Pot turkey chili with sour cream, cheese, lime and green onions in white bowl. Spoon, cilantro and lime wedge on a counter.

Serving Suggestions

How to Store and Reheat

Store: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Freeze: Hearty soups and stew without tender vegetables freeze well. Cook, cool completely and freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.

Reheat: Simmer on the stovetop covered on low heat, stirring occasionally and until warmed through.

FAQs

Can I prepare it as a freezer meal?

Yes. Cook ground turkey until small pieces for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Transfer to a Ziploc bag with other ingredients (add tomato products right after meat). Before cooking, add 1 cup water or low sodium broth and cook from frozen on High pressure for 20 minutes. Then do Quick Release.

Can I use ground chicken instead of ground turkey?

Absolutely. No changes to the recipe are necessary.

Can I add frozen vegetables?

Yes. I often use frozen vegetables like chopped bell pepper, corn and frozen cooked beans to save time. You can also add up to 2 extra cups of frozen broccoli, cauliflower or cauliflower rice.

More Chili Recipes to Try

More Instant Pot Recipes

Looking for more ideas? Check out this collection of our top healthy Instant Pot recipes!

Turkey chili with a ladle in the pressure cooker pot.
Instant Pot turkey chili garnished with sour cream, cheese and green onion in white bowl.

Instant Pot Turkey Chili

Instant Pot Turkey Chili with ground turkey, beans, veggies and spices ready in under 1 hour with a taste like it has been cooking all day.
4.91 from 140 votes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 292
Diet Gluten Free
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Pressure Up & Down Time 25 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes

Ingredients  

Instructions 

  • On 6 or 8 quart Instant Pot, press Sauté and let appliance preheat until display says Hot. Swirl a bit of oil to coat, add ground turkey and cook for 4 minutes, breaking into small pieces with spatula often. Meat doesn't have to cook through.
  • If you see bottom of the pot has stuck browned bits of meat, add 1/2 cup broth and deglaze the pot. If not, then it's fine. My 6 quart Instant Pot runs hotter than 8 quart. Press Cancel and add remaining 1/2 cup (if deglazed) or 1 cup broth.
  • Add onion, garlic, bell pepper, corn, beans, chili powder, cumin, oregano, paprika, salt, diced tomatoes and tomato paste. Do not stir to avoid Burn.
  • Close the lid, set pressure vent to Sealing and press Pressure Cook on High or Manual for 15 minutes.
  • After release pressure using Quick Release by turning pressure valve to Venting position, which takes 2-3 minutes. Open the lid, stir and serve hot with your favourite toppings.

Video

Notes

  • Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
  • Freeze: Fully cook, cool completely and freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw on a stovetop covered on low.
  • Make a freezer meal: Cook ground turkey until small pieces for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Transfer to a Ziploc bag with other ingredients (add tomato products right after meat). Before cooking, add 1 cup water or low sodium broth and cook from frozen on High pressure for 20 minutes. Quick release.
  • To make chili with dried beans (no soaking): Use 2 cups dried beans with 4 cups stock and cook for 40 minutes.
  • If you cook your own beans without salt, add 1 tsp salt.
  • Ground chicken will work just as well.
  • I often use frozen vegetables like chopped pepper, corn and frozen cooked beans to save time.

Nutrition

Serving: 2cups | Calories: 292kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 494mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 8g
Course: Soup and Stew
Cuisine: Mexican
Author: Olena Osipov
Did you make this recipe?Mention @ifoodreal or tag #ifoodreal!

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About Olena

Welcome! I grew up in Ukraine watching my grandma cook with simple ingredients. I have spent the last 11 years making it my mission to help you cook quick and easy meals for your family!

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Everyone love this so much I was asked to make this for a baby shower but I need to triple the recipe can you provide recommendations on how to make this in a big pot on the stove?

    1. Hi Jill. I do not recommend to double this recipe even in 8 quart Instant Pot because ingredients will not fit and pot won’t come to pressure! What you can do though, add extra 1 lb of meat and a can of beans, then adjust seasonings to taste at the end.

  2. 5 stars
    I have made this for my husband many times- mostly in the winter and hen the bbq is put away. I make it on Sunday and he has linch all week! It is one of his favourites.

  3. 5 stars
    This recipe is delicious! I made a minor tweak by sauting ground turkey with spices, onion, bell pepper and garlic.

      1. 5 stars
        We have made this recipe a few times and love it. We would like to make it for a friend who can not eat any oil. Is it possible to saute the turkey in water or chicken broth instead of oil, or will that cause a burn notice on the instant pot?

        Thanks!

        1. Hi Larisa, so glad you enjoy the recipe! I am sure that would work, just keep any eye and make sure to scrape any ‘browned bits’ so it doesn’t get that burn. 🙂

  4. 5 stars
    This and your stuffed pepper recipe are two of my go to recipes. Thank you for providing recipes that are both delicious and healthy!

  5. 5 stars
    This was so delicious! I needed a ground turkey recipe to feed a crowd last minute and this was perfect! Everyone enjoyed it. I make it all the time now – it’s a family favorite. It also freezes very well!

4.91 from 140 votes (33 ratings without comment)

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