Chili is a versatile, crowd-pleasing dish that can be made in many different ways. With the rise in popularity of multi-cookers like the Instant Pot, many home cooks are turning to these electric pressure cookers to make quick and easy chili. But with so many different settings on the Instant Pot, it can be hard to know which one is best for chili. Here is a comprehensive look at the various Instant Pot settings and recommendations for which ones work best when making chili.
High Pressure
The High Pressure setting on the Instant Pot allows the cooker to reach around 240°F-250°F, which creates a high-pressure environment inside the inner pot. This high pressure drastically speeds up cooking times by forcing liquid into food. High pressure is great for dishes with tough cuts of meat that need to become very tender, like beef chuck or pork shoulder. It’s also good for beans, which normally take a while to soften when cooking on the stove or in the oven.
When making a beef or other meat-based chili, the High Pressure setting can help break down the meat and tenderize it in a fraction of the normal time. Depending on the specific Instant Pot model, High Pressure cook times are usually around 20-40 minutes. This makes chili a very quick weeknight meal compared to traditional chili that simmers on the stove for 1-2 hours. The intense heat helps infuse spices and chile flavor into every bite. If using pre-cooked or leftover meat, High Pressure is still beneficial for quickly cooking dried beans and melding flavors.
Tips for High Pressure Chili
- Cut meat into 1-inch chunks for even cooking.
- Use a natural pressure release to allow chili to continue to develop flavor.
- Add tomatoes or tomato juice/sauce at the end to prevent over-cooking.
- Adjust seasonings after cooking and add more salt, spices, etc. to taste.
Manual/Pressure Cook
The Manual or Pressure Cook setting on the Instant Pot is almost the same as High Pressure, operating at the same high temperatures. The only difference is that with Manual/Pressure Cook, you can adjust the exact time you want food to cook at pressure. It gives you control to customize the time, whereas the preset buttons like High Pressure automatically have a pre-programmed cook time.
For chili, Manual/Pressure Cook can come in handy if a recipe calls for a specific cook time or you find you want to tweak the amount of time at pressure. Such as cooking meat for 25 minutes or beans for only 10 minutes if using canned. You may need less time than High Pressure provides by default. So for greater customization of the pressure cooking time, Manual/Pressure Cook is a good option.
Tips for Manual/Pressure Cook Chili
- Refer to recipe cook times and adjust as needed based on ingredients.
- Track cook time to identify your optimal pressure cooking time for chili.
- Use Natural Release if time allows for maximum flavor.
Sauté
The Sauté setting on the Instant Pot uses direct heat on the inner pot bottom to simmer, stir fry, or sear foods. This replaces the need for a separate skillet or pot on the stove. The Sauté function has 3 temperature options:
- Normal for gentle simmering
- More for intense boiling
- Less for gentle sautéing
Browning ground beef is an important first step when making any beef chili recipe. The Sauté function can conveniently perform this step right in the Instant Pot inner pot.
Choose Less or Normal Sauté to avoid overcooking the meat. Cook just until no longer pink, breaking up the meat as it cooks. Then you can drain excess fat if needed and proceed with adding onions, peppers other aromatics to the pot. Sauté makes it easy to build flavor by cooking ingredients before pressure cooking.
The Sauté function is also useful after pressure cooking to let chili simmer and thicken up to the perfect consistency. You can sauté the chili for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it reaches your desired thickness.
Tips for Sauté Chili
- Pat beef dry before sautéing to help browning.
- Stir meat frequently and break up large chunks.
- Add fresh herbs right at the end when sautéing to preserve flavor.
Slow Cook
The Slow Cook function converts the Instant Pot into a programmable slow cooker. It heats food at a lower temperature than pressure cooking, retaining moisture for fork-tender recipes. Slow Cook on the Instant Pot has 3 settings:
- Less – 190°F
- Normal – 200°F
- More – 210°F
Traditional slow cooker chili often cooks on Low for 8-10 hours. The Normal Slow Cook setting equates to Low and is a good option for making chili. Slow Cook chili develops deep, complex flavor as it simmers away all day long.
Browning the meat first in Sauté mode helps build great chili flavor. Then add the rest of the ingredients to the pot and use Slow Cook for hands-off simmering. Dried beans can fully cook from scratch using Slow Cook, given the lengthy cook time. And the lower heat leaves meat very fork-tender.
Tips for Slow Cook Chili
- Give dried beans a head start by soaking before cooking.
- Add more liquid than a stove-top recipe since little evaporates.
- Check on chili and stir occasionally when possible.
Sous Vide
The Sous Vide function allows you to replicate restaurant-style sous vide cooking at home. It precisely controls the water temperature for even, gentle cooking of vacuum-sealed foods. Sous vide chili is a unique twist on the classic that highlights deep, concentrated flavors.
To make sous vide chili, season beef chunks and vacuum seal them in bags. Submerge the sealed chili meat in the Instant Pot inner pot filled with water. Set the Sous Vide temperature based on the thickness of the meat, around 135°F for 1-inch pieces.
Cook the chili meat using Sous Vide until the center is your desired doneness, typically 1-2 hours. Then open the bags, pat the beef dry, and give it a quick sear in the skillet. Mix the perfectly cooked chili beef back in the pot with the rest of the chili ingredients and simmer for 15-20 minutes to blend flavors.
Benefits of Sous Vide Chili
- Very tender, moist beef
- Intensified meatiness in flavor
- Juicy meat even with longer simmering time
Yogurt
The Yogurt function turns the Instant Pot into a yogurt maker. It holds the inner pot at the ideal 115°F temperature needed to ferment yogurt and develop tangy flavor. This allows you to make homemade yogurt easily and consistently.
Greek yogurt and other thick, strained yogurts work especially well dolloped on top of a warm bowl of chili. The cool, creamy yogurt contrasts nicely with the spicy chili. It also adds protein and a tangy flavor contrast. Non-fat plain Greek yogurt blends into chili nicely when stirred in, adding richness without extra fat. The probiotics in yogurt are also beneficial for gut health.
Tips for Using Yogurt with Chili
- Stir in yogurt after pressure cooking while chili is still warm.
- Top bowls of chili with dollops of Greek yogurt and sprinkles of fresh herbs.
- Mix in plain yogurt for a protein boost and to cool down spicy chili.
Sterilize
The Sterilize setting heats the Instant Pot inner pot to 240°F, which is the temperature needed to sterilize and sanitize items. This function can be used before or after cooking chili to safely clean and sanitize kitchen tools, jars for storage, or baby bottles.
It’s important to sterilize any kitchen tools and surfaces after handling raw meat to prevent cross contamination. You can sterilize the inner pot, ladle, and spatula used when browning ground beef and making chili.
The steam produced can also sterilize jars or tupperware before portioning and storing leftover chili. And ensure baby bottles are germ-free by using Steam Sterilize. The Instant Pot makes this important sanitizing step simple.
Tips for Sterilizing with Chili
- Wash all items thoroughly with soap first.
- Make sure items can with stand steam and heat.
- Ensure no food residue is left on items for full sterilization.
- Use natural pressure release to dry items.
Keep Warm
The Keep Warm function does exactly as it sounds – it keeps your Instant Pot contents gently heated at 145°F-172°F until you’re ready to serve. It has options for up to 10 hours.
This setting is very convenient for chili to keep it at the perfect serving temperature for gatherings or meals throughout the week. After pressure cooking, switch to Keep Warm so your chili stays hot and ready to serve as needed. Keep Warm prevents a skin from forming and keeps everything perfectly heated.
Tips for Keep Warm Chili
- Stir periodically to prevent scorching on bottom.
- Add more thin liquid if chili starts to thicken up too much.
- Keep lid on and venting knob open to retain heat and moisture.
Delay Start
The Delay Start function allows you to schedule when your Instant Pot will turn on to start cooking. You can set it to begin warming up and cooking up to 24 hours in the future.
This can come in handy for preparing chili in advance. Such as setting it up in the morning and having perfectly cooked chili ready by dinnertime. All you have to do is add the ingredients to the pot and select your cooking program and time. Then set the delay start time for when you want it to begin cooking.
When you’re ready to eat, your chili will be hot, steamy, and flavorful. Just give it a quick stir and serve. Having dinner ready right on time makes the delay start function really useful.
Tips for Delay Start Chili
- Refrigerate perishable ingredients before delaying cook time.
- Ensure the inner pot is securely in place before setting.
- Allow extra time for pressure to build and release when planning time.
Conclusion
The Instant Pot offers home cooks a variety of settings to choose from when making chili. The optimal setting depends on your preferences for texture, cook time, and customization. Here are some final recommendations for the best Instant Pot settings for chili:
- High Pressure – Best for quick cooking times with tender, flavorful results.
- Sauté – Ideal for browning meat and simmering chili to perfect thickness.
- Slow Cook – Provides classic slow-cooked chili flavor with hands-off ease.
- Manual/Pressure Cook – Allows full customization of cook times under pressure.
Whichever setting you opt for, the Instant Pot can make delicious chili in a fraction of the traditional time. Experiment with different functions and chili recipes to discover your favorite ways to make chili in your Instant Pot.
| Instant Pot Setting | Best Uses for Chili |
|---|---|
| High Pressure | Quickly cooks tough cuts of meat and beans |
| Manual/Pressure Cook | Customizable pressure cook times |
| Sauté | Browning meat and simmering chili |
| Slow Cook | All-day hands-off simmering |
| Sterilize | Sanitizing kitchen tools and storage containers |
| Keep Warm | Holding chili at ideal serving temperature |
| Delay Start | Scheduling future cook times for chili |