Instant Pot Turkey Chili

This Instant Pot Turkey Chili with sweet potatoes is a nutrition-packed, crowd-pleasing dinner. It's loaded with rich tomatoes and hearty beans, and can be converted to a freezer meal!

turkey chili in a bowl, topped with sour cream.

Paid links used in this post. Read more about my link usage policies.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

It's a healthy alternative to a classic. You're cutting a little bit of the fat of traditional chili without sacrificing the protein. I've also added a nutritional kick with sweet potatoes!
It's super easy. You can whip this meal up in the Instant Pot with very little effort.
It tastes like a slow-cooked meal...without the work. Instead of needing 8-10 hours in a Crock Pot, cook this in an Instant Pot in under an hour.

Ingredients

1 cup chopped onion - Either yellow or white onion will work, but I like yellow onion in this recipe. It adds a little sweetness that complements the sweet potato.
seasonings - All you need for this recipe are 2 teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoon pepper, and 1 pack of chili seasoning. Keep it simple!
1 lb ground turkey - Ground beef will also work well, but the lightness of the ground turkey is perfect in this chili.
1 large sweet potato - This is essential, in my opinion! It's such a yummy contrast with the spice and kick of the chili seasoning. Make sure to chop it into bite-sized pieces.
15.5 oz chickpeas - The canned variety is perfect...just drain the beans before adding to the pot.
15.5chili beans - Also use canned (don't drain these, though). The chili beans will add additional flavor.
10oz Rotel - I love Rotel in chili - it's a must! It's a mixture of diced tomatoes and diced green chilies that doesn't really add heat but gives the chili a perfect hint of spice. You'll find it in the canned foods aisle.
15.5oz diced tomatoes - I recommend using canned over fresh - they work better in the chili and make the recipe much easier.
2 cups chicken broth - You can either use canned/bottled chicken broth or bouillon cubes and water. If you happen to have chicken stock on hand, it adds a lot more flavor!

Additions & Variations

Add even more spice by using 2 teaspoons each of cumin, chili powder, red pepper flakes, or cayenne pepper. One teaspoon of any given spice would add some kick.
Change up the beans. I used chickpeas and chili beans in my recipe. Black beans, red kidney beans, or pinto beans would also be yummy.
For thicker chili, mash some of the beans before adding to the Instant Pot and drain the Rotel/diced tomatoes.

Topping Ideas

What's a bowl of chili without the toppings? They're a must! Here are a few of my favorites for this recipe...

cornbread
cheddar cheese
sour cream
tortilla chips
corn chips (like Fritos)
Greek yogurt (protein-packed option that tastes like sour cream)
cilantro

How to Make Instant Pot Turkey Chili

Turn on the sauté function on your Instant Pot and let it heat up for a minute or two. Once it's warm, drizzle in a little olive oil and add your chopped onion. Cook the onion for about 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it becomes translucent and begins to brown slightly. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper to build flavor early.
Next, add the ground turkey to the pot. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon as it browns. Be sure to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot-these add great flavor to your soup.
Once the turkey is fully cooked and no longer pink, add the rest of your soup ingredients (like broth, beans, veggies, tomatoes, and seasonings). Stir everything together, then place the lid on the Instant Pot, making sure it's locked and the valve is set to Sealing.
Set the Instant Pot to Manual (or Pressure Cook) mode, select High Pressure, and cook for 15 minutes. When the timer goes off, carefully perform a quick release by turning the steam release valve to Venting until all the pressure has been released and the lid unlocks.

Step-by-Step Video

If you love Instant Pot Soup recipes, you'll want to check out my Instant Pot Taco Soup and Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana recipes!

More Helpful Tips & Tricks

I use a 6-quart Instant Pot for this recipe. If you'd like to double this rice, it's possible, but definitely don't try it unless you have an 8-quart pressure cooker.
If you get a burn notice when you're trying to pressure cook the chili, you more than likely didn't scrape all of the browned bits off of the bottom of your liner. Make sure there's very little food stuck to the bottom of the pot - that will prevent it from coming to pressure properly.
This recipe can also easily be made in a Crock Pot or on the stovetop. Simply saute ground turkey and add remaining ingredients; cook 8-10 hours on low in the Crock Pot or simmer for 2-3 hours on the stovetop, stirring occasionally.
Store leftovers in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, ideally in a glass or stainless steel container to prevent staining and flavor transfer. Cover tightly (even the Instant Pot liner works!) and reheat in the microwave for about a minute, adding time as needed.
To make this a freezer meal, cook and crumble the ground turkey, then add it-along with all other ingredients except the chicken broth-to a freezer-safe container. When you're ready to cook, transfer the frozen meal to the Instant Pot with 2 cups of broth, then pressure cook on manual for 15 minutes and quick release.

holding a spoonful of turkey chili in front of a bowl of soup and an instant pot.

FAQs

In my opinion, the chili or soup setting on the Instant Pot really isn't necessary. The manual setting works in almost anything you can do with your pressure cooker. I used the high manual setting in this recipe.

It does taste a little bit different. The ground turkey is a little bit lighter than ground beef, and the flavor is a little different (think of the difference between shredded turkey and shredded beef). It's not better or worse, just a variation on the original!

If the recipe is a little bland for your taste, start with the classic salt and pepper. Try 2 teaspoons of each. If that doesn't cut it, try adding 2 teaspoons of chili powder, cumin, or garlic powder.

Fan-Favorite Instant Pot Recipes

Thanks for popping by - hope you enjoy this comforting chili on a cold winter night! If you love this recipe, make sure to ⭐️ rate and review it below. And follow along for my latest recipes!