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!

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!

🥣 Instant Pot Turkey Chili Ingredients

• 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 salt, pepper, and packaged chili seasoning. Keep it simple!
• ground turkey - Ground beef will also work well, but the lightness of the ground turkey is perfect in this chili.
• sweet potato - This is essential, in my opinion! It's such a yummy contrast with the spice and kick of the chili seasoning.
• chickpeas - The canned variety is perfect.
• chili beans - Also use canned. The chili beans will add additional flavor.
• 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.
• diced tomatoes - I recommend using canned over fresh - they work better in the chili and make the recipe much easier.
• 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 and Variations

Make this recipe with your own spin - try some of the different variations below!

• Add even more spice by using 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.
• Use butternut squash instead of sweet potatoes.
• Add additional veggies, like bell pepper or corn. You could even add in a little minced garlic for a flavor boost.
• 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

In just a few quick steps, you can have this nutrition-packed meal on the table.

1. Set your Instant Pot to sauté mode. Once warm, add a little bit of olive oil and add chopped onion to the pot. Cook for 3-4 minutes, until slightly brown and translucent. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Add ground turkey to Instant Pot. Cook for 4-5 minutes, or until cooked through. Scrape all of those yummy browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
3. Once the turkey is cooked through, add the remaining soup ingredients to the pressure cooker. Lock on the lid to seal.
4. Set Instant Pot to manual mode, high pressure, 15 minutes. Once the cooking cycle is over, quick release the remaining pressure by turning the valve on top of the pot to vent.

🍽️ How to Serve

I like to serve this chili topped with cheese or sour cream, with cornbread or tortilla chips on the side. See the list above for additional topping options.

You don't necessarily need a side item...this is a complete meal on its own! But, if you'd like to add something, the following side items are great additions:

• grilled cheese sandwich
• garlic toast
• breadsticks
• spinach salad

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

🎥 Step-by-Step Video

🧊 Leftover Storage

This recipe can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days after cooking.

I recommend making sure this one is in either a glass or stainless steel storage container to prevent container staining. The easiest way to store is to just pop a lid on the Instant Pot!

There are some big flavors in this one, so make sure it's covered before putting it in the fridge to reduce flavors leaking into other foods.

When you're ready to reheat, just pop a bowl in the microwave for a little over a minute, adding 30 seconds in increments as needed.

🥶 Freezer Meal Instructions

This one is an easy freezer meal! To convert it to the freezer version...

• Cook ground turkey through and crumble.
• Add all ingredients (minus chicken broth) to a freezer container. (I like these containers because they allow the meal to fit in the Instant Pot when still frozen.)
• When ready to serve, pop meal out of the container and add to Instant Pot, along with 2 cups of chicken broth. Set Instant Pot for manual, 15 minutes, quick releasing pressure when finished.

✅ More Expert 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.

❓Instant Pot Turkey Chili FAQs