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    Bites with Bri » Main » Instant Pot Chili (No Beans)

    Instant Pot Chili (No Beans)

    Published: Nov 5, 2021 · Modified: May 18, 2022 by Brianna May · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    This Instant Pot Chili (No Beans) is super hearty and perfect for the colder months ahead. It cooks for less than 30 minutes, yet tastes like it has been simmering for hours. This recipe has chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, and bacon for a rich and smokey flavor. Corn is totally optional, but adds some nice sweetness and texture. 

    overhead of chili in a wood bowl

    One of the first meals I cooked for my husband was chili. It soons became one of his favorites, along with this queso chicken & rice skillet. And to this day is one of his favorite recipes of mine so I figured this time of the year was the perfect time to share it with you. 

    He hates beans so this is a no bean chili recipe. It is honestly so good, I don’t even miss the beans. But of course you could always add a can or two. 

    It gets extra flavor from the bacon and chipotles. Plus the Instant Pot cooks this chili in less than 30 minutes. So easy and so good! Hope you enjoy!! xx

    Jump to:
    • Highlights
    • Ingredient Notes
    • Helpful Equipment & Tools
    • Equipment Needed
    • Instructions
    • Make Ahead & Storage
    • Expert Tips
    • Recipe Notes
    • Variations
    • FAQs
    • Related Recipes
    • Instant Pot Chili (No Beans)

    Highlights

    • Easy & healthy instant pot chili recipe without beans
    • Not too spicy
    • Simple ingredients
    • Bold flavor
    • Smokiness from the chipotles and bacon
    • Cozy fall or winter dinner
    • Low carb chili (without corn)

    Ingredient Notes

    overhead of ingredients for instant pot chili without beans
    • Ground Beef: Swap for ground turkey or a leaner ground beef if desired. 
    • Smoked Paprika: Be sure to use smoked and not regular. It has a completely different flavor. 
    • Corn: Omit the corn if desired, but it adds a nice sweetness. 
    • Honey: Swap for 1 Tablespoon of white or brown sugar. 
    • Chipotle Peppers & Adobo Sauce: These normally come in a 7 ounce can. Remove 2-4 the peppers from the sauce and roughly chop. Discard or store the remaining peppers in the refrigerator. Set the sauce aside and add all of it when the recipe states.

    Complete list of ingredients and amounts is located on the recipe card below.

    Helpful Equipment & Tools

    Equipment Needed

    • Fullstar Vegetable Chopper: Perfect for chopping veggies. It includes a large a
    • Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker: This is the Instant Pot I use for all of my recipes. I have the 8 quart model which is great for larger recipes. 
    • Silicone Nonstick Mixing Spoons: These heat resistant spoons are great for everyday cooking.

    Instructions

    Overview

    • Sauté the meat, spices, and veggies.
    • Stir in all of the liquids and canned tomatoes. 
    • Pressure cook & enjoy with sour cream, cheese, and corn chips on top!

    Step by Step

    Step 1: Select “Sauté” mode on the Instant Pot. Add the beef and bacon. Sauté until mostly browned.

    Step 2: Add the chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, garlic, salt, pepper, and oregano. Sauté for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant.

    steps 1 & 2
bacon and beef browned in instant pot
spices added to meat

    TIP - Browning the meat and bacon before pressure cooking deepens the flavor of the chili. 

    Step 3: Add in the onion and bell pepper. Sauté for 1-2 minutes.

    Step 4: Stir in the stock, crushed & diced tomatoes, corn, tomato sauce, honey, worcestershire, chipotles, and adobo sauce.

    steps 3 & 4
peppers and onions added to meat
liquid added to instant pot

    Step 5: Select “Pressure Cook” & “High”. Set the time to 25 minutes. Quick release (switch the valve to venting) the pressure as soon as the timer goes off.

    step 5
no bean chili in instant pot after pressure cooking

    Make Ahead & Storage

    • Refrigerator: Store leftover no bean chili in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days.
      • Reheating: Reheat on the stove over medium heat until boiling. You can also reheat the instant pot chili (no beans) in the microwave. 
    • Freezer: Allow the leftover low carb chili to cool overnight in the fridge. Portion the chili in airtight containers or bags. Store in the freezer for 2-3 months. 
    • Reheating: Thaw chili overnight in the fridge or reheat from frozen on the stove. Cover the chili and heat over medium low heat until boiling, stirring frequently.

    Expert Tips

    • Use lots of spices. This spice blend this recipe calls for is full flavor. I do not recommend replacing it with a store-bought kit or mix. 
    • Don’t skip the bacon or chipotles. These add so much smokiness to the chili. 
    • Pressure cook. Pressure cooking the chili is the best way to impart lots of flavor quickly.

    Recipe Notes

    • This chili is not super spicy, but has a little heat. You can leave out the chipotle peppers, but still use the adobo sauce to decrease the heat even more. 
    side view of no bean chili in bowl

    Variations

    • Spicy: Add ½ - 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper for a spicy chili. Start with less and add to taste.
    • Stovetop: Follow the recipe as stated through step 4 in a large pot on the stove. Instead of pressure cooking, simmer covered for 3 hours on low. 
    • Slow cooker/crock-pot: Follow the recipe as stated through step 3 in a large pot on the stove. Add the meat mixture and the rest of the ingredients into the slow cooker. Cook on low for 5-6 hours. 
    • Vegetables: Wilt in some spinach or chopped kale at the end for extra fiber and nutrients. This will slightly dilute the flavor. 

    FAQs

    Is chili high in carbs?

    If the chili has beans, yes. This no bean chili is low carb. Be sure to omit the corn. 

    Can I eat chilli on keto?

    This instant pot chili without beans is keto and low carb friendly. Traditional chili is not low carb. 

    How do I thicken my Instant Pot chili?

    Use the “Saute” function on the Instant Pot after the chili has pressure cooked to bring the chili to a light boil. Let it simmer until more of the water has evaporated. 

    What do I serve with instant pot no bean chili?

    A great low carb option is a simple green salad or these keto biscuits. If you are not on a low carb diet (me), try these drop biscuits, homemade yeast rolls, or texas toast. 

    What is chili without beans called?

    It is sometimes called Texas Chili or chile con carne, which is Spanish for chilies with meat. No bean chili still has all of the flavor, just not beans. 

    Why does chili burn in Instant Pot?

    Chili can burn in the Instant Pot if there is not enough liquid in the pot or if a thickening agent like cornstarch is added before pressure cooking. Thickening agents should always be added after pressure cooking. 

    Does chili thicken as it cooks?

    Yes. The longer the chili simmers uncovered, the thicker it becomes. The water will continue to evaporate. 

    Related Recipes

    • Corn Tortilla Quesadilla
    • Easy Crockpot Cream Cheese Chicken Chili
    • Mozzarella Queso
    • Mango Habanero Salsa
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    5 from 32 votes

    Instant Pot Chili (No Beans)

    This Instant Pot Chili (No Beans) is super hearty and perfect for the colder months ahead. It cooks for less than 30 minutes, yet tastes like it has been simmering for hours. This recipe has chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, and bacon for a rich and smokey flavor. Corn is totally optional, but adds some nice sweetness and texture.
    Servings6 people
    Prep5 minutes
    Cook35 minutes
    Total40 minutes
    Course: Main
    Cuisine: American
    Author: Brianna May

    Equipment:

    • Instant Pot
    • Vegetable Chopper
    • Stirring spoon

    Ingredients:

    • 1 ½ pounds 80/20 ground beef*
    • 4 slices thick cut bacon, diced

    Chili Seasoning

    • 3 Tablespoons chili powder
    • 1 Tablespoon smoked paprika*
    • 1 Tablespoon cumin
    • 1 Tablespoon granulated garlic
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon oregano

    Vegetables & Liquid

    • 1 yellow onion, diced
    • 1 green bell pepper, diced
    • 1 cup beef stock
    • 1 (15 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
    • 1 (15 ounce) can fire roasted diced tomatoes
    • 1 (15 ounce) can yellow corn, optional*
    • 1 (8 ounce) can can plain tomato sauce
    • 1 Tablespoon honey*
    • 1 Tablespoon worcestershire
    • 2-4 chipotle peppers, chopped, plus remaining adobo sauce*

    Instructions:

    • Review all recipe notes and instructions before beginning.
    • Select “Sauté” mode on the Instant Pot. Add the beef and bacon. Sauté until mostly browned.
    • Add the chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, garlic, salt, pepper, and oregano. Sauté for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant.
    • Add in the onion and bell pepper. Sauté for 1-2 minutes.
    • Stir in the stock, crushed & diced tomatoes, corn, tomato sauce, honey, worcestershire, chipotles, and adobo sauce.
    • Select “Pressure Cook” & “High”. Set the time to 25 minutes. Quick release (switch the valve to venting) the pressure as soon as the timer goes off.
    • Serve with sour cream, cheese, and corn chips.

    Notes:

    Ground Beef: Swap for ground turkey or a leaner ground beef if desired. 
    Smoked Paprika: Be sure to use smoked and not regular. It has a completely different flavor. 
    Corn: Omit the corn if desired, but it adds a nice sweetness. 
    Honey: Swap for 1 Tablespoon of white or brown sugar. 
    Chipotle Peppers & Adobo Sauce: These normally come in a 7 ounce can. Remove 2-4 the peppers from the sauce and roughly chop. Discard or store the remaining peppers in the refrigerator. Set the sauce aside and add all of it when the recipe states.
    Refrigerator: Store leftover no bean chili in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days.
    Freezer: Allow the leftover low carb chili to cool overnight in the fridge. Portion the chili in airtight containers or bags. Store in the freezer for 2-3 months. 
    This chili is not super spicy, but has a little heat. You can leave out the chipotle peppers, but still use the adobo sauce to decrease the heat even more. 
    Spicy: Add ½ - 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper for a spicy chili. Start with less and add to taste.
    Stovetop: Follow the recipe as stated through step 4 in a large pot on the stove. Instead of pressure cooking, simmer covered for 3 hours on low. 
    Slow cooker/crock-pot: Follow the recipe as stated through step 3 in a large pot on the stove. Add the meat mixture and the rest of the ingredients into the slow cooker. Cook on low for 5-6 hours. 

    NUTRITION:

    Calories: 498kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 96mg | Sodium: 1193mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 12g
    Did you make this recipe? Tag me on Instagram!Mention or tag @bites.with.bri_ or use the hashtag #biteswithbri
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jessica

      February 18, 2022 at 7:44 am

      I secretly hate beans in my chili so when I was thrilled when I came across this recipe. The fact that it's prepared in an Instant Pot was another major selling point. This recipe turned out perfect - so easy and delicious! Thanks!

      Reply
    2. Jill

      February 16, 2022 at 8:08 am

      5 stars
      The perfect chili recipe. So easy and so much comfort in a bowl! Yum!!

      Reply
    3. Katie Deacon

      February 16, 2022 at 8:04 am

      5 stars
      Thanks so much for the slow cooker variation, I've pinned this recipe to make for tomorrow. Planning on setting it away before work! It looks so delicious.

      Katie xoxo

      Reply
    4. Kyleigh

      February 16, 2022 at 7:55 am

      All the substitution notes are so helpful! I used ground turkey and it was delicious!

      Reply
    5. maya

      February 16, 2022 at 7:14 am

      5 stars
      Thank you so much for including all the tips at the end of the recipe! In particular, it's so great to have storage and freezing instructions because it just makes my life easier! Thanks again for a great recipe!

      Reply
    6. nancy

      February 11, 2022 at 4:10 pm

      5 stars
      love that this has no beans. This is a nice lighter chili version!

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Bri!

    I am a recipe developer, food photographer, blogger. My goal is to teach you how to cook, not just follow my recipes. I love to cook with bold flavors that are still family friendly. My hubs is a picky eater and all of these recipes are approved by him, so I am sure you and your family will love them too. Learn more about Bri >>

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