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    Home » Recipes » Instant Pot Recipes

    Instant Pot Vegetarian Chili

    Published: Aug 18, 2020 · Modified: Sep 23, 2024 by Jenny Meier

    Jump to Recipe

    This is Instant Pot vegetarian chili with big, rich flavor! It's easy, healthy, satisfying and versatile - it's the only vegetarian chili recipe you need.

    A bowl of bean chili with lots of melted cheese.

    Over the years I've kept tinkering with this vegetarian chili recipe, trying to perfect the flavor. The truth is that it's hard to make really flavorful vegetarian chili.

    I'm happy to say that this recipe is finally perfect! It delivers vegetarian chili with big, bold flavor from a simple blend of canned beans, fire roasted tomatoes, frozen corn, spices and a few flavor-boosting secret ingredients.

    Load up your bowl with toppings like grated cheddar, sour cream, cilantro and crushed tortilla chips and you have a very satisfying vegetarian meal.

    Looking for more Instant Pot chili recipes? Try Instant Pot ground turkey and white bean chili or vegetarian Instant Pot sweet potato black bean chili.

    Ingredients

    The main ingredients for this veggie chili are:

    • 2 cans kidney beans
    • 1 can black beans
    • 2 cans fire roasted tomatoes
    • 2 diced bell peppers
    • 1 cup frozen corn
    • 1 onion, chopped and a few garlic cloves

    What sets this vegetarian chili apart from other recipes are the spices and secret ingredients that add layers of rich flavor.

    Spices

    • Chili powder
    • Cumin
    • Dried oregano
    • Smoked paprika

    Secret Flavor-Boosting Ingredients

    • Cocoa powder
    • Worcestershire sauce
    • Soy sauce
    • A pinch of sugar

    Chili powder, cumin and dried oregano: These three dried spices/herbs give chili its Tex-Mex flavor.

    Smoked Paprika: A subtle, smoky flavor is essential when there's no meat in the chili. Smoked paprika is usually easy to find in the spice aisle of grocery stores.

    Cocoa powder: A little bit of unsweetened chocolate really does add rich flavor to vegetarian chili. This is also a "secret" ingredient because no one will be able to guess it's in there!

    Worcestershire sauce & soy sauce: Worcestershire is a mysteriously flavorful sauce and secret ingredient. It adds that little extra something called "umami." Ditto for the soy sauce.

    Sugar: Just a tablespoon of sugar is needed to mellow the acidic flavor of tomatoes

    Chili Toppings

    For all types of chili, but especially vegetarian chili, toppings are a must! Toppings add extra flavor to veggie chili that makes it extra good.

    • Grated cheese
    • Sour cream
    • Avocado
    • Green onions
    • Cilantro
    • Crumbled tortilla chips
    • Hot sauce, sliced jalapeno peppers

    Recipe FAQ

    Can I add ground meat or plant based meat to this chili?

    Yes, you can saute ground meat or plant based meat in the first step with the onion and garlic. Just make sure that it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pot or it might cause a burn notice.

    Can I use regular diced tomatoes instead of fire roasted?

    Fire roasted tomatoes add more flavor than regular canned tomatoes but some brands of fire roasted tomatoes can be quite spicy and contain other spicy ingredients like green chiles. If you want to avoid (or control) spiciness, then use regular diced tomatoes.

    Can I make this chili ahead of time?

    Yes, and in fact I recommend you do! This chili tastes better the next day and even the day after that. It will keep well for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.

    Why are the black beans added after the chili has cooked?

    Black beans have a softer texture than kidney beans and tend to fall apart if cooked in a pressure cooker for 15 minutes. For this reason, I add the black beans after the chili has cooked.

    Why is the soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce added after the chili has cooked?

    A pressure cooker can dull flavor sometimes, so I wait and add the soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce until after the chili has cooked.

    Is this chili spicy?

    It depends on how spicy the chili powder and canned fire roasted tomatoes are. When I make it, the heat is what I would call medium. If you like really spicy chili, then add diced Jalapeno or hot sauce to your bowl.

    Kidney beans vs Pinto Beans

    A pinto bean is a small speckled bean that has a light pinkish-brown color when cooked. Pinto beans are commonly used to make refried beans, burritos and chili. Kidney beans are larger beans with a firmer texture and dark red exterior. Kidney beans hold their shape when cooked, making it a good choice for chili that is pressure cooked or simmered for hours.

    Can I add grains to this chili for more texture?

    Yes, you can add ¼ cup of uncooked quinoa, farro or barley to the chili. It will add more texture and make the chili thicker.

    More Chili and Bean Recipes

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      Quick and Easy Turkey Chili
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    Print

    📖 Recipe

    Instant Pot Vegetarian Chili

    A bowl of vegetarian chili with black beans and pinto beans and melted cheese.
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    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    5 from 1 review

    This is Instant Pot vegetarian chili with big, rich flavor! It's easy, healthy, satisfying and versatile - it's the only vegetarian chili recipe you need.

    Serve this chili with lots of toppings - avocado, sour cream, grated cheese, green onions, cilantro, crumbled tortilla chips, etc..

    Total Instant Pot Cooking Time: 15 minutes to reach pressure + 15 minute cooking time + 10 minute natural release 

    This recipe was updated on Dec. 4, 2023

    • Author: Jenny Meier | Kitchen Skip blog
    • Prep Time: 15 minutes
    • Cook Time: 15 minutes
    • Total Time: 30 minutes
    • Yield: 6 servings 1x
    • Category: Soup and Chili
    • Method: Instant Pot
    • Cuisine: Tex-Mex
    • Diet: Vegetarian

    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 2 tablespoons oil
    • 1 red or yellow onion, diced
    • 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
    • 2 bell peppers (any color), diced or thinly sliced
    • 2 14.5-oz cans diced fire roasted tomatoes
    • 2 15-oz cans kidney beans, drained
    • 1 cup water
    • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon chili powder
    • 1 tablespoon sugar
    • 2 ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon cumin
    • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
    • 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
    • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
    • 1 15-oz can black beans, drained
    • 2 cups frozen corn
    • 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
    • 1 tablespoon soy sauce

    Instructions

    1. Press the saute button on the Instant Pot and warm the oil.
    2. Saute the onion and garlic for 3 minutes, stirring frequently. 
    3. Add the next 11 ingredients: bell peppers, tomatoes, kidney beans, water, chili powder, sugar, salt, cumin, oregano, cocoa powder and smoked paprika.
    4. Mix really well to evenly distribute the spices. 
    5. Seal the lid and cook for 15 minutes on high pressure. 
    6. When the cooking time is complete, let the pressure release naturally (for at least 10 minutes).
    7. Stir in the black beans, frozen corn, Worcestershire sauce and soy sauce.
    8. Serve with lots of toppings: sour cream, grated cheese, green onions, cilantro, crumbled tortillas chips, avocado, etc..

    Notes

    Fire roasted canned tomatoes have more flavor than regular canned tomatoes and are the first choice for this recipe. However, some brands can be quite spicy. If you want to avoid (or control) the heat then use regular diced tomatoes. 

    If you'd like more texture in the chili, you can add ¼ cup of dried quinoa, barley or farro. You can also saute plant based meat with the onion and garlic before adding the rest of the ingredients. 

    The black beans are added after cooking the chili because they have a soft texture that tends to fall apart in the pressure cooker. 

    This chili can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The flavor is even better the day after you make it and the day after that! Leftover chili also freezes well for up to 3 months. To defrost, leave the frozen chili in the refrigerator overnight.

    This recipe was tested in a 6-quart Instant Pot. 

    Please rate and review this recipe!

    Your reviews help other readers. They also help me provide the best recipes possible. Thanks!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    1. Jen

      January 05, 2022 at 5:34 pm

      I love how the flavors come together to create a really good vegetarian chili. It's even better the next day!

      Reply
    2. Pamela

      March 21, 2021 at 12:00 pm

      You didn't mention the corn in your directions. Do you add it before after cooking?

      Reply
      • Jenny

        March 22, 2021 at 11:44 am

        Hi! I stir in the corn right after the chili has finished cooking.

        Reply

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    Kitchen Skip foodblogger and recipe developer Jenny Meier

    Hi, I'm Jenny!

    I'm a food blogger with a culinary degree and a busy Mama of two who now works full-time in education. I create easy dinner recipes for busy parents like you!

    More About Me

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