Instant Pot Chicken Chili Recipe

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This Instant Pot Chicken Chili recipe has a creamy texture and delicious flavor profile combining chicken breast, chopped bacon, black beans, rotel tomatoes, creams and spices. Our recipe makes a large batch of delicious, high protein soup that is perfect for a busy weeknight dinner and holds well as leftovers.

You can enjoy this chili on its own or serve it with tortilla chips and salsa, or our Mexican Cornbread that is fluffy, sweet and slightly spicy. Made with green chilis, pepper jack cheese, creamed corn and organic stone ground cornmeal.

In this post we walk you through how to make this Chicken Chili in your Instant Pot, discussing all of the cooking methods that your Instant Pot offers. No matter the method, this is a beautiful all in one meal that is easy to prep and cleanup after.

Instant Pot Chicken Chili Recipe | Homemade Food Junkie (1)

More Delicious Chicken Dinners:

Looking for more ways to cook chicken? Here are some of our favorite chicken recipes.

Instant Pot Chicken Chili Recipe | Homemade Food Junkie (2)

Instant Pot Chicken Chili Recipe | Homemade Food Junkie (3)

If you love to cook with your Instant Pot we have a large library of recipes for you to try. Find all our Instant Pot Recipes here.

What is White Chili made of?

Our Chicken Chili would qualify as a white chili even though it doesn’t follow all of the traditional ingredients exactly. A white chili is made of chicken or sometimes pork meat, white beans and mild green chilis. The biggest factor in a white chili is the color of the chili and the use of a white meat as opposed to ground beef.

We loaded our chili with bacon, chicken, black beans, rotel tomatoes, corn, cream cheese and the kitchen sink! Just kidding, well…only about the kitchen sink. Everything else is found in our White Chicken Chili and it is to die for. A hearty, delicious chili that we know you will love.

Instant Pot Chicken Chili Recipe | Homemade Food Junkie (6)

Can you use chicken beef broth in your chili?

Chili is a thick stew that traditionally cooks low and slow, allowing the meats to tenderize and the flavors to develop and marry. Because of this cooking method liquid is very important as it prevents the chili from drying out and burning. Your liquid choice can elevate the flavor of your chili as well, which is why it is a great tip to use either beef, vegetable or chicken broth depending on your type of chili.

Because this is a Chicken Chili we are using chicken broth as our liquid. It will support the flavor of our chili without watering down our other ingredients.

How do you make Chicken Chili thicker?

If you are looking to thicken up your White Chicken Chili there are various methods you could choose from. You can add a thickener such as cornstarch, arrowroot, flour and so on…or, you can add creams. Heavy creams or cream cheese will bring a wonderfully rich creaminess to your chili while also thickening it up.

We have used this method in our Chicken Chili recipe and it really bring an elevated element to the chili. This chili is thick, creamy and loaded with flavor.

The added boost of dry ranch seasoning gives this chicken dinner a rich flavor that works wonderfully with bacon. Dry ranch seasoning can be purchased in all major grocery stores, or you can make your own with just a handful of spices.

Instant Pot Chicken Chili Recipe | Homemade Food Junkie (7)

Is Chicken Chili healthy?

Well, healthy is a very broad term and means different things for everyone. However…while you definitely can make a healthier chili using lean meat like chicken, we can’t claim that ours would qualify as healthy under any definition. Ours is loaded, delicious and makes a hearty family style meal that focuses on flavor.

Chicken Chili Instant Pot Recipe

Suggested substitutions and tips

Rotel tomatoes come in several options, just select whichever you prefer.
You can use canned or frozen corn.
Black beans can be traded for any canned bean you choose. Cannellini beans are very popular and we use them in our White Chili Chicken.
We used fresh chicken breasts. Frozen chicken breasts will also work in this recipe but may extend the cooking time somewhat.

Instant Pot Cooking Options

We are giving you a few methods to cook this recipe. The instant pot will slow cook this recipe beautifully and we recommend slow cooking for this recipe.

You can opt to use the Stew Function or Manual High pressure with adjustments for a quicker dinner.

Instant Pot Chicken Chili Recipe | Homemade Food Junkie (8)

Instant Pot Slow Cooker Method

We chose to use the crockpot chicken chili method for our video. We prefer slow cooking this recipe since it has so much cheese. Cheese is best cooked at lower temperatures without pressure.

We also cooked the bacon on the stove instead of using the sautè function. Follow the video demonstration for this method. The recipe card also has complete instructions.

The only thing to remember about slow cooking in the Instant Pot is you do not lock and seal the pressure lid. Use an instant pot glass lid that fits your Instant Pot properly. You may also use other lids that fit the top of your pot.

Stew Function One Pot Method

The Stew Function is using a pressure method to hurry this chili. It’s a bit harder on the dairy so we recommend you stir in the cheeses after adding back the shredded chicken for this method.

Set your instant pot to saute.
Cook bacon until done.
Remove bacon and drain it. Set aside.
Rinse the pot and follow assembly instructions as listed in recipe, picture gallery and the video.
When the chili is fully assembled set the instant pot to stew function.
Seal the lid. Quick release. (for frozen chicken natural release).
Remove chicken and shred. Return to pot with cheese.
Stir and serve.

Manual High Pressure

You can cook it under manual high pressure. You will set the time for 20 minutes and natural release if you are using frozen chicken breasts.

This method is also hard on the dairy products so we recommend you hold all the cheeses until adding the shredded chicken.

Here is a quick visual guide to the steps in our slow cooker method. Please also watch our video for a complete recipe demonstration.

Instant Pot Chicken Chili Recipe | Homemade Food Junkie (9)

Instant Pot Chicken Chili Recipe | Homemade Food Junkie (10)

What can I serve with White Chicken Chili?

Chili is a fantastic meal as it can stand alone or pair with a variety of side dishes. It can even be used as a filling for homemade tacos and burritos! We are sharing our favorite ways to spruce up this chili, as well as our favorite sides to enjoy it with.

Make our Homemade Flour Tortillas and use this chili as a filling. It makes delicious tacos.
Prepare some rice and fold rice and chili into a tortilla for an awesome chicken burrito.
Serve it with tortilla chips and salsa on the side.
Make a batch of our Mexican Cornbread for a delicious side.
Enjoy it with a side of tortilla chips, guac and salsa
Pair it with a delicious Spanish rice.
Crush some nacho Doritos and sprinkle over the top for a delicious crunchy element.
Prepare a bowl of delicious Mexican Street Corn Salad

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Your Printable Recipe Card:

Yield: 8

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 6 minutes

Additional Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 31 minutes

This Instant Pot chicken chili recipe has a Mexican vibe with black beans, Rotel tomatoes and Mexican spices.

Ingredients

1 cup cooked bacon-chopped
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1-15 oz. can corn
1-15 oz. can black beans
1-8 oz. can Ro-Tel tomatoes (any heat)
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. onion powder
1 Tablespoon chili powder
1 packet of ranch dry seasoning
2 Cups low sodium Chicken broth
8 oz. cream cheese
8 oz. colby shredded cheese

Instructions

Chop bacon into one inch pieces.
Cook bacon until done. Set aside.
Add corn, black beans and Ro-tel tomatoes.
Pour in all of the spices.
Add chicken broth.
Crumble cooked bacon over all
Set the cream cheese on top.
Set the crock pot or instant pot to slow cook function for six hours.
When the time is up remove the chicken breasts to a wooden board.
Shred the chicken.
Put back in the slow cooker.
Add cheese, stir and serve.

Notes

Cooking options:

Slow cook as directed in the instructions.
Use your stew function. PUT THE CHEESE in with the shredded chicken for this method. Natural release if the chicken breasts are frozen.
Use manual high pressure for 20 minutes. Hold all the cheeses until after cooking. Add them in with the shredded chicken. Natural release if using frozen chicken breasts.

Serving Suggestions:

Make our homemade flour tortillas and use this chili as a filling. Add shredded lettuce and tomatoes. Viola. Delicious chicken tacos!
Cook some rice and fold rice and chili into a tortilla for an awesome chicken burrito.
Serve it with tortilla chips and salsa on the side.

Nutrition Information

Yield

Serving Size

1
Amount Per ServingCalories 423Total Fat 26gSaturated Fat 13gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 10gCholesterol 91mgSodium 894mgCarbohydrates 22gFiber 5gSugar 4gProtein 28g

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FAQs

Does chicken get more tender the longer you cook it in an Instant Pot? ›

Can you overcook chicken breast in an Instant Pot? Yes, you can! Pressure Cookers don't work the same as slow cookers, where longer cooking times equal more juicy and tender meat. Too much time in a pressure cooker will create dry tough meat.

Get More Info Here ›

Why does my Instant Pot chicken come out rubbery? ›

Oddly enough, it can be really challenging to get the right texture when cooking boneless chicken breasts. They cook quickly in the Instant Pot, but if you don't cook them long enough they get a weird, rubber-like texture that's nearly impossible to chew, and if you cook them too long, their texture gets dry.

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Should chili be thick or soupy? ›

Traditionally, we expect a robust, spicy base, meat and/or beans, perhaps some bonus veggies, and a thick, rich consistency. Unlike soups, which are brothy, or even bisques, which are creamy yet thinner, chili is meant to be more stew-like; it's a definite stick-to-your-ribs creation.

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Can you overcook chicken in the Instapot? ›

While all cuts of chicken are fair game for the Instant Pot, thighs are the most forgiving. Because chicken breast is so lean, just a couple of extra minutes of cook time turns them from juicy to overcooked and dry.

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Why is my chicken tough after pressure cooking? ›

Overcooking or cooking at too high a temperature can result in tough, dry chicken. Undercooking can leave chicken undercooked and chewy.

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Is it better to pressure cook or slow cook chicken? ›

Ultimately, slow cooking allowed our chicken to be perfectly seasoned without compromising the meat texture, a luxury pressure cooking can't afford.

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Why is my chicken tough and stringy? ›

If your chicken breast are tough, you cooked them too long. Chicken breasts are hard to get right because they have a fat end and a skinny end. The fat end takes a bit longer to cook. Cooked perfectly, a chicken breast is moist and tender, with no pink flesh in the middle of the thickest part.

What liquid to add to chili? ›

Chili cooks low and slow, so you need enough liquid to tenderize the meat and keep everything from drying out. That liquid should also add flavor to the chili, so use chicken, beef, or vegetable stock, or beer.

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What adds depth of flavor to chili? ›

Instead of adding water to your chili, add some more flavor with chicken or beef broth, red wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, or even beet or wine. Each one of these options brings out different notes and levels of sweetness that will enhance your culinary creation.

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Does tomato paste make chili thicker? ›

Not only will tomato paste add a tangy flavor to the dish, but it will also act as a thickening agent. For this purpose, you can use homemade or store-bought tomato paste. Add 1 can of the paste to your pot of chili, stir the mixture, and let it cook on medium heat for about 30 minutes.

Does chicken need to be submerged in pressure cooker? ›

By placing cooking liquid in the bottom of the pressure cooker and placing the chicken in the steamer basket above the liquid, you are guaranteed tender, moist chicken every time. However, you can also use the cooker to make a sauce and cook your chicken submerged in flavour.

What happens if Instapot is overfilled? ›

Mistake #3: Overfilling Your Instant Pot

Also, an overly-full Instant Pot can lead to a clogged pressure release knob, because food and liquid can get sucked up inside.

What if pressure cooked chicken is not done? ›

If the chicken is not quite up to temperature, put the lid back on with the vent closed and cook for another minute or two. Use the chicken: Use a pair of tongs to transfer the chicken to a dish, and let it rest for 10 minutes.

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Does pressure cooking chicken longer make it softer? ›

Instant Pot Chicken Wings

The 5 minutes did get them to the safe 165F after the resting period BUT they were far from fall-off the bone. Just like for the whole legs or just thighs and drumsticks longer cooking equals more tender and fall-off the bone meat.

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Does pressure cooking longer make meat more tender? ›

Pressure cooking, like slow cooking, will tenderize tough cuts of meat like beef brisket, beef chuck, pork shoulder and lots of other cheaper, tougher cuts. Pressure cooking (or slow cooking) is not the best approach for cooking expensive, tender steaks or rib roasts.

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Does cooking meat longer make it more tender? ›

Cook It Slowly

This is certainly true when it comes to notoriously tough cuts of meat like beef brisket and pork shoulder. Cooking these cuts of meat slowly, either by braising, stewing or grill roasting, is the best way to get these tasty cuts of meat meltingly tender.

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