Instant Pot Veggie Loaded Turkey Chili brings that slow-simmered flavor to the table without the wait. 

Instant Pot Veggie Loaded Turkey Chili brings that slow-simmered flavor to the table without the wait. 

This post was created in partnership with our friends at Milton’s Craft Bakers.

 

Dinner without the wait. 

Nothing beats a pot of slow-simmered chili but sometimes you just don’t have time to wait and you’ve got hungry bellies to feed, or you need something for a work potluck, or well, you just didn’t plan ahead and now you’re not sure what to make. 

Enter Instant Pot Veggie Loaded Turkey Chili. The speedier version of our popular Veggie Loaded Turkey Chili. 

It’s the perfect meal for a cold day and with less than 30 minutes of hands-on cooking time, you can put a hearty meal on the table quickly and with just one pot. 

A meal prep favorite made even faster. 

I’m not kidding when I say that I eat this Instant Pot Veggie Loaded Chili at least once a week in the fall and winter. It’s my go-to because it’s packed with lean protein, veggies, and beans to fill me up and keep me going. 

My freezer is filled with individual portions of this chili which I pull out to thaw overnight in the fridge and typically enjoy for lunch when it’s just me working from home. 

While the stovetop version of this Instant Pot Veggie Loaded Chili doesn’t take all that long to make I always opt for the Instant Pot version because it’s so quick to make during my weekend meal prep and it frees up the stove for other cooking. 

Looking for a slow cooker version of this recipe? We’ve got one here. 

Veggies for the win. 

Adding veggies to chili is a great way to eat more veggies without really having to try. Because they’re a great source of fiber they fill you up, keep you feeling satisfied, and support healthy digestion. Whenever I have greens in the fridge that need to be used up I add a handful to my bowl then ladle the hot chili over the top of them. 

This Instant Pot Veggie Loaded Turkey Chili is a great way to use up veggies you have on hand in the crisper before they go bad. You can even use frozen onions and bell peppers to make prep time even faster. 

Instant Pot Veggie Loaded Turkey Chili brings that slow-simmered flavor to the table without the wait! #realfood #healthyrecipes Click To Tweet

Perfect pairings. 

I think a bowl of this easy, hearty, and delicious Instant Pot Veggie Loaded Turkey Chili is the perfect starting point for an epic meal. It lends itself so well to all of the chili toppings or even just a handful of crackers if you want to keep it simple. 

Here are a few of my favorite toppings to keep things interesting (I mean, I do eat this same chili almost once every week for half of the year):

  • Milton’s Gluten-Free Crackers  (the Olive Oil & Sea Salt and Everything flavors are my favorites)
  • Blue corn tortilla chips
  • Finely shredded cheese
  • Diced or sliced avocado 
  • Fresh cilantro
  • Sliced green onions
  • Hot sauce
  • Pickled jalapeño peppers
  • Sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
  • Lime wedges

Freeze now and enjoy later. 

Though I love this chili, I could not eat it every day for a week which is why, after cooling completely in the fridge, I portion a few servings into small, freezer-safe containers to stash in the freezer. 

Allowing the chili (or any food for that matter) to cool completely in the fridge before freezing helps decrease the number of ice crystals that form on the surface. These ice crystals not only make your food watery when thawed and reheated, but they also increase the likelihood that the food will develop freezer burn. 

To thaw, simply remove the chili from the freezer and allow it to thaw overnight (and up to 3 days) in the fridge. If you’re in a hurry, place the container in a shallow bowl of warm water in the sink until you’re also to slide the frozen chili into a pan. Place a lid on the pan and reheat the chili over medium-low heat until it’s heated through (165 on an instant-read thermometer).

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Let’s Get Cookin’

Instant Pot Veggie Loaded Turkey Chili

  • Author: Jessica Beacom
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 15 mins
  • Total Time: 30 mins (+ natural release)
  • Yield: Serves 6 1x
  • Cuisine: Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Grain-Free

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. lean ground turkey (may substitute ground beef or chicken)
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
  • 2 large garlic cloves, minced
  • ½ medium onion, diced
  • 1 small red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 small zucchini or yellow squash, diced
  • 1 medium carrot, diced
  • 2 Tbsp. chili powder
  • 1 Tbsp. ground cumin
  • Dash of cayenne (optional)
  • 1 (15-ounce) can  tomato sauce + 1 can of water or broth
  • 1 (15-ounce) can crushed or petite diced tomatoes
  • 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup corn, frozen
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Optional: Diced avocado, chopped cilantro, shredded cheese, sour cream or Greek yogurt and/or lime wedges for serving

Instructions

  1. Select ‘Saute’ on the Instant Pot and add the oil. Once the oil is hot, add ground turkey, garlic, onions, bell pepper, zucchini (or yellow squash), and carrots and sauté for 7-9 minutes or until meat is cooked and no longer pink.
  2. Add chili powder, cumin, cayenne (if using), tomato sauce, water or broth, crushed (or diced) tomatoes, black beans, and corn. Stir to combine. Lock lid into place and flip valve to sealing position.
  3. Cook on high pressure for 15 minutes. Allow for 10-15 minutes of natural pressure release before flipping value to venting position to release any remaining pressure.
  4. Remove lid. Stir and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 ⅓ cups
  • Calories: 283
  • Sugar: 9g
  • Sodium: 575mg
  • Fat: 8g
  • Carbohydrates: 33g
  • Fiber: 9g
  • Protein: 22g

Pin it now & Make it later!

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About Jessica Beacom

Jessica is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist living in Boulder, CO with her hubby and two daughters. She’s been described as a ‘real food evangelist’ and loves sharing her knowledge with others to help them break free of the diet mentality and find their own food freedom. In her spare time she enjoys CrossFit, telemark skiing, mountain biking, teaching herself how to play the banjo and camping out under the stars.