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Instant Pot Six Gun Chili

This Instant Pot Six Gun Chili is made with dried Pinto beans and Six Guns Chili seasoning. With the use of your Instant Pot or pressure cooker, the dried beans are cooked with no pre soaking needed, and the chili meal is ready in two hours.

By combining modest, simple ingredients and using high quality spices along with the famous Six Gun Chili seasoning, this loaded bean chili is perfect for a family dinner. We enjoy pairing this hearty meal with fresh Mexican Cornbread, Warm Homemade Dinner Rolls, or a mess of tortilla chips and hearty Homemade Queso Dip.

Instant Pot Six Gun Chili
Instant Pot Six Gun Chili

How do I cook Chili in my Instant Pot?

Cooking chili in your Instant Pot or pressure cooker is a very simple process that can vary depending on how you prepare it, and which recipe you follow. Our recipe uses dried pinto beans that will be cooked in the Instant Pot, so while this does add an extra step, it’s actually a very simple step that only takes 30 minutes.

Many Instant Pots have a bean/chili setting that you can use, or you can cook your chili on manual using the high setting for 25-30 minutes, allowing it to naturally release once it’s finished. The beauty of the Instant Pot is it’s all-in-one abilities that allow you to do everything, including browning the meat, without the use of any extra pots or pans.

Homemade Chili Made In The Instant Pot

What gives Chili the best flavor?

For this recipe we use the Six Gun Chili seasoning along with a few added spices. We love this seasoning because it is a high quality brand that has a well balanced, deep flavor profile. Many suggestions for how to elevate your chilis flavor include the use of cinnamon, dark cocoa powder and strong coffee grounds.

If you are looking to add even more punch to your chili, any of these options would for sure do the trick. Beyond that, make sure your ingredients are balanced and fresh for the best results and a delicious, rich chili.

What are the advantages to using an Instant Pot?

  • The Instant Pot has a stainless pot that goes from the instant pot to the fridge without cracking or warping.
  • The insert pot has a much smaller footprint in the fridge than many large bowls or skillets.
  • The Instant Pot also takes less room (although it is taller) than most crock pots.
  • Food is cooked safely and nutritiously.
  • It has a delay function so you can set it and forget it. It also has a warm function that will hold the temperature of the meal when it’s done. 
  • The warm function is also helpful for parties, as the pot will stay warm 24 hours.
  • The Instant Pot slow cooks, makes yogurt, steam veggies, cooks rice and large cuts of meat. It even does saute’ right in the pot.
  • Food made in the pressure cooker has better flavor and retains more nutrients.
  • The Instant Pot is a money saver since it saves power. Also, you can replace other kitchen appliances like a slow cooker and yogurt maker saving money and counter space.
Instant Pot Six Gun Chili From Dried Pinto Beans In Under Two Hours.
Instant Pot Six Gun Chili from dried Pinto beans in under two hours.

Looking for more instant pot recipes? Check out our Instant Pot recipes.

For our Instant Pot Six Gun Chili Recipe you will need an Instant Pot. If you don’t have an instant pot and want to make chili try our crock pot Game Day Chili for an easy chili recipe made out of the pantry.

Instant Pot Six Gun Chili Recipe Notes

I use this Six Gun Chili Seasoning mix because it’s an easy way to flavor up a chili with a delicious, authentic chili flavor our family has loved for decades! You should be able to find this mix at most major grocery stores or outlets.

We do not use the White Thickener Packet. We find it is unnecessary for this particular recipe.

Six Gun Chili Ingredients

What beans go best in Chili?

We love to use the traditional pinto bean in our chili recipes, but black beans and kidney beans are great substitutes that can be used in chilis too. All of these beans have pleasant flavors and hardier textures that will hold their shape in a chili. Some softer beans such as navy will get too soft and turn to mush.

Are beans not used in authentic Chili?

When speaking of traditional Texas chili, beans will not be found. This is because beans will be a dominant flavor and will cover up the seasoning balance and the flavor of meats used. This is most often found in cook offs when chilis will be judged, many folks enjoy adding beans to their chilis for a hearty texture and added flavor.

But, no, beans are not used in authentic Texas chili.

Here is the ingredient list for Six Gun Chili Seasonings:

Ingredients: Stone-ground masa flour, ground chili pepper, a pinch of salt, cayenne pepper, cumin, dehydrated onion, garlic powder and oregano. There are no additives and it is gluten free.

TIPS and SUGGESTIONS:

  • You can make this recipe with either ground beef or stew meat. Stew meat will be tougher, so we prefer ground beef.
    • Brown and season stew meat first on the sautè function and add five minutes on the cooking time.
  • You can use black beans or kidney beans in place of the pinto beans if you prefer.
    • The cooking times are in your instant pot manual if you decide to substitute your beans.
  • Preferred garnishes for this chili are sour cream, chopped green onions and salsa or your favorite chili sauce.
Chili Ingredients

How to prepare dried beans in the Instant Pot

I went for a long time without using dried beans. They can be challenging and time consuming to work with because they require overnight soaking and several hours of boiling on the stove before they are ready for your recipe.

Electric Pressure cookers cook dried and un soaked beans of all types in about a half hour.

Pinto Beans

Making chili with dry beans is such a budget friendly, easy dinner idea and the flavor is enhanced beautifully.

  1. Rinse the beans thoroughly.
  2. Throw the beans in the pot with the proper amount of liquid and 1 Tablespoon of oil.
  3. Set the instant pot to manual high pressure for 30 minutes.
  4. Seal the vent and walk away.
  5. The pot will ding when it’s done. You can quick release it or natural release. Do whatever works best for you. But if you have the time let it natural release to fully set the flavor in the beans.

We show you how to cook dry pinto beans in your instant pot for inexpensive healthy recipes in this post.

  • Instant pot chili dry beans recipes are flavorful and make the best chili recipes.
  • The nutrients will be retained by cooking dried beans in the Instant Pot.
  • This is an easy healthy dinner idea for lots of different recipes.

I have also made Four Bean Beef Stew and Bean and Sausage Soup in my instant pot with dry beans.

Homemade Chili Made In The Instant Pot

Your Printable Recipe Card:

Instant Pot Six Gun Chili
Yield: 15 servings

Six Gun Chili Recipe

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Instant Pot Six Gun Chili is made with dried Pinto beans and Gluten free Six Guns Chili Fixins seasonings. The flavor of this chili is outstanding and gets better and better as leftovers. No Soaking the beans and it's all done in an hour and a half. Ok. NOW you can fall in love with your Instant Pot.

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Pour the dried Pinto beans, water and 1 Tablespoon oil into the instant pot. Pinto Beans Recipe
  2. Close the lid.
  3. Push the vent button to SEAL.
  4. Push the manual button and press the + button until the number read out says 30 minutes. Instant Pot Pinto Beans Setting
  5. After pot is done-Natural release for best flavor and total doneness.
  6. Remove beans, clean the pot and dry it. Instant Pot Pinto Beans
  7. Set the Instant pot on Saute function on HI. Leave uncovered or use your tempered glass lid for sautè.
  8. Cook the hamburger and bacon. Add the onions, garlic, celery and peppers. Cook 4 minutes.
  9. Return all the cooked pinto beans to the pot with diced tomatoes, The contents of the Six gun chili spices packets (omit the white packet) and remaining oil.
  10. Pressure cook on high-manual setting for 12 minutes.
  11. Natural release and serve Chili

Notes

This recipe is written to use ONLY the instant pot. That is so easy and makes this a one pan dinner.

However, you can speed up the time even more by sauteing the hamburger and bacon, onions, garlic, celery and peppers on the stove and adding them into the instant pot after the beans cook.

Now add remaining ingredients, set the IP to manual and finish the recipe!

Nutrition Information

Yield

15

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 428Total Fat 22gSaturated Fat 7gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 11gCholesterol 64mgSodium 1089mgCarbohydrates 32gFiber 6gSugar 4gProtein 26g

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Instant Pot Six Gun Chili Recipe-Pin Image
Instant Pot Six Gun Chili is an insanely good Gluten free chili recipe made with dried Pinto beans and Six Guns Chili Fixins seasonings. The flavor of this chili is outstanding and gets better and better as leftovers.

Jeffrey M Moskin

Saturday 11th of December 2021

I say USE THE WHITE ENVELOPE (Masa) and DO NOT use the small chili packet.

Irene

Monday 6th of January 2020

How long do I allow the Insta Pot to naturally release? Mines starts counting up until I cancel it. Thank you!

Diane

Monday 6th of January 2020

Hi Irene, Natural release means you let the pot reduce the pressure naturally until the valve drops on its own. At least, that is how mine works. If you need a time to natural release before manually releasing the pressure try 15 minutes. That should give the pot enough time to finish the beans. Let the pot cook the chili and then natural release at least 10 minutes before manually releasing the pressure. Now your ready to serve. Please let me know how it goes for you and have a great evening.

Carol

Saturday 7th of July 2018

Do you drain the beans? Before you return them to the sautéd ingredients.

Diane

Saturday 7th of July 2018

Hi Carol, I do Not drain the beans. There will be very little water in them. If you want to rinse and drain the beans add about 2 cups water to the pot before you pressure cook the chili. Please let us know how it turns out for you. and thanks so much for the question!

Tim

Friday 20th of January 2017

This sounds good, going to try it out, bit noticed you add the cooked bea Diced tomatoes Spices Remaining oil What quantities?

Diane

Friday 20th of January 2017

Hi Tim, Thank you so much for bringing this to my attention. I have corrected the printable recipe to be more clear and accurate. I hope you come back and let me know how this works for you. We love the flavor of cooking chili in the instant pot and six gun chili seasoning mix is a delicious chili seasoning mix. Enjoy!

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