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Ninja Foodi Chili

Ninja Foodi Chili is the ultimate comfort meal that combines effortless cooking and irresistible flavors. With this pressure cooker chili recipe, chili lovers are bound to fall in love at first bite.

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Closeup of a bowl of chili topped with shredded cheese and some cilantro

A delicious main course has never been so easy to make. Once you try this quick and easy Ninja Foodi chili recipe, you’ll never go back! 

This amazing appliance opens a world of possibilities, effortlessly combining the ease of air fryer chili with the delicious outcome of pressure cooking. No more watching the stove, stirring occasionally throughout the day. You can make a mild chili or a bold flavor explosion — the possibilities are endless when you start from scratch. 

Whether you’re craving a classic slow cooked masterpiece or seeking a fast and flavorful creation, this pressure cooker chili recipe suits every taste. You’ll never need to look for another good chili recipe — this is the one your family will ask for again and again!

Ingredients needed to make chili in the Ninja Foodi in separate bowls

How to Make Chili in the Ninja Foodi

A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.

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STEP ONE: Start by turning on the Ninja Foodi and pressing the Sauté button. Set the heat to High, add the ground beef, and sauté until it is nicely browned.

Raw ground beef being sauteed in the Ninja Foodi

STEP TWO: Remove the inner pot from the Ninja Foodi and drain the excess grease from the browned hamburger meat. Place the pot back into the Ninja Foodi, then stir in the chopped onions and spices. Add the remaining ingredients to the quick chili and stir until well combined.

STEP THREE: Securely place the pressure cooker lid on the Ninja Foodi. Make sure the steam valve nozzle is turned to the “seal” position. Set the appliance to cook on high pressure for approximately 10 minutes.

Collage of in-process shots of Ninja Foodi and browning the ground beef and adding in the other ingredients

STEP FOUR: Once the timer goes off, allow a natural pressure release for about 4 minutes. Then, carefully perform a manual quick release before opening the lid. Be cautious of the hot steam!

STEP FIVE: Give the Ninja Foodi chili a good stir, then garnish with your favorite toppings and serve!

Two bowls of chili topped with a little cilantro with a cloth napkin and spoon

Tips for Making Ninja Foodi Chili

  • Soak dried beans. If you’re using dried beans, soak them overnight before incorporating them into the quick chili recipe.
  • Get “cooked all day” flavor by using fire roasted tomatoes! It really makes a big difference.
  • Don’t forget to drain the beef. Otherwise, you’ll have a layer of grease floating on top of your chili. Yuck!
  • Reduce the heat. Feel free to replace the jalapenos with bell peppers instead.
  • Personalize with toppings. Serve the pressure cooker chili with a variety of toppings like shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, diced onions, or fresh cilantro to add layers of texture and taste.

What to Serve with This Quick Chili Recipe

Chili inside the Ninja Foodi with a serving ladle inside and a bowl of chili and cheese to the side

How Long to Cook Chili in the Ninja Foodi

When using the pressure cooker function, the average cooking time for chili is around 10 to 15 minutes on high pressure. This allows the flavors to meld together and the meat to become tender. 

However, it’s important to consider the additional time needed for the Ninja Foodi to come to pressure, which can take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes, depending on the quantity and temperature of the ingredients. 

Closeup of Ninja Foodi chili recipe in a bowl topped with shredded cheese and cilantro with tortilla chips to the side

Variations of This Pressure Cooker Chili Recipe

  • Enhance the taste of your chili by using beef broth instead of water for added richness.
  • Add spices like cumin, coriander, and Mexican oregano for an authentic Mexican twist on this Ninja Foodi chili recipe.
  • Combine kidney beans, pinto beans, and black beans for a robust and protein-packed fast chili. Or, use chili beans — they’re just pinto beans in sauce with extra seasonings!
  • You can choose from a variety of ground meats like ground chicken, ground pork, chorizo, or a blend of your favorites, to create a flavorful and versatile twist on the classic chili!

More Ground Beef Ninja Foodi Recipes

Can I Cook This Recipe in a Slow Cooker Instead?

You bet! This process can be easily modified for slow cooker chili.

The only difference is that the ground beef will need to be cooked in a frying pan first.

Once browned and drained, add all of the ingredients to a slow cooker, then cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 2-3 hours.

A bowl of chili and bowl of shredded cheese in front of the Ninja Foodi

Topping Ideas for Chili

  • Shredded cheese
  • Avocado Crema
  • Cilantro
  • Green onion
  • Hot sauce
  • Pickled jalapeños
  • Tortilla strips
  • Sour cream

What If I Get a Water Error Notice?

If you receive a water notice while cooking with your Ninja Foodi, don’t panic! Adding additional liquid is a simple solution to rectify the situation. 

If your chili appears too thick or dry, simply add ½ cup of water or broth to the mixture. Carefully pour it into the pot and give it a good stir to evenly distribute the added liquid. 

More Recipes in the Ninja Foodi

Closeup of a bowl of chili topped with shredded cheese and some cilantro

Ninja Foodi Chili

Samantha Erb
This Ninja Foodi chili is hearty, delicious, and comes together right in the pot for super easy prep and clean-up! Just add your favorite toppings and enjoy.
4.63 from 29 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Additional Time 10 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Instant Pot
Cuisine American
Servings 6 to 8 servings
Calories 364 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 small onion chopped
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper
  • 1 can pinto beans 15.5 ounce
  • 1 can kidney beans 15.5 ounce
  • 1 can diced tomatoes 14.5 ounce
  • 1/2 cup tomato paste
  • 1 to 2 jalapenos chopped

Instructions
 

  • Start by sautéing the ground beef. To do this turn the Ninja Foodi on and press the sauté button. Sauté the hamburger meat on high until browned.
  • Remove the inner pot & drain the grease from the hamburger meat. Replace the pot with the browned meat to the Ninja Foodi base, add in the chopped onions, cumin, black pepper, garlic powder, chili powder, and smoked paprika.
  • Stir, then add the pinto beans, kidney beans, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and chopped jalapenos. You can drain a little bit of the liquid off the beans before adding them in. No need to rinse them. Stir.
  • Place the pressure cooker lid on securely. (This is not the attached lid but, the second lid that it comes with). Turn the steam valve nozzle to “seal” and cook on high pressure for about 10 minutes.
  • All the Ninja Foodi to do a natural steam release for about 4 minutes then do a manual release to release the remaining pressure.
  • Remove the lid carefully, stir, then pour into bowls and add your favorite toppings and enjoy!








Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 364kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 29gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 67mgSodium: 441mgFiber: 8gSugar: 7g

This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!


samantha

About Samantha

I’ve always had a love of cooking and creating new recipes, so it only made sense to create a food blog so I could share those recipes with you. This site is designed to provide easy and flavorful recipes with as little ingredients as possible. That means you still get great flavor combinations without all that extra time and effort. Read more...

14 thoughts on “Ninja Foodi Chili”

  1. 5 stars
    This is really easy to make and tasted really delicious! Thank you so much for sharing this ninja foodi chili soup recipe! Highly recommended!

    Reply
  2. I also got the water error but I think it’s because I drained the beans completely versus you left some in your recipe. Easy to follow recipe! Thank you!

    Reply
  3. I have the Ninja possible cooker(pro) not the pressure cooker.Do I use the same instructions? I will be making this tonight can’t wait.

    Reply
    • Hi Chris, this specific recipe needs a pressure cooker function on the unit, but you could always do a slow cooker option for about 4-6 hours on low or 2-3 hours on high!

  4. In other pressure cooker recipes I have that have tomato, I have the best success when all the other ingredients except tomato items are stirred in. Then, add tomato products last and DO NOT STIR. Pressure cook and NR or MR per directions, then stir after lid is removed. No burnt tomatoes at bottom, no warning signal to add water!

    Reply
4.63 from 29 votes (27 ratings without comment)

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