Instant Pot Wendy's Copycat Chili (2024)

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This Instant Pot Wendy’s Copycat Chili is delicious and so easy to make! Dinner is ready in less than 30 minutes!

Hi friends! Can you believe that the new year is around the corner? Maybe one of your resolutions next year is to make more wholesome dinners at home for your family. Or maybe you got one of those new fandangled Instant Pots for Christmas and you’re looking for new recipes to try out. Or maybe you’re a fan of Wendy’s Chili like I am! Well whichever camp you’re in, you’re going to love this Instant Pot Wendy’s Copycat Chili!

I am always on the hunt for new recipes that will work for our growing family. My boys are picky, definitely meat and potatoes kinds of guys. So while trying new recipes can be tricky, a quick and easy chili recipe was a no brainer! I’m actually not sure why I haven’t tried this earlier. This Santa Fe Soup is a family favorite, so chili is a natural progression.

And let’s talk about this Instant Pot for a minute. I’m new to the machine so I’m still working out what all we can make with it. I even bought one for my mom for Christmas so that she can help me figure it out. Anyone else do the same? So far we love making spaghetti and meatballs and delicious French Dip Sandwiches in it. And now – thisInstant Pot Wendy’s Copycat Chili!

NOTE: I designed this recipe for a 6qt. Instant Pot. If you’re using a mini 3 qt. Instant Pot, please halve the recipe.

To make theInstant Pot Wendy’s Copycat Chili, I started with a pound of lean beef. I like super lean for this recipe so that you don’t have to drain it! Keep it simple, right?! Set the Instant Pot on Saute, add a little oil and garlic and simmer for a minute or two then add the ground beef.Update! We’ve had quite a few people try this recipe (thank you!) and report back that while they liked it, they wanted more meat. A few have successfully doubled the meat that it called for and loved it. So if you like a meaty stew – give it a try!

Once the beef is no longer pink, add your chopped onion, bell pepper and celery. Continue to cook the beef and vegetable mixture until the onions start to turn translucent. Turn the Instant Pot “off” to discontinue the Saute feature. That’s when you can add your seasoning.

Mix all that together, then add a cup of water. Follow that with your Ranch Style Beans and Kidney beans and stir in.

Then add your Rotel, diced tomatoes topped with the tomato sauce. NOTE: DO NOT STIR THE TOMATOES IN. A few readers have noted that they got a “burn” warning on their pressure cooker when making this recipe. This is likely due to the high starch content in the tomatoes. For this recipe, simply pour the tomato ingredients ON TOP in the last step and do not stir.

At this point, add your Instant Pot lid, secure it and make sure the vent is set to seal. Set your Instant Pot to 10 minutes on manual and leave it! I let the pot naturally release and let me tell you I came back to a glorious sight…

4.65 from 17 votes

Ingredients

1tbspvegetable oil
2tspminced garlic
1lblean ground beef
1large onionchopped
1large bell pepperchopped
6stalks celerychopped
1package McCormick's Chili Seasoning
1cupwater
1 15ozcan Ranch Style Beans
1 15ozcan dark red kidney beansdrained
1 15ozcan RoTel Original
1 15ozcan diced tomatoes
1 15ozcan tomato sauce
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Set your Instant Pot to Saute and vegetable oil and minced garlic to the pot.
See Also
Easy AU JUS Without Pan Drippings - Mama Loves Food
Once the pot is hot and oil is simmering, add ground beef.
Once browned, add chopped onion, bell pepper and celery to the beef.
Cook until onion is starting to become translucent, then add McCormick's Chili Seasoning.
Turn the Instant Pot "off" of Saute.
Mix well and add water.
Scrape up any browned bits that have adhered to the bottom of the pot.
Add Ranch Style and kidney beans to the pot and stir.
Then add Rotel, diced tomatoes and tomato sauce ON TOP. Do not stir in.
Then add your Instant Pot lid, make sure vent is set to seal and set your IP to 10 minutes on manual or 10 minutes of high pressure.
Once time is up, let your Instant Pot naturally release.
Once released, open your Instant Pot, stir and enjoy your chili!

Recipe Notes

Made for a 6 qt. Instant Pot. If making in a mini 3qt. you will need to halve the recipe.

In order to avoid a "burn" warning, float the tomato ingredients on top of the other ingredients – if they are stirred in, they’ll sink to the bottom and could scorch.

Update! We've had quite a few people try this recipe (thank you!) and report back that while they liked it, they wanted more meat. A few have successfully doubled the meat that it called for and loved it. So if you like a meaty stew - give it a try!

It was so easy to whip up and in no time I had a delicious, hearty and wholesome meal for the family!