Vegan Instant Pot Quinoa Chili

This vegan Instant Pot Quinoa Chili requires just minutes of prep before it goes into the pressure cooker. It’s easy to make, keeps well, freezer-friendly and makes a wonderful, hearty plant-based meal.

Instant Pot Cooking Times

Making this quinoa chili in your Instant Pot couldn’t be easier. Simply, add all the ingredients, set the Instant Pot to pressure cook for 5 minutes and you’re done! That being said, the Instant Pot always takes longer to use than the specified cooking time because it takes time for the pressure to build up.

Once you have all the ingredients in the Instant Pot and have set it to pressure cook for 5 minutes, the timer won’t start right away. You’ll notice the display reads “on”, even after you set the timer. It will stay like this until the Instant Pot comes to pressure, which can take anywhere from 10-20 minutes. Once it’s at pressure, the 5 minute timer will begin, bringing the total cooking time somewhere between 15-20 minutes.

Once the timer goes off, turn the valve to “quick release” to let the pressure out. This will save time as waiting for the pressure to release naturally can add another 10-15 minutes.

Instant Pot Quinoa Chili Method

You’ll need just 5-10 minutes to prep this recipe, depending on how speedy you are with a knife. To prep the recipe, get your Instant Pot out and begin chopping the veggies.

Start by adding the onion, garlic, bell peppers, jalapeno and spices to the Instant Pot. There’s no need to mix it all up, just add the ingredients in one by one.

Next, add the chipotle pepper, quinoa, diced tomatoes, broth and kidney beans.

Setting the Instant Pot

Now it’s time to turn the Instant Pot on. Here’s what you’ll need to do:

1. Secure the lid.
2. Make sure the Venting Knob is set to “Sealing.”
3. Press “Pressure Cook.”
4. Adjust the time to 5 minutes. After some time, as the pressure builds, the Float Valve will pop up and the timer will begin. It’s normal for the display to read “ON” even after the Float Valve has popped up. It will eventually display 5:00 and the timer will start.
5. Once the timer beeps, let the pressure release naturally for about 10 minutes. If the Float Valve hasn’t dropped yet, carefully switch the Venting Knob to “Venting” to quick release the pressure.
6. Once the Float Valve drops, you can safely remove the lid.

Stovetop Method

If you don’t have an Instant Pot this recipe can easily be made stovetop as well. Here’s how to make it in under 30 minutes on your stovetop:

1. Saute the onions and garlic in a splash of water for 5 minutes until starting to soften.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer lightly for 15-20 minutes until the quinoa is cooked.

Instant Pot Quinoa Chili Recipe

The best thing about this recipe is you can just throw everything in the Instant Pot and forget it. Instant Pot recipes take about the same amount of time as cooking stovetop but I just love how they’re completely hands-off.

Recipe Notes

• This recipe is spicy and has a smoky flavour that may not be for everyone.
• Adjust the amount of heat by using less jalapeno and/or chipotle pepper, or omitting the chipotle pepper altogether.
• For more heat, add an additional chipotle pepper or 2 tsp of the adobo sauce.
• The chili may be a little watery when you open the Instant Pot but it thickens up as it sits.
• You can additional beans such as pinto, black beans or chickpeas, or use a mixture.
• You can add 1/2 cup of corn for more flavour and texture.

Chili Toppings

Here are some yummy ideas for topping for chili:

• tofu sour cream
• crushed tortilla chips
• cilantro
• green onion
• diced avocado

It’s also delicious with a slice of toasted sourdough bread or warm tortilla for dipping.

More Vegan Soups and Stews

Loving this quinoa chili? You might like these recipes too:

• Curried Chickpea Potato Stew
• Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili
• Instant Pot Potato Soup
• Slow Cooker Red Lentil Chili
• Vegan 3-Bean Chili
• Vegan White Bean Chili Recipe

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