Instant Pot Ground Turkey Lentil Chili–this healthy, easy pressure cooker turkey lentil chili is the perfect meal for any night of the week. It fills you up without filling you out while still having tons of flavor.
Get the slow cooker version of this recipe
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Instant Pot Ground Turkey Lentil Chili
Today’s recipe is one of my slow cooker favorites that I’ve made in the pressure cooker. It’s a healthy lentil chili that’s made with ground turkey. I usually always have the ingredients for this recipe at my house so it’s a perfect option for a weeknight dinner or sometimes I even make it and put it into individual containers and freeze it. That way my husband can grab one of those containers and bring it to work and have a healthy, filling lunch.
National Chili Day
Today is National Chili Day! I’m celebrating by sharing with you some amazing chili recipes from some food blogger friends.
Instant Pot White Chicken Chili from Ashlee Marie
Homemade 3 Bean Vegetarian Chili from An Italian in My Kitchen
Taco Chili from Simply Stacie
Easy Chicken Enchilada Chili from Creations by Kara
Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili from Real Mom Kitchen
Slow Cooker Chili from Pretty Providence
Creamy White Chicken Chili from Crumb
Instant Pot Chili from Savory Experiments
Sweet Potato Chili from Namely Marly
Pork Verde Chili from The Baker Upstairs
Slow cooker turkey chili from My Mommy Style
Instant Pot lentil and bean chili from Supergolden Bakes
Jalapeno Popper Turkey Chili from Premeditated Leftovers
Award Winning Crockpot Chili from Heather Likes Food
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What Instant Pot/Slow Cooker Did You Use?
For this Instant Pot Ground Turkey Lentil Chili recipe I used this Instant Pot IP-LUX60 V3 Programmable Electric Pressure Cooker. It’s 6 quarts, so the same size as most slow cookers. It cost me around $80 on Amazon. When I made a similar recipe in the slow cooker I used this 6 quart KitchenAid Slow Cooker.
Instant Pot Ground Turkey Lentil Chili
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Prep Time: 30 -
Cook Time: 13
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Total Time: 43 minutes
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Yield: 6 servings -
Method: Instant Pot
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeDescription
This healthy, easy pressure cooker turkey lentil chili is the perfect meal for any night of the week. It fills you up without filling you out while still having tons of flavor.
Ingredients
1 lb ground turkey
1 medium yellow onion, diced
2 minced garlic cloves
2 Tbsp tomato paste
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 cup dry green lentils
2 cups water
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
1 (14.5 oz) can petite diced tomatoes
1 (4 oz) can diced green chiles
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp pepper
Instructions
- Turn your Instant Pot onto “saute.” Brown the ground turkey. Add in the diced onions, garlic, tomato paste and salt and cook until meat is browned and onions are soft and translucent.
- Add in the lentils, water, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, green chiles, chili powder, cumin and pepper.
- Cover the Instant Pot and turn it to “manual,” set the timer to 13 minutes. Make sure the valve is set to “sealing.”
- When the timer beeps let it sit for 10 minutes and then slowly release the pressure by moving the valve to “venting.”
- Remove the lid and ladle the chili into bowls. We topped ours with a dollop of sour cream and some diced green onions.
Notes
Click here for the slow cooker version of this recipe.
I used my Instant Pot IP-LUX60 V3 Programmable Electric Pressure Cooker for this recipe.
Nutrition
- Calories: 306
- Sugar: 6.2 g
- Sodium: 959 mg
- Fat: 9.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 12.2 g
- Protein: 30.7 g
- Cholesterol: 77 mg
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can you make this with frozen ground turkey?
I’m not sure how great that would work since the turkey is supposed to get browned in the first step. Maybe add 1/2 cup broth to the pot and pressure cook the frozen turkey for 5 minutes. Then follow the recipe as it is written.
This was delicious! The only thing I would do is add another half a cup of water, because it came out kind of dry in mine. My three-year-old asked for seconds and thirds.
★★★★
Nice! Glad you liked it 🙂
I am making this recipe now and followed the steps. My instant pot red BURN. Any tips on how to make sure that doesn’t happen? I’m not sure where I went wrong. Thanks!
Bummer! I have read that sometimes when people use tomato based products they get the burn message. Maybe just “layer” the ingredients with the water on the bottom.
I am just making this right now and realized there are not beans of any kind. I”ve never made chili without beans. 😛
Did you like it?
Just made a batch and a half in our 6 qt (?) Instant pot. Only change was I added a diced fresh jalapeno. Really delicious! Thanks for the easy and healthy recipe!
★★★★★
You’re welcome Pamela! Glad you liked it 🙂
This is very tasty. My husband and I both liked it, although it is better the second day when the flavors come together. Thanks a lot for this recipe, I will definitely make it again.
★★★★★
Yep, the second day is better. That’s why we like the leftovers so much 🙂
I just made this today. It is a dreary rainy day and it looked like the perfect lunch. And it was!! My husband even liked it and he isn’t a lentil fan! Definitely a keeper and shareable recipe! Love that you offer both slow cooker and instant pot versions
I think lots of people think they don’t like lentils but if they’re cooked right they will like them!!
Oh wow, this looks YUMMY! I love that you used ground turkey. I’ll have to try this recipe and see what my family thinks.
★★★★★
They will love it!
This looks so hearty and delicious, and perfect for a cold night!
It is!
Your photos are gorgeous! Plus, it’s just a perfect time for chili because it’s so cold! Better weather coming soon (we hope!!). And I’m definitely adding your recipe to my list of recipes to veganize. 😍
Thanks so much Marly!
I found some lentils in my food storage room and wasn’t sure what to do with them. I’ll have to give this a try, it looks super yummy!
Thanks Kara! It is one of my most favorite recipes ever. Very easy to make and healthy too.
My family would love this, I can’t wait to make it.
★★★★★
Thanks Rosemary! I think you’ll really like it 🙂
Can i do this with frozen turkey?! I’m an instant pot newbie!
Is the turkey already browned?
Hi Karen,
Thanks for this amazing recipe. I made this today and it was sooo yum! I portioned it into small containers to freeze and take to work for a healthy lunch. Starting the year off right – thanks again!
★★★★★
What a good idea. I love this as leftovers. It tastes better the next day.
Wow, just made this as last minute dinner and it was fabulous! A little sharp shredded cheese on top and it was so satisfying. Thanks!
★★★★★
Hooray! and hooray for the cheddar!
I made this tonight, and it was excellent. So easy, and lots of flavor for turkey chili.
★★★★★
Glad you liked it! This is one of my favorites.
I have a 3-quart Insta Pot, but I would love to try this recipe. Do I need to half the recipe, or is there still plenty of room in the 6-quart one when you make it?
I don’t think you could double it but I bet you could 1 1/2 times the recipe!
We just got an Instant Pot for Christmas. This was the second recipe I’ve made. It turned out great! Loved it! This will definitely be made again.
★★★★★
Hi Kelly, I know that you will love your IP! I’m glad you tried this recipe. We really like it at our house and make it often.
Made this without the green chilis or tomato paste because we didnt have any and were broke till Friday, but this was amazing, and I will definitely be trying again maybe with ROASTED Fresh chilis?
★★★★
roasted would be amazing!
Going to make this tomorrow! Does no pre soaking for the lentils need to be done?
Lentils do NOT need to be soaked.
I made it for dinner tonight, and it was delicious. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
★★★★★
You’re welcome! I’m glad you liked it 🙂
This is outstanding!! I am a Weight Watcher member and on the new Freestyle plan, this chili is ZERO points!
★★★★★
wow! cool! I am not familiar with the freestyle plan but I like the sound of it 🙂
This is the second recipe I’ve tried in my new instant pot. It was delicious! Served it topped with a little sour cream and sharp cheddar cheese. I used ground turkey breast, so added a tablespoon or so of olive oil to brown the very lean meat. The little green lentils were ideal.
★★★★★
I like this one a lot too, Bonnie!
If I double this does it change the cooking time?
Nope! Keep the cooking time the same.
If you double, do you double all ingredients, including the water?
★★★★★
yes!
Hi Karen, do you use high or low pressure for this recipe?
high
Just tried this and it turned out great. Love the tiny green lentils — they keep their shape so nicely. The only change I made was to add some diced green bell pepper, since I didn’t have a can of diced chiles. This recipe is a keeper! Thanks!
Good idea on the green peppers, Linda!
Hello, I made this recipe and it tastes great! I am new to instant pot and this is the second time making soup/stew where the liquid has cooked down, I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong. It says “on” for about 12 minutes while it heats up I’m assuming, then goes to the 13 min I set it for. Am I doing something wrong??
Thanks Amy
I don’t think you’re doing anything wrong!! If you like your stews and stuff more liquidy then add an extra cup of broth.
I’ve never used green chilies, my kids are both under 5 so bas8cally spice averse but they like flavor. Should I omit those? Are they spicy?
I figure I’ll cut the chili powder down by half…. I’ve only made one other chili recipe and it was on the stove so I’m new to chili and the IP!
green chilies are not really spicy they just add flavor. I’m more worried about the picante sauce. Make sure to use mild.
Will red lentils work and will it be the same time?
Yes, they’ll work. Same cooking time 🙂
I made this last night for dinner. Stumbled onto the recipe as I had a pound of ground turkey and leftover tomato sauce in the fridge plus a smidgen of lentils in the pantry and was looking for a recipe to use ’em up. No diced tomatoes so I subbed an equal amount of crushed and I also used chicken stock vs. water. Really delicious topped with some grated cheddar and bit of sour cream.
★★★★★
That sounds fantastic, Sarah!
I made this tonight for supper, and on this cool spring evening it was just right. I used brown (not green) lentils and they worked out fine. We topped it with grated cheese and sour cream. I’ll make this one again.
Thanks!
so happy to hear this! We had it tonight and it was awesome with some sour cream 🙂
Thank you Karen for this instant pot ground turkey lentil chili.
Tonight i will make this for my family.
I am glade that i found your wonderful blog. I will try all you dishes.
★★★★★
Thanks Ashley, I hope you like it!