Instant Pot Texas Roadhouse Chili–easy ground beef chili with lots of flavor and very little work. Make this copycat recipe at home in your Instant Pot or Crockpot.

Instant Pot Texas Roadhouse Chili
Chili is one of those things that I can take or leave. It doesn’t move the needle for me much…usually. That was until I ate this copycat Texas Roadhouse chili. I really, really loved it! I don’t know if it was because fall is actually here and there is a hint of a chill in the air or if I was just really hungry or what. But it was good! And I think you’ll really like it too.
It’s meaty and it’s got beans (controversial, I know). But it’s also got a lot of flavor from a plethora of seasonings. Don’t forget to serve it up with your favorite toppings. I loved some shredded Colby jack cheese and crunched up tortilla chips on mine. I did have a bag of chili cheese Fritos at my house but it mysteriously went missing. Sad 🙁
Ingredients/Substitution Ideas
- Lean ground beef–you can also use beef stew meat. I would use at least 1 ½ pounds of beef stew meat. Pressure cook for 20 minutes with a natural pressure release.
- Diced onion–fresh or frozen
- Jalapeno
- Minced garlic–fresh or jarred
- Chili powder
- Cumin
- Smoked paprika
- Black pepper
- Kosher salt
- Italian seasoning
- Brown sugar
- Red pepper flakes
- Beef broth–or water and Better than Bouillon Beef Base
- Crushed tomatoes–for good texture and body
- Kidney beans–or another type of bean
- Red wine vinegar
- Corn meal–used as a thickener
Topping Ideas for Chili
Get creative with your chili toppings. Here are some ideas…
- shredded colby jack cheese or another cheese of your choice
- diced green onions
- Fritos
- tortilla chips
- sour cream or plain yogurt
- diced red onions
- oyster crackers
- hot sauce
- jalapenos
- lime wedge
- salsa or pico de gallo
- guacamole or sliced avocado
- sliced olives
- bacon crumbles

Instructions to make Texas Roadhouse chili recipe in your Instant Pot
- Brown the beef: Turn Instant Pot to sauté setting. When display says HOT add in the ground beef and break it up. Add in the onion and jalapeno. Brown for about 5 minutes. Drain off excess grease.
- Season it up: Add in the garlic, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, pepper, salt, Italian seasoning, brown sugar and red pepper flakes. Stir to coat the meat. Turn off Instant Pot.
- Deglaze the pot: Stir in the beef broth and scrape bottom of pot so that nothing is sticking.
- Layer in ingredients: Dump in the tomatoes, beans, vinegar, and corn meal. Don’t stir.
- Pressure cook: Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the SOUP button to 10 minutes. When time is up let the pot sit for 10 minutes and then move valve to venting. (If you don’t have the soup setting you can use the manual/pressure cook button).
- Serve: Stir well. Add more seasonings to taste, as needed. Ladle into bowls and top with desired toppings.
Notes/Tips
- Serve with cornbread and honey butter (or fluffy Texas Roadhouse rolls). Another idea is to scoop this over spaghetti…believe me it’s good! Or you can ladle it over baked potatoes.
- I used my 6 quart Instant Pot*. You can also make this in a 3 or 8 quart pot.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container* in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- If you’d like you can make chili in advance. It gets even better as the flavors have time to develop. Simply cook the chili according to the recipe instructions, then let it cool and transfer it to the fridge in an airtight container. When ready to reheat, warm it on low on the stovetop or using the sauté (less) setting in your Instant Pot, stirring often.
- How many calories are in Texas Roadhouse chili? For just the chili, without toppings, it has 258 calories per serving.
- Can I make this with ground turkey or ground chicken instead? Of course! Follow the same instructions and cooking time.
- If you’d rather made this with chunks of beef instead of ground beef you can. Use at least 1 ½ pounds of beef stew meat. Pressure cook for 20 minutes with a natural pressure release.


Instant Pot Texas Roadhouse Chili
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes (plus 10 minute NPR)
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
Description
Easy ground beef chili with lots of flavor and very little work. Make this copycat recipe at home in your Instant Pot or Crockpot.
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1 jalapeno, seeded and diced
- 2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 1/2 tsp brown sugar
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (14.5 oz) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 1/2 tsp red wine vinegar
- 1 Tbsp corn meal
- Toppings: shredded colby jack cheese, diced green onions, Fritos or tortilla chips, sour cream
Instructions
Instant Pot Instructions:
- Turn Instant Pot to sauté setting. When display says HOT add in the ground beef and break it up. Add in the onion and jalapeno. Brown for about 5 minutes. Drain off excess grease.
- Add in the garlic, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, pepper, salt, Italian seasoning, brown sugar and red pepper flakes. Stir to coat the meat. Turn off Instant Pot.
- Stir in the beef broth and scrape bottom of pot so that nothing is sticking.
- Dump in the tomatoes, beans, vinegar, and corn meal. Don’t stir.
- Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the SOUP button to 10 minutes. When time is up let the pot sit for 10 minutes and then move valve to venting.
- Stir well. Add more seasonings to taste, as needed. Ladle into bowls and top with desired toppings.
Slow Cooker Instructions:
- Heat a pan over medium high heat. Add in the ground beef and break it up. Add in the onion and jalapeno. Brown for about 5 minutes. Drain off excess grease.
- Add in the garlic, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, pepper, salt, Italian seasoning, brown sugar and red pepper flakes. Stir to coat the meat. Add meat to slow cooker.
- Stir in the beef broth, tomatoes, beans, vinegar, and corn meal.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-10 hours.
- Stir well. Add more seasonings to taste, as needed. Ladle into bowls and top with desired toppings.
- Category: Beef
- Method: Instant Pot or Slow Cooker
8 More Instant Pot Chili Recipes to try…
Down Home Instant Pot Chili
A fast and easy chili recipe that has lots of flavor but isn’t too spicy! Perfect for any night of the week or for the chili cook-off contest.
Instant Pot Skyline Chili Cheese Coneys
A hot dog in a steamed bun with mustard, covered with copy cat Skyline chili, diced onions and a mound of shredded cheddar cheese.
Instant Pot Crack Sausage Chili
Sliced smoked sausage, crispy bacon pieces, three types of beans and plenty of seasonings make this chili super addicting! An easy dump and go Instant Pot recipe!
Instant Pot Chilighetti
A delicious mash up of spaghetti and chili. Make this easy one pot meal in minutes with your Instant Pot.
Instant Pot Killer White Chili
This Instant Pot killer white chili is full of tender pieces of chicken, along with dried navy beans, onions, garlic, cumin, oregano, cream cheese and a special ingredient that gives it tons of flavor–salsa verde. It’s an excellent, intensely flavored white chili that’s great for a party.
Instant Pot Sour Cream Chili Bake
Seasoned ground beef with kidney beans, rice, sour cream and Fritos. An easy weeknight dinner that comes together quickly with the help of your pressure cooker.
Did you know you can filter the recipes on my website to search by meat type, IP or Crockpot, low carb, gluten free, etc.? Use the filter to find exactly what you are looking for.
*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
I haven’t had Texas Roadhouse chili, but I made it because it sounded delicious, and it is! Thank you for this one!
★★★★★
You’re welcome Katie! Thanks for the 5 stars!
Turned out great. I used it for a taco salad, and froze the rest.
★★★★★
I love that idea!
I would have left 5 stars, but having never made it, it looks great! I would leave out the vinegar, tho. Ick!
★★★★
I made this tonight in my instant pot and it was delicious!!! This will be replacing my old chili recipe from now on. My husband even had seconds and he never does this! So glad you posted this recipe!
★★★★★
Wow. Your husband never has seconds? Your chili must not be very good. I always make a huge pot & my husband eats on it all week. Glad you found a good recipe.
★★★★
So glad you loved it Tamera! Thanks for the 5 stars 🙂