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Ninja Foodi Mild Chili Recipe

Mild chili recipe using ingredients in your pantry and fridge right now! Instructions for your Crockpot, stovetop, or Ninja Foodi pressure cooker so dinner is perfect. 

mild chili recipe

Who doesn’t love a hearty mild chili recipe you can spice up in separate bowls for those daring to go the distance??! 😉 We do!! I think we probably make this easy Ninja Foodi recipe for dinner about once a week. (originally published 5/19, affiliate links present)

Homemade chili topped with cheddar cheese and sour cream, inside potatoes or spooned on top of a bed of rice is our favorite easy dinner.

Let me share where our whole chili journey began….

Ninja Foodi Chili

FIRST – You should sign up for my free newsletter so you get new posts emailed to you twice a week and never miss out on anything!

If you too are obsessed with your Ninja Foodi pressure cooker air fryer machine, here are a few resource to start with:

  1. You can bookmark our Ninja air fryer recipes page, we add to that weekly.
    1. Here’s a printable air fryer cooking times chart here for your fridge.
    2. Be sure to save this link to Instant Pot recipes for beginners too. You can use any of those in your pot too.

  1. Grab a set of wooden utensils to work with. They are great so your pot doesn’t get scratched!
  2. Then join our Ninja Foodi EASY Recipes – Facebook group where you can share and find more ideas you’ll love. Thousands of others share both pressure cooker and air fryer recipe ideas there daily and you can too!

If you need to know how to cook frozen meat in a pressure cooker, we have information on that. NO, you aren’t the only forgetful one. 😉

ninja foodi

Mild chili recipe

Still to this day I use that as a base and tweak things from there. Like this one I found in the Mealthy cookbook here.

I used their spices, minus the chili powder, and added things like the can of diced tomatoes we always like to make it a bit chunkier.

mealthy cookbook

That’s the thing with recipes. You can make all of them your own. Most of the time when you’re searching for something to make, you don’t have to make it exactly as stated, I never do. My mom hates onions with a passion so she’d always omit those, where I think they’re necessary in everything!

  1. Precook your ground beef or sausage and drain

Can you put raw ground beef in a slow cooker?

I prefer to brown my meat before adding it in with your other ingredients. I have made Crockpot ground beef before, but you have to wait for it to be done first, then add rest of ingredients.

  1. Add all other ingredients – Once everything is in there give it a good stir so everything melds together while it’s cooking.

Do you add water to chili?

It depends on the recipe but you will need liquid. I’d opt for beef broth vs. water for way more flavor. Then close your lid.

Set your time – I recommend using low for all crockpot recipes. The whole point of a slow cooker is to cook everything SLOOOOoooooW so don’t rush it. The flavor will be better the longer it’s in there.

crockpot chili

Chili in Ninja Foodi

How to make Instant Pot chili?

First off this is my method of choice! Whether you have an Instant Pot, Crockpot Express, Power Pressure Cooker XL, or Mealthy it’s just the way to go.

  • If you have a Ninja Foodi you can go an extra step with their air crisp lid and even make this Ninja Foodi chili mac version!

This is how quick and easy it is:

  1. Turn your pot to saute and add your olive oil, meat and onions (bell peppers could be added too). Cook until meat is no longer pink. Then turn off.
  2. Add all other ingredients and stir.
  3. Close your pressure cooker lid and steam valve.
  4. Set to high pressure for 10 minutes.
  5. Quick release and done!

Remember to top with cheese, sour cream chives and more!

mealthy 2

What can I add to chili for flavor?

We have quite a few spices in the recipe card below but here are a few more to try:

  • Garlic powder
  • Onion powder
  • Seasoned salt like Lawry’s
  • Chili seasoning mix
  • Pepper
  • Chili powder and cayenne pepper can be added for heat
    • If you’re making this mild chili recipe but 1 person in your house likes it spicy just add a bit in their bowl only so everyone is happy.

Some have been known to add a bit of honey or dry sherry to the mix too to make it sweet! Others use carbonated soda instead of water or broth to thin it out.

pressure cooker chili

How can you thicken chili?

  • You can add a few tablespoons of cornmeal or polenta!

Ninja Foodi Chili Recipe

  1. Meat
    1. I like 1/2 lb. ground sausage and 1/2 lb. ground beef
    2. Could use ground turkey

Chopped onions and bell peppers are optional but nice for texture and more flavor.

  1. Olive oil
  2. Can of diced tomatoes
  3. Can of black beans
    1. Sometimes I add a can of kidney beans too
  4. Beef broth
  5. Can of tomato sauce
  6. Garlic, minced
  7. Cumin
  8. Salt
  9. Garlic salt

Paprika and oregano are nice add ins as well.

bell peppers and onions

I have a printable recipe for chili in Ninja Foodi below but here is a quick step by step so you can read just how easy this is to throw together. I call this 5 ingredient pressure cooker chili.

  1. First you’re going to turn your machine to saute and add your olive oil.
  2. Add your ground beef or turkey and brown with your diced onions and bell peppers if you’re adding those too.
  3. You just want to cook until the outsides are no longer pink, you don’t need it completely cooked thru.
  4. Then turn your pot off to give it a few minutes to cool off. Deglaze by gently scraping any stuck on food off the bottom of your pot.
  5. Now dump in all your other ingredients and stir contents together.

Set to high pressure cook for 10 minutes with a quick release of your steam when time is up. Stir and serve topped with shredded sharp cheese, some green onions, others like raw onions or just as is.

If you wanted to make it spicy you could add some Sriracha or chili powder.

instant pot chili recipe

What do you eat with chili?

We serve it on top of these two things:

Best sides to serve on chili night

  1. Shredded cheddar cheese
  2. Sour cream
    1. Or add a bit into the mix at the end to make it creamy!
  3. Diced chives

Tortilla chips – these are the best for scooping

Chili dip recipe

What if you want to make stovetop chili?

NO Problem!!

  • Just use a large pot or dutch oven on the stove, set to medium high heat and add meat, onions, and olive oil.
  • Once that is browned add all other ingredients, stir, and reduce heat to low.
  • Cover pot and allow to cook for at least 10 minutes stirring intermittently so it doesn’t get overheated on the bottom.
  • 20 minutes on very low heat is ideal for the flavors to really become enhanced.
  • Then serve!!

I actually add 1/4 tsp. of chili powder to this good chili recipe myself. It still stays mild in my opinion but adds a bit of wow.

If you are very sensitive to all spices then omit completely. Then make chili stuffed peppers or 3 bean chili and enjoy!!

Want to see a few of my favorite things that I am totally obsessed with?? Take a peek and see how many you might already have…twinsies!

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***** If you LOVED this recipe give it 5 Stars below and let everyone know what you thought about it. 😉

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mild chili recipe
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5 from 3 votes

Ninja Foodi Chili

Mild chili recipe using ingredients in your pantry and fridge right now! Instructions for your Crockpot, stovetop, or Ninja Foodi chili so dinner is perfect.
Course Entree, Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword bean, chili, ground beef, ground sausage, mild
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 341kcal
Author The Typical Mom

Ingredients

Instructions

  • If using a pressure cooker set to saute and add olive oil, diced onions, and meat. Cook until no longer pink. Turn pot off. If using stovetop do this in a pot on med. heat. Slow cooker method needs meat precooked so use a skillet and then put cooked meat into your Crockpot.
  • Add all other ingredients into your pot and stir. On a pressure cooker close lid and steam valve. Set to pressure cook, high, for 10 minutes. Then do a quick release. If on stovetop put on low with lid ajar and allow to simmer for 10-15 min. stirring intermittently so it doesn't burn on bottom.
  • The slower and longer it cooks the more the flavors will be enhanced. So, using your slow cooker is a great method. Just add cooked meat and all other ingredients, stir, and set on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours. Do not cook on stovetop longer than 20 minutes on low.
  • Serve immediately topped with cheese, sour cream and chives!

Video

Nutrition Facts
Ninja Foodi Chili
Amount Per Serving (3 oz)
Calories 341 Calories from Fat 189
% Daily Value*
Fat 21g32%
Saturated Fat 7g44%
Cholesterol 54mg18%
Sodium 996mg43%
Potassium 910mg26%
Carbohydrates 21g7%
Fiber 6g25%
Sugar 7g8%
Protein 20g40%
Vitamin A 620IU12%
Vitamin C 16.1mg20%
Calcium 73mg7%
Iron 4.5mg25%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
ninja foodi chili
Recipe Rating




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Leo M Vanderham

Thursday 20th of October 2022

Can you please explain how it is that you used the Ninja Foodi to make your chilli? As for me... I sautéed the meat, onions and green peppers. I prepared the beans with all necessary ingredients and spices. This I added to the Foodi and set its program to Pressure. It started the pre process and then asked for water. I added broth instead and restarted Pressure...which did the pre and then asked for water again. By this time the pot's contents started looking like a thick soup. I transferred the contents to a wok and salvaged my chilli. Did you actually ever try this yourself?

Leo M Vanderham

Friday 21st of October 2022

@The Typical Mom, I had indeed added the broth and tomatoes. The liquid was clearly visible. The lid is the detachable kind. And just to make sure I stirred the pot before locking the lid. Perhaps it's a shortcoming of the cooker because I've had the same happening before with other preparations. In this case I added cornstarch after completing the cooking process and the chilli still came out fine. In future I will try once more. If the same I'll revert to my trusted induction process.

The Typical Mom

Thursday 20th of October 2022

You should have added the necessary broth listed in the recipe card and can of diced tomatoes before locking on the lid. That is MORE than enough liquid to not ever trigger the burn function. Did you add those with your beans, meat, and onions? Are you using the lid that is not attached? Sounds like you may be using the lid that is attached which is only for air frying food.

Brandy

Friday 10th of December 2021

Such a great chili recipe. It is the perfect time of year for a bowl of this comfort food, and it did not disappoint! Can't wait to make again!

The Typical Mom

Sunday 12th of December 2021

Awesome!

Gina

Friday 10th of December 2021

This is a great one for the spice haters! I personally love spice to my chili but my husband doesn't - we compromise with this recipe. Still so flavorful!

The Typical Mom

Sunday 12th of December 2021

Ditto

Sherrisa Cloninger

Thursday 13th of February 2020

My family loved this recipe . we did the crockpot and it was wonderful

Cathie

Monday 14th of October 2019

I did this in the Ninja foodie. I used ground Turkey.The only thing I added was corn and some shredded cheese. My husband had 2 servings. Delicious!

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