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Instant Pot Hearty Chicken and White Bean Chili

Name: Instant Pot Hearty Chicken and White Bean Chili
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Southwestern
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 medium yellow onion, diced; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1 green bell pepper, diced; 2 teaspoons ground cumin; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1 teaspoon dried oregano; 1/2 teaspoon chili powder; 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, adjust for kid-friendly); 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste; 1 (15-ounce) can white beans (cannellini or great northern), drained and rinsed; 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chilies; 1 1/2 cups low sodium chicken broth; 1 1/4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-size pieces; 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped (optional garnish); Juice of 1 lime (optional garnish); Sour cream or shredded cheese (optional garnish)

By PanPotPlates Editorial TeamPublished Apr 17, 2026 | Updated May 11, 2026

Southwestern 45 mins instantpotonepotfamilydinnerquickcomfortfoodmealprepbudget-friendly

Instant Pot Hearty Chicken and White Bean Chili is a practical PanPotPlates recipe built for dependable weeknight cooking.

Prep 10 min

Cook 35 min

Total 45 min

Servings 6

Difficulty easy

Cuisine Southwestern

Ingredients

Servings 6

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 green bell pepper, diced
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, adjust for kid-friendly)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
1 (15-ounce) can white beans (cannellini or great northern), drained and rinsed
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chilies
1 1/2 cups low sodium chicken broth
1 1/4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped (optional garnish)
Juice of 1 lime (optional garnish)
Sour cream or shredded cheese (optional garnish)

Ingredients for Instant Pot Hearty Chicken and White Bean Chili

Instructions

Set the Instant Pot to 'Sauté' mode and heat the olive oil.
Once hot, add the diced onion, green bell pepper, and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and fragrant, about 4-5 minutes.
Add ground cumin, smoked paprika, dried oregano, chili powder, cayenne pepper (if using), black pepper, and salt. Stir to coat the vegetables and toast the spices for about 1 minute.
Add the chicken pieces to the pot and stir to combine with the spices and vegetables.
Pour in the drained white beans, diced tomatoes with green chilies (including the juice), and chicken broth. Stir gently to combine all ingredients.
Lock the Instant Pot lid in place and set the valve to sealing. Cook on 'Pressure Cook' or 'Manual' at high pressure for 10 minutes.
When cooking is complete, allow a natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then carefully quick release any remaining pressure.
Open the lid, stir the chili, and taste. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
Serve warm, topped with fresh cilantro, a squeeze of lime juice, sour cream, or shredded cheese if desired.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.