Best Tex Mex Chili Recipe in the Instant Pot
The Best Tex Mex Chili Recipe is full of flavor, gut healthy ingredients including poblano peppers, black beans, kidney beans, onion and garlic. What’s more, you can make this ahead of time in your Instant Pot and allow it to simmer. Or, if you don’t have an Instant Pot you can throw it in a big ol’ pot and cook it on your stove.
The men in my life have officially named this chili the Best Tex Mex Chili Recipe with Corn. In fact, I actually made it for Father’s Day this year by special request.
Healthy Micro superheroes featured in this recipe
What Do I Need to Do to Make the Best Tex Mex Chili Recipe in the Instant Pot?
- First, brown and cook the turkey.
- Second, sauté the vegetables.
- Third, add the seasoning and chicken stock.
- Fourth, close the Instant Pot lid and press chili.
- Serve yourself a big ol’ bowl of Tex-Mex Chili and enjoy!
Gut Healthy Ingredients in the Best Tex Mex Chili Recipe
This hearty recipe for the Best Tex-Mex Chili with Corn will satisfy you and your gut. Tex-Mex Chili is light without being sparse on taste and fills you up with healthy proteins including black beans, kidney beans, and lean ground turkey. It has plenty of seasoning, and will simmer in your Instant Pot or stove until you are ready to serve it.
Are you pulled a million directions? Do you actually want to TALK to your guests or family instead of cooking? Make Tex-Mex chili ahead of time and give yourself permission to relax and enjoy the people you love!
Dr. Kait
Corn and Beans are Tex Mex Staple Ingredients
Corn is high in antioxidants, making it an excellent contributor to your gut health. Corn includes zeaxanthin and lutein which support eye health (Abdal-Aal et al., 2013). It also has a large amount of ferulic acid, which supports the development of short chain fatty acids that keep our guts healthy (Admon & Liu, 2002). In fact, there is more ferulic acid in corn than there is in other grains including, oats, wheat, and rice (Admon & Liu, 2002). Additionally, corn is low in calories, with one husk of corn equal to about 100 calories (Herr, 2022). This is the same as about 1 apple (Herr, 2022).
Beans and grains are complementary food groups, notching up the micro superhero bacteria in one another. Corn, is often thought of as a vegetable. However, it’s really a vegetable masquerading as a grain. Due to its high level of ferulic acid, corn provides all the benefit of incorporating a grain with less calories, and great taste.
Tex Mex Black Beans are High In Fiber
Black beans are a gut healthy superfood high in fiber and antioxidants. They are easy to keep in your cupboard and throw into a variety of dishes including Mexican Pizza with Arugula Lime Salad, Air Fryer Black Bean Taquitos, and Hummus Taco Bowls, and, drumroll please, the Best Tex-Mex Chili with Corn!
Black Beans Regulate Your Blood Sugar
Did you know black beans can help regulate you blood sugar and decrease your risk of chronic disease including heart disease and type II diabetes (Winham et al., 2017). Why? As an excellent source of plant-based fiber, they also are rich in antioxidants which help reduce the bad free radicals floating around your gut (Chávez-Mendoza & Sánchez, 2017).
Black Beans Are A Low Glycemic Index Food If you are at risk for type II diabetes, eating low glycemic index foods, like black beans, is very important But how many beans do you need to help reduce the glycemic index? Doctors have found that even 1/2 a cup of black beans can bring down the glycemic index and help control your blood sugar (Winham et al., 2017).
Antioxidants Reduce Chronic Disease and Some Cancers
The healthy micro superstars in black beans include antioxidants which defend against free radicals that have been found related to chronic diseases and cancer. Specifically, the flavonoids in black beans have been found preventative against cancer and heart disease (Chávez-Mendoza & Sánchez, 2017).
Did I mention black beans are baby/toddler approved? Easy to pick up for even the tiniest fingers, they are pretty soft when cooked and a healthy meal for your little one.
Poblano Peppers Can Reduce Inflammation
Poblano peppers have a ton of antioxidants and vitamin C supporting your gut health and helping it fight off free radicals that can create inflammation and disease. High in water, similar to cucumbers, poblano peppers are a nutrient dense vegetable. With a low calorie burden, they pack a good deal of nutritional benefit with little cost. They are an excellent source of healthy carbs, protein, fat, and fiber. Similar to kale and carrots, the antioxidants in bell peppers support healthy eyes. And, as a rich source of vitamin C, they may prevent anemia or low iron levels.
Wondering if You Should Get an Instant Pot?
Check out my post on the Top Four Benefits of the Instant Pot
Make the Best Tex Mex Chili Recipe in the Instant Pot Tonight!
Tex-Mex Chili with Corn is a little piece of Americana and perfect for a family Sunday night. The gut healthy ingredients in this chili complement one another perfectly while also supporting your digestion, heart health, and immune system. Throw it in the Instant Pot and press the chili button. After a half hour, this chili will taste like it’s been simmering all day. Try the Best Tex-Mex Chili with homemade cornbread muffins for a warm, cozy meal to end your day.
Best Tex-Mex Chili with Corn in the Instant Pot
Equipment
- 1 Instant Pot or large pot
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground turkey 93% lean, 7% fat
- 2 poblano peppers diced
- 1 bag frozen corn 16 oz
- 8 cloves garlic minced
- 1 1/2 large Spanish onions diced
- 2 cans kidney beans drained and rinsed
- 2 cans black beans drained and rinsed
- 2 1/2 cups chicken stock
- 1 tbsp oregano
- 3 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 2 tbsp cumin
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- Mediterranean sea salt to taste
- ground pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
Instructions
Cook the Meat
- Add 1 tbsp olive oil the Instant Pot. Press sauté.
- Add the ground turkey. Cook the meat breaking it into pieces until browned and cooked through.1 lb ground turkey
Sauté the Vegetables
- Add 1 more tbsp olive oil. Add the onion and garlic. Sauté for 2 minutes.1 1/2 large Spanish onions, 8 cloves garlic
- Add the poblano pepper. Sauté for 2 minutes.2 poblano peppers
- Add the corn and beans. Stir well to combine.1 bag frozen corn, 2 cans kidney beans, 2 cans black beans
- Add the seasonings and stir. Add the chicken stock. Stir once more.1 tbsp oregano, 3 tbsp Italian seasoning, 2 tbsp cumin, 1 tbsp smoked paprika, Mediterranean sea salt, ground pepper, 2 1/2 cups chicken stock
Cook the Chili
- Press cancel on the Instant Pot. Put the lid on and close the pressure valve.
- Press chili and set it to 30 minutes.
- When it finishes cooking, allow to vent naturally or manually (meaning you move the pressure valve from sealed to "venting").
Serve
- The chili can stay warm in the Instant Pot up to 10 hours. When you're ready to eat, ladle into bowls and enjoy!
