Using Indian cuisine spices & ingredients, this chili is hearty & flavorful. Make this Indian spiced chili in your slow cooker or Instant Pot.
PIN FOR LATER
Updated 2020 with Instant Pot instructions
Poultry Of Your Choice
Hindus do not consume beef because they believe the cow to be a sacred symbol of life. Almost 80% of the population in India identifies as Hindu so since this is an Indian spiced chili, there’s no beef. This chili recipe calls for your preferred ground poultry instead of red meat. Use whatever your preference is whether it be ground chicken or ground turkey. You can even use a combination of the two. Having said that, yes this chili can absolutely be made with ground beef as well.
Instant Pot
Using Garam Masala
Garam masala is a spice blend popular is South Asian cooking. It’s a staple in Indian cuisine, used in everything from curries to soups. The spices used to create garam masala varies by region but commonly includes are spices like cloves, cinnamon, cumin, coriander, and chili powder. Garam masala not spicy but has a very strong flavor & aroma. Yellow curry powder is a good substitute for the garam masala in this chili.
OTHER CHILI RECIPES YOU MIGHT ENJOY:
Slow Cooker/Instant Pot The Best Turkey Chili
Slow Cooker/Instant Pot Pumpkin Chili (Paleo, Whole30)
Slow Cooker/Instant Pot Old Fashioned Chili
Slow Cooker/Instant Pot Chunk Beef Chili (Low-Carb, Paleo, Whole30)
Slow Cooker/Instant Pot Bean-Free Chili (Low-Carb, Paleo, Whole30)
Garbanzo Beans or Potatoes
You can make this Indian spiced chili two different ways: using garbanzo beans (chickpeas) or using potatoes. Having made it both ways I can honestly say I don’t think one way tastes better than the other, it’s more personal preference. What are your dietary needs? Garbanzo beans, are a high-protein legume so if you are following a paleo or whole30 diet then you will need to use potatoes because chickpeas are not compliant. If you go the potato route, you can use your preferred potato in this recipe. Having said that, some potatoes work better than others. Waxy potatoes always work best with slow cooker & pressure cookers because they hold their shape during the cooking process. If you use a non-waxy potato, I suggest you cut the potato into larger pieces than you usually would. This will help them hold their shape during the cooking process and not turn mushy on you.
I used a 6-quart slow cooker /or Instant Pot.
PIN FOR LATER
{VIDEO} Slow Cooker/Instant Pot Indian Spiced Chili (Paleo, Whole30)
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Total Time: 3 hours 10 mins
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground poultry
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 15 ounces tomato sauce
- 15 ounces cooked garbanzo beans (drained & rinsed) or 1 pound potatoes, diced
- 1/2 cup onion, diced
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons garam masala or curry powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt (or more)
- 1/2 tsp coriander
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 tablespoon oil (for pressure cooker)
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground poultry until no longer pink.
- Add ground poultry along with all other ingredients to the slow cooker. Stir to mix well.
- Cook HIGH 2-3 hours or LOW 4-6.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro.
- Turn on the pressure cooker and select sauté. Once hot add oil and ground poultry, bell pepper, & onion to the pot. Cook 5-7 minutes or until the poultry is no longer pink and vegetables are soft. Crumble the ground poultry as it cooks. Add garlic & cook an additional minute. Drain grease if you need to.
- Add the garbanzo beans (or potatoes), garam masala (or curry powder), chili powder, cumin, salt, coriander, and pepper to the pressure cooker. Stir to mix well. Pour crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce on top. DO NOT STIR.
- Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure and cook for 20 minutes. Quick release pressure.
Notes
nutritional facts use garbanzo beans
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I have a Q. Do you use dried garbanzo beans or do you first put them in to water to get them soft?
For dry garbanzo beans, yes I do recommend soaking them first to soften them up. If you use canned garbanzo beans, then I suggest draining & rinsing them. I hope you enjoy the recipe!
I love regular chili but I really like the idea of adding curry powder to it. Definitely need to try this!
I love the twist in your recipe. It looks incredibly delicious. Thanks for sharing the recipe. Can’t wait to try!
Such a fun twist on a classic. I love spicy and Indian flavor, this would be amazing to try!
WOW! This is truly awesome. I’m not a particularly good cook, but I’d love to surprise my girlfriend by making this!
Looks like a fantastic recipe. Will have to try this out at my next potluck
The flavors and colors of this dish look amazing. Will have to add to my list.
Wow i could smell its deliciousness all the way here in Manila. I will bookmarked this recipe for this weekend 🙂
I need a good slow cooker in my life. I keep drooling over these recipes, so yummy.
I needed some good crockpot recipes so this on was right on time. I love the flavors.
2-8oz cans of tomatoes? Listed 2x
Nice catch, THANK YOU I’ll update when I’m back at my computer.
I had a friend that used to make Indian food for me all the time. Now that we live on opposite sides of the world, im on my own with these types meals. Lol. Thanks for the recipe.
I have desperately been missing Indian food since moving to a rural town. My mom has sent me several of her recipes but they all seem so complicated and I haven’t had the patience to actually make any of them. THIS one looks like something I’d be wiling to try out though. Slow cooker recipes for the win!
The best thing about a slow cooker is you just throw the stuff in and let it cook! I love Indian food, so I know I’d love this!
My boyfriend would absolutely love this. I’m a vegetarian, but I could probably substitute the chicken for something else (paneer, maybe) and make myself a batch too! 🙂
Christie’s Take on Life. x
I’d add in a more beans for a vegetarian take. Perhaps double up on garbanzo beans?
We’d make this with more beans as we don’t eat much meat. It looks amazing though!
Oo I know I’d love all the flavors in this. Plus I love when I can use my slow cooker. I am going to make this for a future dinner!