1-Hour Pressure Cooker Texas-Style Chili con Carne Recipe

Updated February 22, 2019

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Real Texas chili con carne is all about the beef and the chiles. In this version, we start with toasted whole dried chiles and puree them with broth and spices before adding beef chuck and cooking the whole thing down in a pressure cooker. Thirty minutes later, you've got spoon-tender chunks of beef in a rich, complex chili-based stew.

Why this recipe works:

Using a blend of whole dried chiles delivers maximum flavor to the stew.
We sear whole chunks of beef chuck before cutting them into chunks. This ensures that the beef sears instead of steams, delivering better browning and more flavor in a minimal amount of time.
Once the pressure cooker comes to pressure, it takes just 30 minutes for the beef to tenderize.

The Pressure Cooker Makes Short Work of This Authentic Texas Chile con Carne | The Food Lab

Recipe Details

1-Hour Pressure Cooker Texas-Style Chili con Carne Recipe

Active 30 mins

Total 60 mins

Serves 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients

3 whole sweet fresh dried chiles like Costeño, New Mexico, or Choricero, stems and seeds removed
2 small hot dried chiles like Arbol or Cascabel, stems and seeds removed
3 whole rich fruity dried chiles like Ancho, Mulatto, Negro, or Pasilla, stems and seeds removed
1 1/2 quarts homemade chicken stock or store-bought low-sodium broth
2 whole chipotle dried chiles canned in adobo sauce, plus 2 tablespoons sauce, stems and seeds removed
4 pounds whole beef chuck, trimmed of excess gristle and fat, cut into 2 to 3 large steaks
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 large onion, finely diced
4 medium cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 tablespoons Asian fish sauce, plus more to taste
2 to 3 tablespoons masa harina (optional)
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
Hot sauce, to taste
Cilantro, chopped onions, scallions, grated cheese, avocado, and warm tortillas for serving as desired

Directions

Add dried chiles to large heavy-bottomed Dutch oven or stock pot and cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until slightly darkened with intense, roasted aroma, 2 to 5 minutes. Do not allow to smoke. Remove chiles to small bowl and set aside. Alternatively, place dried chiles on a microwave-safe plate and microwave on high power in 15-second increments until pliable and toasted-smelling, about 30 seconds total. Transfer to a 2-quart microwave-safe liquid measuring cup or bowl. Add chicken broth and chipotle chiles, cover with plastic wrap, and microwave on high power until gently simmering, about 5 minutes. Remove from microwave and set aside.
Season chuck steaks generously with salt and pepper. Heat oil in the base of an electric or stovetop pressure cooker over high heat until just starting to smoke. Add half of beef chuck in a single layer and cook without moving until deeply browned, about 6 minutes. Flip steaks and brown second side, 3 to 4 minutes longer. Transfer steaks to a cutting board.
Add onions to pressure cooker and cook, stirring frequently until translucent and softened, about 2 minutes. Add garlic, cinnamon, cumin, allspice, and oregano, and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the soaked chiles and the chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Transfer mixture to the jar of a blender. Blend, starting on the lowest possible setting and gradually increasing speed to high (make sure to hold the lid down with a clean kitchen towel or a potholder to prevent it from blowing out). Blend until smooth, about 1 minute. Return purée to the pressure cooker.
Cut the seared and raw chuck steaks into 1 1/2- to 2-inch chunks and transfer to the pressure cooker. Bring to a simmer, season gently with salt and pepper, seal pressure cooker, and cook on high pressure for 30 minutes.
Release pressure using quick release valve on an electric cooker or running under cold water for a stovetop cooker. Remove lid. Stir in fish sauce, masa harina (if using), and vinegar. Add hot sauce to taste. Simmer until thickened to desired consistency, about 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt. For best results, allow chili to cool and store in the refrigerator at least overnight and up to five days. Reheat the next day to serve.
Serve, garnished with cilantro, chopped onions, scallions, grated cheese, avocado, and warm tortillas as desired.

Special equipment

Electric or stovetop pressure cooker

This Recipe Appears In

The Food Lab: The Pressure Cooker Makes Short Work of This Authentic Texas Chili con Carne

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
520	Calories
20g	Fat
8g	Carbs
78g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories	520
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 20g	26%
Saturated Fat 7g	35%
Cholesterol 225mg	75%
Sodium 1050mg	46%
Total Carbohydrate 8g	3%
Dietary Fiber 2g	6%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 78g
Vitamin C 3mg	15%
Calcium 81mg	6%
Iron 8mg	46%
Potassium 1019mg	22%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.