Go Back Email Link
+ servings
Close up top down image of chile colorado in a big bowl with Spanish rice and cilantro sprinkled on top
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe
4.86 from 14 votes

Instant Pot Chile Colorado

Instant Pot Chile Colorado is tender beef stewed in a rich, flavorful red chile sauce made easy in the pressure cooker! This easy chile colorado recipe is amazing restaurant-quality meal.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time50 minutes
Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
Course: Main Dishes
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 6 Servings
Calories: 589kcal
Author: Julia

Ingredients

Chile Colorado Sauce:

  • 6 dried guajillo chiles
  • 2 dried ancho chiles
  • 2 dried arbol chiles
  • 1 small yellow onion diced
  • 4 cups beef broth or chicken broth
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp sea salt

For the Beef:

Instructions

Make the Chile Colorado Sauce:

  • Add all of the dried chilies to a saucepan along with the chicken stock or beef broth. Bring the mixture to a full boil then remove it from the stove top.
    Dried chiles in boiling water in a saucepan to reconstitute the chiles
  • Add the chopped onion to a blender along with the oregano, cumin, and sea salt. Once the reconstituted chilies are cool enough to handle, remove the stems and seeds (or leave some of the seeds for a spicier sauce) and transfer the chilies and the broth to the blender. Blend until everything is well-combined.
    chiles in a blender to make chile colorado sauce

Sear the Beef:

  • Place the beef stew meat in a large mixing bowl along with the flour, sea salt, and pepper. Toss everything together until the beef is well-coated.
    Beef tossed in flour in a mixing bowl
  • Plug in the Instant Pot and press the Sauté button. Pour in the avocado oil and allow the pot to heat up for a few minutes. Transfer half of the meat to the Instant Pot, arranging it in a single layer. Allow the meat to brown for a few minutes before flipping it to the other side and allowing it to brown for another few minutes, or until there is a nice golden crust on two sides. Transfer the meat to a plate and repeat this process for the rest of the meat.
    Beef searing inside of an Instant Pot
  • Once the meat is browned, transfer the meat from the plate back into the Instant Pot. 
    All of the beef stew meat in an Instant Pot
  • Pour the chile colorado sauce through a fine mesh strainer into the pressure cooker.
    Strainer of chile colorado sauce hovering over an Instant Pot
  • Use a wooden spoon to stir it around until all of the liquid has strained into the pressure cooker and the strainer is left with just the pulp. Discard the pulp.
    Chile pulp in a strainer from red chile sauce
  • Add the bay leaves to the Instant Pot and give everything a stir.
    Beef and red chile sauce in an instant pot, ready to pressure cook
  • Secure the lid on the Instant Pot and pressure cook on High heat for 20 minutes. Allow the Instant Pot to naturally release (and go into Keep Warm mode) for at least 30 minutes. This process ensures the beef turns out nice and tender. While pressure cooking for 20 minutes will cook it all the way through and make it ready to eat, it’s the natural release process that ensures the beef turns out tender and rich in flavor.
    Finished chile colorado in an Instant Pot
  • Remove the lid on the Instant Pot and press the Sauté or Boil button. Allow the mixture to come to a full boil. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has reduced down a bit and is nice and thick.
  • Serve Chile Colorado with Spanish Rice, tortillas, and any additional toppings or side dishes such as black beans, refried beans, cheese, etc.
    Horizontal top down photo of bowl of chile colorado with Spanish rice

Notes

*Or regular all-purpose flour, tapioca flour, or arrowroot starch. You will need another 2 tablespoons of flour to thicken the sauce once everything is cooked if you like it thick.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Serving (of 6) | Calories: 589kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 47g | Fat: 37g | Sugar: 4g