Cincinnati Chili is a unique culinary experience combining ground beef, onions, garlic, tomato sauce, and chili powder with cocoa, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, brown sugar, and vinegar. The ending result of this unusual chili is a most enjoyable taste bud exploding experience. You really need to try this chili and you don’t need to go to Cincinnati, Ohio to do it.
What is Cincinnati Chili?
Cincinnati chili originated with immigrant restaurateurs in the 1920’s who were trying to expand their customer base by moving beyond narrowly ethnic styles of cuisine. Ingredients for this chili might include ground beef, stock, tomato paste, cinnamon, other Mediterranean spices and sometimes chocolate in a soup-like consistency. Toppings include cheese, onions, and beans.
My version of this wonderful chili contains a little bit of cocoa, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and cayenne. It is an unusual combo but it is so delicious. You will find it almost impossible to stop eating it! I serve it on spaghetti sprinkled with cheddar and onions. However you can garnish with whatever you like. As they say wear what you dig.
How do you make Cincinnati Chili?
This chili is so easy to make. First simmer your ground beef and beef broth in large pot or Dutch oven breaking up the beef as it cooks. Make sure you skim off any fat that floats to the top. Sauté your onion and garlic in a separate skillet. Stir the sautéed onion and garlic, tomato sauce, chili powder, cocoa powder, cumin, ground cinnamon, ground cayenne pepper, ground cloves, ground allspice, cider vinegar, Worcestershire Sauce, tomato paste and brown sugar in the pot with the beef. Simmer uncovered for 2-3 hours. Finally serve over cooked spaghetti with shredded cheddar and finally diced onions or however you like to garnish it.
Ways to serve Cincinnati Skyline Chili
- 2-Way Chili – The chili mixture is served on spaghetti. Yummy!
- 3-Way Chili – Top the chili and spaghetti with shredded cheddar cheese. Super yummy!
- 4-Way Chili – Top the whole caboodle with onions. Oh my heavens!
- 5-Way Chili – Top the whole kit and caboodle with kidney beans! Heavens to Betsy!
- Coney dog – Top a hot dog in a bun with Cincinnati chili, shredded cheese, diced onions, and a little mustard.
This is a weekend meal as it needs to simmer in the Dutch oven for several hours. However it is well worth the time and the effort. It is just that good! Cincinnati Chili makes for awesome leftovers. This is one of those dishes that tastes even better the next day as the flavors have all had time to meld with each other.
Other ground beef recipes you will love!
- Homemade Sloppy Joes
- Ground Beef Stroganoff (Hamburger)
- Savory Sweet Swedish Meatballs
- Classic Patty Melt
Cincinnati Chili Recipe
Cincinnati Chili is a unique blend of ground beef, onions, chili powder, cocoa powder, cinnamon, cloves, and allspice. It is traditionally served in a bowl over spaghetti noodles with shredded cheddar and oyster crackers.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 150 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 50 minutes
- Yield: 8
- Category: Main Meal
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 4 cup low sodium beef broth
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 3 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 8 ounces of spaghetti cooked according to package instructions
- 2 cups shredded cheddar
- 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
- kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper
Instructions
- Combine beef broth and beef in large heavy stock pot or Dutch oven uncovered. Bring to a low boil and then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Skim off scum and fat that floats to the top.
- In small skillet melt butter over medium heat. Add onion and saute until soft adding garlic that last minute of cooking. Add cooked onion and garlic, tomato sauce, chili powder, cocoa powder, cumin, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, cloves, allspice, cider vinegar, Worcestershire Sauce, tomato paste and brown sugar. Simmer uncovered for 2-3 hours. Season with kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste.
- Serve over cooked spaghetti. Garnish with cheddar and onions.
Keywords: Cincinnati style chili, best chili in Cincinnati, Cincinnati chili 5 way, Cincinnati chili spaghetti
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This post was originally published April 4, 2016 and was republished June 15, 2020 with new content.
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Marysa
I love the idea of putting chili over pasta! Chili has always been a bit rich for me, and I like having it with something like spaghetti. I’ve never heard of Cincinnati chili but it sounds tasty.
Tammy
I cannot say I’ve ever had Cincinnati Chili but it sounds so delicious and I’m intrigued at the addition of cocoa. What an interesting combination of flavors and spices. Sounds super comforting!
★★★★★
briannemanzb
Making Cincinnati Chili gets me out of my comfort zone but I’m sure the payoff comes when I tuck into a giant plate of grade-A comfort food. Thanks for this Beth. It was delicious.
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
You are more welcome Brianne!
Yeah Lifestyle
This dish was packed full of flavor! I love a good chili recipe and I am definitely going to be making this one again!
★★★★★
Stephanie
Ok, I’ve put sugar in my homemade chili powder before, but I’ve never tried it with cocoa powder! It’s definitely different than the Southern Chili I grew up on, but I like it.
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks Stephanie! It is a tasty change from traditional chili.
Melanie E
Although it does sound different I bet it tastes awesome. I don’t normally add cocoa, cloves, allspice, brown sugar, or vinegar to my chili when I make it. It would be nice to try this different version.
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Yes it is delicious! You really should give it a try!
Becky, Cuddle Fairy
I adore chili but I’ve never heard of Cincinnati Chili before! The recipe is packed with flavor, I’m so excited to try this! I think I will plan on making it this weekend!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks! Enjoy!!
syd
Lived in Cincinnati for quite a few years – and ate gallons of chili – My brother in law even owned a chili restaurant – although it was a franchise and he got his chili premade – I question the allspice and barbecue – when I made it up till now it was the cinnamon and cocoa that made it Cincinnati – everything else sounds reasonable – gonna get the fixins for this recipe and try it – Since *every* recipe can be improved.
Of course, then there is the best of the area – Gold Star Chilli ( the best one of which is actually in Northern KY)… That’s what I am aiming for …
Jessie
Yum! This chili sounds so good and I can think of so many things that this will go amazing with!
★★★★★
Gail Montero
Looks absolutely tasty and my kind of comfort food for chilly/chili nights! Need to try this soon!
★★★★★
Claudia Lamascolo
Oh we love using cinnamon in sauces its kind of a middle eastern flavor never heard it called this name but I really love it a must try with chili
★★★★★
Lindsay
I’ve never had Cincinnati Chili, but it looks amazing! I can’t believe how many different spices are in it – that must be what makes it so good.
★★★★★
Liz
I’m from Ohio but most of my family has moved to Virginia (where I am) and I know they miss this chili! I’m going to share this recipe with all of them!
★★★★★
Michelle
I hadn’t heard of Cincinnati chili before so thanks for enlightening! It sounds so good — will have to try it soon! Thanks for sharing.
★★★★★
Whitney sokola
Do you Brown the meat first?
Beth Pierce
No you do not.
John Sutton
A fellow co-worker cooked this in our Company’s kitchen and we all had it for lunch. This is the best Cincinnati Chili I have ever had in my life!!! You need to eat over hot or warm spaghetti and with finely chopped sweet onions as a garnish. It was so good I had two big bowls of it. Previously I’ve had Sky Line Chili but it cant hold a candle to this recipe.
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much John! So glad that you liked it!
Suzy
Had no idea that you could serve this over spaghetti! Such a delicious chili. So flavorful!
★★★★★
wilhelmina
This was a new one for me, but oh my, it’s delicious! I will be making it again very soon!
★★★★★
Toni
I really love how flavorful this is!! Quickly became a favorite at my house!
★★★★★
Lindsay Cotter
It’s been raining here all day! This was the perfect comfort food dinner for us!
★★★★★
Lauren Kelly
This is one of my favorite recipes. The ultimate comfort food!
★★★★★
eleanor
can i substitute other bbq sauce? from Canada and not have the Kansas city style
Beth Pierce
Yes you can. I would try to go with something that is not overly sweet.
Catalina
Sounds like a must try recipe! So easy and delicious!
★★★★★
Allyson Zea
I’ve never tried Cincinnati chili but now I really want to! This looks delicious!
Sara Welch
This was just the heartwarming dish I needed! My kids couldn’t get enough of this so I’ll be adding this to my weekly dinner lineup for sure!
★★★★★
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert
This looks absolutely delicious! Yummy!
★★★★★
Chrissie Baker
YESSS! This looks SO good- I think I could eat an entire batch in a single day.
★★★★★
Krista
I love the cocoa and cinnamon in this recipe! Sounds amazing!
★★★★★
Erin @ Thanks for Cookin'!
Oh my I haven’t had Cincinnati Chili in years! I used to order it at Steak and Shake when we live in Missouri…of course that stuff isn’t very authentic. I’ve never made it myself but this recipe looks too good to pass up! Love the addition of cocoa powder. Talk about depth of flavor! Yum!