Cincinnati Chili is an Ohio specialty, made famous by the Skyline Chili Restaurant.
Filled with savory, unique ingredients, this non-traditional chili is best served over spaghetti, and topped with onions, beans, and cheddar cheese.
If you’ve ever actually been to Skyline Chili in Cincinnati, you know how special this recipe is.
It’s like no other chili you’ve ever tasted. That’s because Cinncinati chili includes some unconventional secret ingredients, like cloves, allspice, cinnamon, and even chocolate!
The result is a meaty, rich, and savory chili that is so delicious! Serve it any way you like, but my favorite is the “5-Way” style, with spaghetti, red kidney beans, diced onions, and shredded cheddar cheese.
If you’re looking for a more traditional chili recipe, try my easy slow cooker turkey chili, instant pot chili, or vegetarian butternut squash chili next.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Exciting Flavors – This is a chili recipe, but it’s nothing like your standard Tex-Mex chili recipe. The combination of spices like cinnamon, cloves, and allspice with chocolate gives this recipe a unique and unforgettable taste.
- Easy Recipe – This chili recipe is cooked all in one large pot, and only requires a few minutes of hands-on cooking. Let this Cincinnati chili simmer on the stove or slow cook in your crock pot while you take care of other things in the kitchen.
- Serving Options – The classic Skyline way to serve this meal is over spaghetti, but you can also serve Cincinnati chili over hot dogs, french fries, or even rice!
Key Ingredients
Here’s what you need to make this Ohio favorite:
- Ground Beef: You won’t get a chance to drain the fat away from the meat in this recipe, so I suggest that you choose lean ground beef so that the chili isn’t greasy.
- Chocolate: Use a small amount of unsweetened chocolate to give your Cincinnati chili its signature rich flavor. Trust me, it’s the secret ingredient here, and so good!
- Spices: All of these tasty add-ins are probably in your pantry! Dried oregano, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves give this chili the most unique flavor.
- Toppings: Once your chili is ready, you’ll want to have some cooked spaghetti, shredded cheddar cheese, kidney beans, and diced white onion to put the meal together.
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
How To Make Cincinnati Chili
- Saute the Onion: In a Dutch oven or large pot over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil, then add the onions and cook until they are soft and translucent.
- Add Seasonings: Add in the chopped chocolate, minced garlic, oregano, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves. Stir and cook until fragrant, or for about 30 seconds.
- Add the Rest of the Ingredients: Pour in the beef broth, tomato sauce, vinegar, tomato paste, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir, then add the ground beef.
- Boil: Use a potato masher to break apart the ground beef while bringing the chili mixture to a boil.
- Simmer: Lower the heat and let your Cincinnati chili simmer until it thickens. This should take 20-25 minutes. Taste the chili and season with salt and pepper to your liking.
Tip!
Make sure that you’re ready to add in the broth and tomato sauce as soon as the seasonings are fragrant. You don’t want to burn the chocolate or the garlic in the pan.
How To Serve Cincinnati Chili
Do you want to know exactly how to serve this Cincinnati Chili the Skyline Way? First, you need to understand how a person would order a plate of chili from a Cincinnati restaurant.
The different types of serving options are called “ways”, and they go from 1-way to 5-way, with 5-Way Chili being the most dressed.
Here’s what you need to make a plate of Cincinnati Skyline Chili with all of the classic toppings, and how to create the other “ways” too.
- 5-Way: Chili + spaghetti + red kidney beans + diced onions + shredded Cheddar cheese.
- 4-Way: Chili + spaghetti + diced onions + shredded Cheddar cheese
- 4-Way: Chili + spaghetti + shredded Cheddar cheese
- 2-Way: Chili + spaghetti
- For any of these ways, try topping your bowl with oyster crackers and hot sauce too!
Recipe Tips
- Instead of spaghetti, this Cincinnati chili can be served (with your desired toppings from above) on french fries, baked potatoes, or hot dogs. These chili dogs are called “Coney’s” and usually also include mustard.
- For a lower-fat option, try this recipe with ground turkey or chicken.
- Add spice: A pinch of cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, or a few shakes of hot sauce can be added to the recipe for a bit of heat.
- Slow Cooker Option: Saute the onions and stir in the seasonings. Then add the mixture to a slow cooker with the rest of the ingredients. Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours, or on low for 6-8 hours.
Storing Tips
Keep leftover Cincinnati chili in an airtight container for up to 4 days. To reheat, simply microwave it, or heat it up gently on the stovetop.
You can also freeze the chili mixture for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating and serving with fresh spaghetti and toppings.
What To Serve With Cincinnati Chili
We’ve already discussed the best way to serve this chili- with spaghetti and your favorite toppings!
If you’re looking for a side dish, I suggest adding in some fresh vegetables with a simple side salad or blanched broccoli.
For dessert, try another Ohio favorite, Buckeye Brownie Cookies, or a Midwest classic, Orange Jello Salad!
Recipe FAQs
Not quite. Detroit chili is a thicker, saucier version with Greek-inspired flavors.
Yes, Cincinnati Chili can be frozen for up to 3 months. Freeze it in a freezer bag or container to keep out any air. When you’re ready to serve it, allow the frozen chili to thaw in the fridge overnight first.
The flavors of this chili will actually get better with time! Feel free to make this one or two days ahead of time, then reheat it when it’s time for a delicious dinner.
More Ground Beef Recipes
All Recipes with Ground Beef →
This fun and unique Cincinnati Chili recipe is a must-try! Save it for the next game day party, or serve it to your family for a completely delicious ground beef dinner that they’ll devour.
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
Cincinnati Chili Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large white onion diced
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon allspice
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 cups (480 ml) beef broth or stock
- 1 15- ounce can tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or distilled vinegar
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 pounds (900 g) ground beef lean
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
For Serving:
- Cooked spaghetti
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Diced white onion
- Cooked kidney beans
- Oyster crackers
Instructions
- In a Dutch oven or large pot over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil until shimmering. Add the diced onions and cook until soft and translucent which should take about 5 minutes.
- Add in the chopped chocolate, minced garlic, oregano, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves, letting them cook until fragrant, which should take about 30 seconds.
- Pour in the beef broth, tomato sauce, vinegar, tomato paste, and Worcestershire sauce into the pot, stirring to combine well.
- Stir in the ground beef, breaking it apart as you do so (I used a potato masher as you can to break it up finely). Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Lower the heat and let your chili simmer until it thickens, which should take around 20 to 25 minutes.
- Season the chili with salt and pepper to your liking. Taste the chili and adjust the seasoning if desired.
- Place some cooked spaghetti in a bowl and top it with a generous amount of chili. Add your preferred toppings: cheese, beans, onions, and few oyster crackers.
Notes:
- Instead of spaghetti, this Cincinnati chili can be served (with your desired toppings from above) on french fries, baked potatoes, or hot dogs. These chili dogs are called “Coney’s” and usually also include mustard.
- For a lower-fat option, try this recipe with ground turkey or chicken.
- Add spice: A pinch of cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, or a few shakes of hot sauce can be added to the recipe for a bit of heat.
- Slow Cooker Option: Saute the onions and stir in the seasonings. Then add the mixture to a slow cooker with the rest of the ingredients. Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours, or on low for 6-8 hours.
- Storing: Keep in the fridge for up to 4 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
© Little Sunny Kitchen
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