Recipes Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Chili Recipes Chili Without Beans Recipes Authentic Cincinnati Chili 4.7 (282) 229 Reviews 25 Photos Cincinnati chili is a unique type of chili that's flavored with not just chili powder but lots of other spices, including cinnamon, allspice, and cloves. This recipe was handed down to me by Mom, a Cincinnati native. I like mine 4-way, with spaghetti, raw chopped onions, and grated mild Cheddar. Serve oyster crackers on the side. Submitted by Melissa Hamilton Updated on January 22, 2024 Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen The Allrecipes Test Kitchen staff are a team of culinary pros who make and vet recipes using only equipment you'd find in a home kitchen. Staff credentials vary but include training at the Culinary Institute of America; kitchen stints in fine dining restaurants; and countless hours in the test kitchen itself. Meet the Allrecipes Test Kitchen Save Rate Print Share Close Add Photo 25 25 25 25 Prep Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 3 hrs 30 mins Total Time: 3 hrs 45 mins Servings: 10 Jump to Nutrition Facts Jump to recipe Reviewers say this authentic Cincinnati chili recipe takes just like what you get at Skyline — but it’s easy enough to make in the comfort of your own kitchen! What Is Cincinnati Chili? Cincinnati chili (or Cincinnati-style chili) is a meat sauce with Mediterranean-inspired flavors that’s traditionally used to top spaghetti or hot dogs. It’s similar to chili con carne, but it’s different in flavor and texture. It’s also used primarily as a topping, while chili con carne is usually served in a bowl. Cincinnati Chili Ingredients These are the ingredients you’ll need to make this authentic Cincinnati chili recipe: Beef: This Cincinnati chili recipe starts with two pounds of lean ground beef. Water: Boil the meat in about a quart of water. Onion and garlic: Finely chopped onions and garlic lend bold flavor. Tomato sauce: Canned tomato sauce is the perfect rich base. Vinegar: Two tablespoons of vinegar bring welcome brightness. Worcestershire sauce: Worcestershire sauce takes the flavor up a notch. Chocolate: Unsweetened chocolate is the secret ingredient that adds rich flavor. Seasonings: Season the Cincinnati chili with chili powder, salt, cumin, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, whole cloves, whole allspice berries, and a bay leaf. How to Make Cincinnati Chili You’ll find the full, step-by-step recipe below – but here’s a brief overview of what you can expect when you making homemade Cincinnati Chili: Cook the beef. Mix in the remaining ingredients according to the recipe.Simmer for about three hours. Serve over spaghetti. Recipe Tip Overnight option: After boiling the meat, remove the pan from the heat and let cool. Refrigerate the beef in the pan overnight. The next day, skim the solid fat from the top of the pan and discard. Skimming the fat makes this a healthier version than most, and gives it the right consistency. How to Serve Cincinnati Chili Cincinnati chili is ordered through the “way” system. The number before the “way” indicates the toppings you’d like. Here are the different “ways” you can have Cincinnati chili at restaurants or at home: 2-Way: Chili + spaghetti3-Way: Chili + spaghetti + shredded Cheddar cheese4-Way: Chili + spaghetti + diced onions + shredded Cheddar cheese5-Way: Chili + spaghetti + red kidney beans + diced onions + shredded Cheddar cheese. How to Store Cincinnati Chili Store this Cincinnati chili in an airtight container in the fridge for up to seven days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove until warmed through. Can You Freeze Cincinnati Chili? Yes, you can freeze Cincinnati chili for up to three months. Thaw in the fridge overnight. Reheat on the stove or in the microwave until warmed through. Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise “This recipe is fantastic,” raves betelach. “It's earthy, spicy, and savory all at the same time. I only made one change and that was to use homemade beef stock instead of water.” “Tastes like the Skyline chili I grew up with,” according to Be Loeb. “I highly recommend that after cooking, you let the finished chili sit in the fridge for at least a day.” “I admittedly have not had the authentic Skyline Chili in Cincinnati, but I made this tonight and it was delicious,” says Amy Louise. “I think this will also be a great meat sauce to add to chili fries, nachos, etc.” Editorial contributions by Corey Williams Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 1x 2x 4x Oops! Something went wrong. Our team is working on it. Original recipe (1X) yields 10 servings 2 pounds lean ground beef 1 quart water, or amount to cover 2 onions, finely chopped 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce 2 tablespoons vinegar 4 cloves garlic, minced 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce ½ (1 ounce) square unsweetened chocolate ¼ cup chili powder 1 ½ teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper 5 whole cloves 5 whole allspice berries 1 bay leaf Directions Gather the ingredients. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Place ground beef in a large pan, cover with cold water, and bring to a boil, stirring and breaking up beef with a fork to a fine texture. Slowly boil until meat is thoroughly cooked, about 30 minutes. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Add onions, tomato sauce, vinegar, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and chocolate. Stir in chili powder, salt, cumin, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper until well mixed. Add cloves, allspice berries, and bay leaf. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 hours. Add water if necessary to prevent chili from burning. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios I Made It Print 461 home cooks made it! Nutrition Facts (per serving) 225 Calories 13g Fat 10g Carbs 19g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 10 Calories 225 % Daily Value * Total Fat 13g 16% Saturated Fat 5g 25% Cholesterol 60mg 20% Sodium 674mg 29% Total Carbohydrate 10g 4% Dietary Fiber 3g 11% Total Sugars 4g Protein 19g 38% Vitamin C 9mg 10% Calcium 49mg 4% Iron 3mg 17% Potassium 515mg 11% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs. ** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data. (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.