Cincinnati Chili

Cincinnati Chili is a regional recipe favorite from Ohio, beloved by everyone who tastes it. Serve it on spaghetti or hot dogs just like Skyline Chili, the restaurant that made it famous.

Ever been to the Skyline Chili in Ohio?

If that’s a no, leave everything you thought you knew about traditional chili behind, because this recipe will turn it all upside down, but only in the most delicious way.

The (secret) recipe calls for a combination of spices and ingredients that you might find a bit odd, especially for a savory meat stew. Allspice? Cloves? Unsweetened chocolate?

Stick with me (and our friends from the Buckeye state) because this recipe is perfect for the slow cooker and freezes beautifully, so you can have Cincinnati Chili any time, any place.

Recipe Ingredients:

Ingredient notes:

• Unsweetened chocolate: Just one ounce is all you need, but the super fans swear it makes all the differences.
• Ground beef: You won’t have a chance to drain the fat from the beef in this recipe. I think 85/15 is ideal for maximum flavor without too much grease, but you can choose something leaner if you want to.
• Toppings: Build your bowl with spaghetti, chili, and cheese, then top it off with onions, kidney beans, or even oyster crackers if you want to. Here’s the official guide to the “ways” Skyline serves their chili:
  • 3-Way: Spaghetti, Chili, Cheese
  • 4-Way: Spaghetti, Chili, Cheese, Onions OR Beans
  • 5-Way aka “the works”: Spaghetti, Chili, Cheese, Onions AND Beans

Step-by-step instructions:

1. In a large Dutch oven or sturdy pot, cook the onions with olive oil over medium heat until softened. Add the chocolate, spices, and garlic and stir until they’re nice and fragrant.
2. Next, add the broth, tomato paste, tomato sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and some salt and pepper. Add the beef and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until thickened, about 20 to 25 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper (I like 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper) and serve any “way” you want it.
   

Recipe tips and variations:

• Freezing: Cool and portion into freezer-safe containers, label and date. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat on the stove or in the microwave.
• Slow cooker: Just like the regular recipe, start by sautéing the onions in olive oil over medium-high heat until softened. Add the garlic and oregano, chili powder, allspice, cloves, and cinnamon. Add this mixture to a slow cooker with the chicken broth, tomato sauce, vinegar, tomato paste, brown sugar, Worcestershire, salt and pepper, and beef. Cover and cook on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours or LOW for 6 to 8 hours.
• Coney Dog: If you’re thinking a hot dog smothered with chili might be just the thing, you’re not alone. Eat it in the bun, or topped with cheese, mustard, onion, beans, you name it.

More amazing Midwest recipes:

• Peanut Butter Buckeyes
• Brandy Old Fashioned
• Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cheese
• Danish Kringle

Cincinnati Chili

Cincinnati Chili is a regional recipe favorite from Ohio, beloved by everyone who tastes it. Serve it on spaghetti or hot dogs just like Skyline Chili, the restaurant that made it famous.

4.99 from 92 votes

ReviewPrint

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 25 mins

Total Time 30 mins

Servings 10 servings

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Calories 234

Ingredients 

US CustomaryMetric

• ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ▢ 2 onions finely chopped (plus more for topping)
• ▢ 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate (see note 1)
• ▢ 1 clove garlic minced
• ▢ 2 tablespoons chili powder
• ▢ 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• ▢ 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ▢ 3/4 teaspoon allspice
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• ▢ 2 cups chicken broth
• ▢ 16 ounces tomato sauce
• ▢ 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• ▢ 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• ▢ 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• ▢ 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• ▢ Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• ▢ 2 pounds ground beef (preferably 85/15, see note 2)
• ▢ cooked spaghetti for serving
• ▢ shredded cheese dark red kidney beans, finely chopped onions, and oyster crackers, for serving (see note 3)

Instructions 

• In a Dutch oven or large pot over medium-high heat, heat oil until shimmering. Cook onions until softened, about 5 minutes. 
• Stir in chocolate, garlic, chili powder, oregano, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add broth, tomato sauce, vinegar, tomato paste, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce.
• Stir in beef and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer until thickened, about 20 to 25 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper (I like 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper).
• Serve over cooked spaghetti with desired toppings such as cheese, beans, onions, and crackers.

Recipe Video

Notes

1. Unsweetened chocolate: Just one ounce is all you need, but the super fans swear it makes all the differences.
2. Ground beef: You won't have a chance to drain the fat from the beef in this recipe. I think 85/15 is ideal for maximum flavor without too much grease, but you can choose something leaner if you want to.
3. Toppings: Build your bowl with spaghetti, chili, and cheese, then top it off with onions, kidney beans, or even oyster crackers if you want to. Here's the official guide to the "ways" Skyline serves their chili:
   • 3-Way: Spaghetti, Chili, Cheese
   • 4-Way: Spaghetti, Chili, Cheese, Onions OR Beans
   • 5-Way aka “the works”: Spaghetti, Chili, Cheese, Onions AND Beans
4. Freezing: Cool and portion into freezer-safe containers, label and date. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat on the stove or in the microwave.
5. Slow cooker: Just like the regular recipe, start by sautéing the onions in olive oil over medium-high heat until softened. Add the garlic and oregano, chili powder, allspice, cloves, and cinnamon. Add this mixture to a slow cooker with the chicken broth, tomato sauce, vinegar, tomato paste, brown sugar, Worcestershire, salt and pepper, and beef. Cover and cook on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours or LOW for 6 to 8 hours.
6. Coney Dog: If you’re thinking a hot dog smothered with chili might be just the thing, you're not alone. Eat it in the bun, or topped with cheese, mustard, onion, beans, you name it.

Nutrition

Calories: 234kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 18gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 62mgSodium: 298mgPotassium: 417mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 532IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 40mgIron: 3mg

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