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My all-time favorite chili with you, Cincinnati Chili. I grew up on this chili and this recipe for me was pretty darn close to the real stuff. Serve it with oyster crackers or put it on top of spaghetti for the true Cincinnati experience.
I was born in Cincinnati and grew up just outside of the city. Every time I go back to visit my family, I still get myself a chili dog or 3-way at Skyline. I'm not going to claim this to be the same recipe they use at the restaurants this is just my version and from a Cincy girl raised on this stuff, I think it was pretty darn close in taste and in my option the best way to make it from home!
The secret to really great Cincinnati Chili is cinnamon and cocoa. You also got to make your chili and meat extra ground up and thin.
You don't need a special type of beef just work it well with a spatula until your beef is really broken down. My dad likes to call Cincinnati style chili meat soup because it's a lot thinner than regular chili.
There are a few different ways you can eat this chili. In a bowl of course alone but the Cincinnati way is on top of hot dogs or spaghetti and topped with diced onions and lots and lots of cheese.
What isCincinnati Chili:
Cincinnati chili is found in Cincinnati Chili and surrounding areas. You can get it from Goldstar or Skyline. Both Cincinnati Chili but with a slightly different taste. It's a Mediterranean-spiced meat sauce that is usually topped on hot dogs or spaghetti. It's traditionally not served with beans unless you order a 5-way which is 1. spaghetti 2. chili 3. cheese 4. onion 5. beans but as someone who has lived most of their life in Cincinnati, I have NEVER had this with beans. To me it isn't the same.
Here are a few more of my favorite chili recipes that I think you will love also!
No Bean Chili: This is more of the commonly know chili taste but with no beans. So if you want a hearty chili without the beans you have to try this one out.
Taco Chili: This one is a favorite of mine. My taco soup is my favorite soup so I wanted to play on that to make a chili recipe, perfect for winter!
Slow Cooker Turkey Chili: This one is a readers favorite and has great reviews. If you want a new basic chili recipe check it out.
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Cincinnati Chili
Jennie Duncan
My all-time favorite chili with you, Cincinnati Chili. I grew up on this chili and this recipe for me was pretty darn close to the real stuff. Serve it with oyster crackers or put it on top of spaghetti for the true Cincinnati experience.
5 from 6 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 2 hours hrs
Total Time 2 hours hrs 15 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Calories 269 kcal
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 medium yellow onion (chopped)
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground all spice
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon oregano (dried)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- 15 oz tomato sauce
- ¾ cup water
- 1 tablespoon Cider vinegar
- Optional: serve over spaghetti or a hot dog topped with diced onion and shredded cheese.
Instructions
Sauté your onions for 2-3 minutes on medium-high in a large pan. Add beef and garlic and cook until beef is almost fully cooked. Drain fat as needed. Add chili powder, unsweetened cocoa powder, cinnamon, allspice, brown sugar, oregano, salt, ground cloves, and mix together. Add tomato sauce, cider vinegar, and water.
Reduce heat to low and let the chili simmer for 1-2 hours.
Serve over spaghetti or a hot dog topped with diced onion and shredded cheese.
Nutrition
Calories: 269kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 17gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 64mgSodium: 768mgPotassium: 589mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 845IUVitamin C: 8.1mgCalcium: 47mgIron: 3mg
Keyword Cincinnati Chili
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Cynthia Jane StromHi Jennie , tried your Cinn.chili it was so good thanks for sharing your recipe 😊
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- Cheryl
Will make a double batch next time!
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- Martha
I just made this and oh my gosh is it delicious! Definitely the best I’ve ever had. Thanks so much for sharing it!
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- Soraya Whitney
I grew up in Texas and our chili is quite different but I've always loved Cincinnati chili. Made this for dinner tonight and both my husband and daughter loved it. You can't go wrong with MEAT SOUP!! Thanks for this easy dinner.
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- Jennie
I'm so glad you liked it! My parents had a friend who lived in Texas but moved to the Cincinnati area and she would always say that's not chili, it's meat sauce. Haha!!
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- Soraya Whitney
the spices make it chili to me...and if the picky eaters in our house give it a thumbs up, it's definitely a keeper!
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- Jennie
So happy to hear that!
- Melissa
Great recipe! We have added it to our dinner rotation! I've successfully used some ground cloves and a bit more cinnamon instead of allspice when in a pinch!
- Hayley
My husband has always been trying to get me to make Cincinnati Chili. DELICIOUS recipe! Adding this to our rotating meal plan.
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- Lisa Wawrzyniak
I’m making this for a chili cook off at my husbands work. Can you give me an idea of how many this recipe will serve? I appreciate it!!
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- Jennie
Hi, Lisa, this recipe has about 5 servings. Since it's a thinner chili it doesn't go as far. On the recipe card at the top, you will see serving and a pink 5. If you click on that you can change the serving to how many you will need and it will adjust the recipe for you! Hope that helps!!
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- Lisa
What type of cheese can I buy that closely resembles the yummy Skyline Chili cheese that is to die for?
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- Jennie
Hi Lisa! The closes that I get is buying a mild cheddar block and shredding it myself at home. The pre-shredded cheese has a very different texture then shredding it at home with a cheese grater. I hope you enjoy it!!
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- Rich
Do you drain the ground beef before adding ingredients?
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- Jennie
Hi Rich, sorry that was not clear. Yes, I do drain the beef then add the seasonings.
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- Beth
I made this and followed recipe exactly. Love it! Thank you so much. Had this year’s ago and forgot all about it until I saw your recipe!
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- Jennie
So glad you liked it Beth!! I appreciate you coming back to tell me =)
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- Chris
I am from outside Cincy also and my kids love my chili. Cincinnati Chili is the best!! But I add the water while I am browning the meat makes it nice and fine and I add half square of unsweetened bakers chocolate to mine and oregano/cloves/ red pepper and chili powder and always put a can of pinto beans in ours cause kids don’t like kidney beans! Pressure cooker for 20 minutes and done! Serve with spaghetti like you do and right- lots and lots of cheese! Yummy 😋
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- Jennie
It's the best chili! Since we moved away I always make it myself or get a can from Kroger! I was pretty happy when Kroger started selling skyline and graeter's ice cream here!!
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- Samantha
If I double the meat should I also double the other ingredients? Thanks.
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- Jennie
Yes I would. It would have less of the flavor without it I think. Let me know how it turns out Samantha!
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- Gayle Green
I love this recipe but double the amount of tomato sauce, which makes the perfect consistency to me. I summered with the cover off for about a 1/2 hour then covered it for the rest of the time. Delicious!
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- Jennie
Yum!! This is my favorite way to have chili =) Glad you enjoyed it Gayle!
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- Sharon
Delicious!
Question- this was pretty spicy for my younger daughter when following your recipe exactly. I had to add a little more tomato sauce and water.
Is the chili powder supposed to be one tablespoon?
Just want to confirm.
Thanks!
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- Jennie
Yes, that is the correct amount. No problem using a little less though!
- Valerie Owens
Hello! This looks great! For the apple cider vinegar, is it 1 teaspoon or 1 tablespoon? Thank you!
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- Jennie
It's Tbsp. Edited the recipe sorry for the mistake! I hope you enjoy this recipe Valerie it's so yummy =)
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- Janet
Looks like a recipe I love except the one I have also add cloves
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- Jennie
It's one of my favorites =) I have heard people adding cloves or bay leaves.
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- Debbie W.
Sounds yummy! Printed and pinned.
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- Jennie
Thanks Debbie! Hope you enjoy the recipe!
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