Cincinnati Chili

Not your traditional chili, this Cincinnati Chili, made famous by Skyline Chili in Ohio, is a spiced chili that is served over spaghetti. Serve it up one of many different ways for a flavor packed dinner.

Course Main Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 1 20

Total Time 1 40

Servings servings

Calories 304kcal

Author Deborah Harroun

Ingredients

Chili:

2 teaspoons table salt divided
1 1/2 pounds ground beef 80% lean is best
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 medium onion diced
2 cloves garlic minced
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
2 cups chicken broth
2 cups water
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 teaspoons brown sugar

For serving:

1 pound spaghetti cooked, drained, and tossed with 2 tablespoons of butter
12 oz sharp cheddar cheese finely grated
1 15 oz can red kidney beans, drained, rinsed, and warmed
1 medium onion chopped
Oyster crackers
Hot sauce

Instructions

Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven, then add 1 teaspoon of the salt. Add the ground beef and stir to separate the strands. Break the meat apart as much as possible. Once the water is close to boiling again, remove from the heat and drain the beef into a strainer. Set aside.
Rinse the pan and place it over medium heat. Add the vegetable oil, and when hot, add the onion, cooking until the onion is softened. Stir in the garlic for about 30 seconds, then add the chili powder, oregano, cocoa powder, cinnamon, allspice, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and remaining teaspoon of salt. Stir it all together and let it heat for 1 minute.
Stir in the tomato sauce, the broth, water, vinegar, and brown sugar. Add the ground beef back in, turn the heat to medium-high, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the chili is thickened, about an hour.
Season to taste with salt and hot sauce, if desired.

Serve the chili over spaghetti:

2 way: chili over spaghetti
3 way: chili over spaghetti topped with cheese
4 way: chili over spaghetti with diced onions and cheese
5 way: chili over spaghetti with kidney beans, onions, and cheese

Notes

slightly adapted from The Complete America’s Test Kitchen TV Show Cookbook 2001-2015

Nutrition information provided as an estimate only. Various brands and products can change the counts. Any nutritional information should be used as a general guide. Nutritional information is for chili only - no spaghetti or toppings.

Nutrition