Cincinnati Chili

Bring the Midwest’s most delicious secret to your dinner table with this Cincinnati Chili recipe! This unique comfort food features savory ground beef simmered in a medley of aromatic spices, served over a bed of hot spaghetti with plenty of shredded cheddar cheese and onions. It’s a delightful twist on traditional chili that’s quick to make and impossible to resist! 

What Is Cincinnati Chili

Just as the name suggests, Cincinnati chili is a signature dish of Ohio. Renowned for its distinctive flavors and comforting appeal, its roots trace back to Greek immigrants who introduced the dish to the city in the early 20th century. Unlike typical chili, it features ground beef cooked with a blend of aromatic Mediterranean spices, including cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and sometimes even unsweetened chocolate, which give the dish its incredible flavor.

But this chili doesn’t just get its flavor profile from Greece, it’s also typically served over a bed of hot spaghetti. Yet, it doesn’t stop there! The folks of Ohio then took this delicious dish and added toppings. The most common way to enjoy Cincinnati chili is the 3-way, which includes the chili, spaghetti, and a generous sprinkling of shredded cheddar cheese. But you can build up to a 4-way or even a 5-way by adding chopped onions and kidney beans.

• Ground Beef – I typically use lean ground beef in all my recipes, but any type of ground beef will work. You can also use ground turkey if you prefer. 
• Onion – Brown onion is the best choice, but any onion you have on hand will do the trick.
• Garlic – Always mince fresh garlic cloves for the most flavor. In a pinch, the bottled stuff will do, but it just doesn’t offer the same depth.
• Spices – A magical blend of chili powder, ground cinnamon, ground cumin, ground allspice, and ground cloves create the signature taste of Cincinnati chili.
• Bay Leaves – Infuses the chili with a subtle aromatic flavor that enhances the overall taste.
• Tomato Sauce – The savoriness of tomato sauce complements the spices and brings the chili together. 
• Beef Broth – Used to thin out the thickness of the chili and make it more like a stew. I always use low-sodium or no-sodium beef broth to control the overall saltiness of the dish.
• Worcestershire Sauce – This tangy ingredient adds a hint of umami that makes the chili addictively good.
• Apple Cider Vinegar – Adds a touch of acidity that brightens the flavors and adds a hint of tang that complements the richness of the dish.
• Sugar – Just a pinch of sugar helps to balance the flavors and round out the taste of the chili. 
• Seasonings – Salt and black pepper season the chili to perfection.

• Cooked Spaghetti – Most people serve the chili on a bed of tender spaghetti noodles. But feel free to serve it over any type of pasta you like, rice, or even a hot dog. 
• Cheddar Cheese – Shredded cheddar adds a yummy layer of indulgent gooey cheese.
• Onions – Used to garnish the dish with a final zingy flavor.

This Ohio signature dish is as easy to make as it is delicious! This fuss-free recipe allows you to enjoy a hearty and comforting meal without spending hours in the kitchen. 

To begin, grab a large pot or Dutch oven. Then add the ground beef to the pot and cook it over medium-high heat while breaking it up with a wooden spoon until it’s no longer pink and fully cooked. Then drain off any excess fat, remove the beef from the pot, and set it aside for now. 

Now, using that same pot, toss in the chopped onions and minced garlic. Then saute them for about 3 to 5 minutes or until the onion is translucent and the garlic fragrant.  

Here is where the magic starts! Add the chili powder, ground cinnamon, ground cumin, ground allspice, ground cloves, and bay leaf to the pot. Then give it a good stir to combine and cook the spices for 1 to 2 minutes with the onion mixture. 

Next, it’s time to start creating the foundation of the chili. First pour the tomato sauce, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and apple cider vinegar into the pot. Then stir in the sugar, salt, and black pepper until fully combined. 

Alright, you’ve done all the work and now it just needs to cook! First, add the ground beef back into the pot and bring the chili to a simmer. Then cover the pot with a lid and let it cook for 1 to 2 hours, stirring it from time to time. 

Next, remove the bay leaf from the chili. Then give it a taste and season it with salt and pepper to your liking.

Once the chili is ready, ladle portions of it over bowls of hot spaghetti. Then top it with some shredded cheddar and chopped onions to serve it as a two-way or three-way if you like!

Storage

You can store leftover Cincinnati chili in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Then just reheat it in a pot on the stovetop or in the microwave. However, if the chili is frozen it’s best to let it thaw out overnight in the fridge prior to reheating. 

Other Ground Beef Recipes

• Easy Meatloaf
• Hoisin Beef Noodles
• Instant Pot Hamburger Helper
• American Goulash
• Asian Ground Beef Noodles