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–+ servings
a Dutch oven with freshly made cincinnati chili and a ladle inside.
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4.62 from 13 votes

Cincinnati Chili

This Cincinnati Chili is a Midwest classic, with a twist. Spiced with cinnamon, cloves, and allspice, it’s served over spaghetti and topped with cheese, onions, or beans (or all of the above). It’s not traditional chili, and that’s exactly why it’s so good.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time2 hours 15 minutes
Total Time2 hours 25 minutes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chili recipe, cincinnati chili
Servings: 10
Calories: 191kcal
Author: Joanna Cismaru

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon ground allspice
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 15 ounces tomato sauce
  • 2 cups beef broth low sodium or no sodium added
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • salt and black pepper to taste

For Serving

  • cooked spaghetti
  • cheddar cheese shredded
  • onions chopped
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • In a large pot or Dutch oven, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat until fully cooked. Drain any excess fat.
  • In the same pot, sauté the onion and garlic until the onion is translucent and the garlic is fragrant, about 3-5 minutes.
  • Add the chili powder, cinnamon, cumin, allspice, cloves, and bay leaf to the pot. Stir to combine and cook for 1-2 minutes, until fragrant.
  • Add the tomato sauce, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and black pepper to the pot. Stir to combine.
  • Bring the chili to a simmer, cover the pot and simmer the chili for 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally.
  • Remove the bay leaf and adjust the seasoning with salt and black pepper to taste.
  • To serve, ladle the chili over cooked spaghetti or other pasta. Top with shredded cheddar cheese and chopped onions, if desired.

Video

Notes

  1. Don’t skip the simmer: This chili needs at least an hour to let the flavors come together. Longer is even better.
  2. Make it ahead: Tastes even better the next day, which makes it perfect for meal prep or hosting.
  3. Go full 5-way: Try it with spaghetti, cheddar, onions, and beans for the full Cincinnati experience.
  4. Freeze like a champ: Freezes beautifully, just skip the pasta when storing.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 191kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 59mg | Sodium: 421mg | Potassium: 605mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 666IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 3mg
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