The Best Cincinnati Chili (2024)

Cincinnati Chili is an Ohio specialty, made famous by the Skyline Chili Restaurant.

Filled with savory, unique ingredients, this non-traditional chili is best served over spaghetti, and topped with onions, beans, and cheddar cheese.

If you’ve ever actually been to Skyline Chili in Cincinnati, you know how special this recipe is.

It’s like no other chili you’ve ever tasted. That’s because Cinncinati chili includes some unconventional secret ingredients, like cloves, allspice, cinnamon, and even chocolate!

The result is a meaty, rich, and savory chili that is so delicious! Serve it any way you like, but my favorite is the “5-Way” style, with spaghetti, red kidney beans, diced onions, and shredded cheddar cheese.

If you’re looking for a more traditional chili recipe, try my easy slow cooker turkey chili, instant pot chili, or vegetarian butternut squash chili next.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

1. Exciting Flavors –This is a chili recipe, but it’s nothing like your standard Tex-Mex chili recipe. The combination of spices like cinnamon, cloves, and allspice with chocolate gives this recipe a unique and unforgettable taste.
2. Easy Recipe –This chili recipe is cooked all in one large pot, and only requires a few minutes of hands-on cooking. Let this Cincinnati chili simmer on the stove or slow cook in your crock pot while you take care of other things in the kitchen.
3. Serving Options – The classic Skyline way to serve this meal is over spaghetti, but you can also serve Cincinnati chili over hot dogs, french fries, or even rice!

Key Ingredients

Here’s what you need to make this Ohio favorite:

• Ground Beef: You won’t get a chance to drain the fat away from the meat in this recipe, so I suggest that you choose lean ground beef so that the chili isn’t greasy.
• Chocolate: Use a small amount of unsweetened chocolate to give your Cincinnati chili its signature rich flavor. Trust me, it’s the secret ingredient here, and so good!
• Spices: All of these tasty add-ins are probably in your pantry! Dried oregano, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves give this chili the most unique flavor.
• Toppings: Once your chili is ready, you’ll want to have some cooked spaghetti, shredded cheddar cheese, kidney beans, and diced white onion to put the meal together.

Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

How To Make Cincinnati Chili

1. Saute the Onion: In a Dutch oven or large pot over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil, then add the onions and cook until they are soft and translucent.
2. Add Seasonings: Add in the chopped chocolate, minced garlic, oregano, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves. Stir and cook until fragrant, or for about 30 seconds.

3. Add the Rest of the Ingredients: Pour in the beef broth, tomato sauce, vinegar, tomato paste, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir, then add the ground beef.
4. Boil: Use a potato masher to break apart the ground beef while bringing the chili mixture to a boil.

6. Simmer: Lower the heat and let your Cincinnati chili simmer until it thickens. This should take 20-25 minutes. Taste the chili and season with salt and pepper to your liking.

How To Serve Cincinnati Chili

Do you want to know exactly how to serve this Cincinnati Chili the Skyline Way? First, you need to understand how a person would order a plate of chili from a Cincinnati restaurant.

The different types of serving options are called “ways”, and they go from 1-way to 5-way, with 5-Way Chili being the most dressed.

Here’s what you need to make a plate of Cincinnati Skyline Chili with all of the classic toppings, and how to create the other “ways” too.

• 5-Way: Chili + spaghetti + red kidney beans + diced onions + shredded Cheddar cheese.
• 4-Way: Chili + spaghetti + diced onions + shredded Cheddar cheese
• 4-Way: Chili + spaghetti + shredded Cheddar cheese
• 2-Way: Chili + spaghetti
• For any of these ways, try topping your bowl with oyster crackers and hot sauce too!

Recipe Tips

• Instead of spaghetti, this Cincinnati chili can be served (with your desired toppings from above) on french fries, baked potatoes, or hot dogs. These chili dogs are called “Coney’s” and usually also include mustard.
• For a lower-fat option, try this recipe with ground turkey or chicken.
• Add spice: A pinch of cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, or a few shakes of hot sauce can be added to the recipe for a bit of heat.
• Slow Cooker Option: Saute the onions and stir in the seasonings. Then add the mixture to a slow cooker with the rest of the ingredients. Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours, or on low for 6-8 hours.

Storing Tips

Keep leftover Cincinnati chili in an airtight container for up to 4 days. To reheat, simply microwave it, or heat it up gently on the stovetop.

You can also freeze the chili mixture for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating and serving with fresh spaghetti and toppings.

What To Serve With Cincinnati Chili

We’ve already discussed the best way to serve this chili- with spaghetti and your favorite toppings!

If you’re looking for a side dish, I suggest adding in some fresh vegetables with a simple side salad or blanched broccoli.

For dessert, try another Ohio favorite, Buckeye Brownie Cookies, or a Midwest classic, Orange Jello Salad!

Recipe FAQs

This fun and unique Cincinnati Chili recipe is a must-try! Save it for the next game day party, or serve it to your family for a completely delicious ground beef dinner that they’ll devour.