Cincinnati Chili

Submitted by KelBel

"The thing that makes Cincinnatians' recipes different from the way you and I would start cooking the chili is not only the spices, but also the method. They do not start by browning the meat, but by boiling it!"

 

• Ready In: 3hrs 15mins
• Ingredients: 19
• Serves: 8

ingredients

• 2 lbs ground chuck
• 2 medium onions, finely chopped
• 1 quart water
• 2 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce
• 1⁄2 teaspoon allspice
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 4 tablespoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1⁄2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1⁄2 ounce unsweetened chocolate
• 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 1 bay leaf, crumbled
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 drops Tabasco sauce
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 2 beef bouillon cubes

directions

1. Bring the water to the boil and add the ground beef. Stir until the beef is separated and add the rest of the ingredients.
2. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 2 to 3 hours, or until thickened. Cool, then refrigerate overnight. Skim off any accumulated fat and reheat the chili.

3. Serves with any or all of the following accompaniments:

4. 1 way: cooked spaghetti.
5. 2 way: finely grated cheddar cheese
6. 3 way: chopped raw onion
7. 4 way: cooked kidney beans
8. 5 way: oyster crackers.

Reviews

[Debbie R.]

Outstanding flavor; DH unable to wait for it to meld overnight. Very easy to make, too. I used 1 T. cocoa instead of the unsweetened chocolate. Thank you! ETA: I've also made this with lentils (about 3/4 lbs) for meatless meals, and it's still outstanding.

 

[Jack A.]

I'm not sure that this recipe actually tastes like Skyline OR Gold Star .... It's more like the REAL chili places in Cincinnati ... Blue Ash Chili or Empress Chili, Maybe Camp Washington Chili.... But ... With that said .... This is CLEARLY a 5-star Cincinnati Chili recipe. .... This is AS GOOD AS IT GETS ... But to be clear ... there are no onions "cooked" in Cincy chili ... (use onion powder if you like the onion flavor) ... The onions are added as a 4-way with onions OR beans. and for the Coneys ... It is a steamed hot dog and steamed bun with onions, mustard, chili and Finely shredded Mild Cheddar cheese (Although I use Sharp for more flavor) ... This recipe is TOP NOTCH!

 

[Ambervim]

I am so glad to have this recipe!!!!! It was great! I did not have beef bouillon so used chicken....it really needs the beef. Next time I make it I will goose up the spices....may not then be "authentic" but that's ok by me. I thought 1 way was just the chili, 2 way chili on spaghetti, 3 way add cheese 4 way add onions or beans 5 way add onion or beans (whichever you didn't already add. You can check out Skyline Chili Menu at http://skylinechili.com/menu.pdf They also use this chili for "Coney Island Hot Dogs" It is a little richer and more complex than traditional Coney Island Chili. THANKS!!!!

 

[NanciY]

Lived in Cincinnati my whole life - this is ambrosia! I do hit mine with an immersion blender for a few rounds to make it thin - you don't want chunks of meat or onion. I keep a crock pot of this for parties with boiled hot dogs and buns, spaghetti and fixin's or layer it with cream cheese, beans and cheese for an awesome dip. Always popular.

 

[Zopfa]

This is the best Cincinnati chili recipe I've come across, but as a long-time Cincinnati resident I have to tell you that you have the "ways" all wrong.<br/><br/>3 way - spaghetti, chili, cheese<br/>4 way - spaghetti, beans or onions, cheese<br/>5 way - spaghetti, chili, beans, onions, cheese<br/><br/>Oyster crackers have nothing to do with "ways". They are a traditional accompaniment to the chili no matter which "way" you serve it. The cheese is always mild cheddar, finely shredded.