1. Recipes

How to Make Chef John's Cincinnati-Style Chili - A Step-by-Step Guide

If you've never tasted Cincinnati-style chili, you're in for a treat. This unique take on chili is more of a meaty, aromatic sauce than a traditional stew. Originating in the early 20th century by Greek immigrants in Cincinnati, this chili has become a staple of Midwestern cuisine.

Cincinnati-style chili is typically served over spaghetti or hot dogs and is topped with a variety of garnishes, such as shredded cheddar cheese, chopped onions, spaghetti, and oyster crackers. Some even en...

Read more Snack recipes

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds lean ground beef
  • 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • ¼ cup chili powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
  • ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ⅛ teaspoon allspice
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 teaspoons white sugar
  • 3 teaspoons kosher salt, or more to taste
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 6 cups cold water
  • 1 (16 ounce) package spaghetti
  • 1 tablespoon diced onion, or to taste
  • 4 cups grated Cheddar cheese, or to taste

Information

  • Prep Time: 20 mins
  • Cook Time: 1 hr 5 mins
  • Total Time: 1 hr 25 mins
  • Servings: 8

  • Combine beef and tomato paste in a large pot. Rinse out tomato paste can with a couple tablespoons of water and add to the pot with garlic, onion, chili powder, cumin, cinnamon, cayenne, allspice, cloves, black pepper, bay leaf, sugar, and salt. Add apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire, and cold water. Mash and stir with a potato masher or a large whisk to break up the meat into fine pieces.
  • Place the pot over medium-high heat; bring to a boil, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook until flavors come together and chili reaches your desired thickness, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
  • Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until very tender, about 12 minutes. Drain.
  • Taste chili and adjust seasoning. Remove and discard bay leaf. Ladle over spaghetti into serving bowls. Top with onion and Cheddar cheese. Cut and scoop the noodles up with a fork like you're eating a casserole.

    • Nutrition

    753 cal.

    • Total Fat: 38g
    • Saturated Fat: 20g
    • Cholesterol: 152mg
    • Sodium: 1444mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 53g
    • Dietary Fiber: 5g
    • Total Sugars: 7g
    • Protein: 48g
    • Vitamin C: 9mg
    • Calcium: 559mg
    • Iron: 6mg
    • Potassium: 812mg

    Categories

    Beef recipes
    Main recipes
    Soup recipes
    Stew recipes
    And chili recipes
    Comfort food recipes
    Dinner recipes