Best 9 Cheesy Cincinnati Chili Recipes

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Cincinnati chili, a unique and flavorful dish, is a local delicacy that has gained popularity beyond its Ohio roots. This hearty and savory dish features a rich and aromatic chili sauce served over spaghetti and topped with a generous helping of shredded cheddar cheese. The chili sauce is made with a blend of spices, including chili powder, cumin, and cinnamon, and is simmered with ground beef, tomatoes, and onions. The resulting chili is thick, slightly sweet, and packed with a complex and satisfying flavor profile. Accompanying the main recipe, this article also includes a vegetarian chili recipe, offering a meatless alternative with the same bold flavors, as well as a recipe for homemade spaghetti noodles, providing a fresh and authentic touch to the classic dish. A step-by-step guide with detailed instructions ensures that home cooks of all skill levels can recreate this Cincinnati delicacy in their own kitchens.

Let's cook with our recipes!

LAUREN'S CINCINNATI CHILI



Lauren's Cincinnati Chili image

I have searched far and wide for a recipe that compares to Goldstar or Skyline chili, to no avail. Finally, I took a number of decent recipes and blended them together with the help of a former Goldstar Chili employee. It's still not the same, but it feeds my cravings. The most important things about the chili is how you prepare the beef and the cinnamon and chocolate. I recommend refrigerating the chili overnight. It always tastes better the next day.

Provided by Lauren

Categories     Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes     Chili Recipes     Chili Without Beans Recipes

Time 3h20m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 16

2 pounds extra lean ground beef
2 onions, finely chopped
1 quart water
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 ½ teaspoons ground allspice
1 ½ teaspoons ground cloves
1 ½ teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons black pepper
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 bay leaves
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
½ ounce unsweetened baking chocolate

Steps:

  • Cook the beef and onion in a large skillet over medium high heat, breaking up beef into tiny pieces, just until meat is no longer pink. Drain and place in a large Dutch oven or slow cooker. Stir in the water, garlic, cumin, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, tomato sauce, and chocolate. Simmer over medium low heat for 3 to 5 hours.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 301.2 calories, Carbohydrate 11.1 g, Cholesterol 78.1 mg, Fat 17.1 g, Fiber 2.7 g, Protein 25.9 g, SaturatedFat 6.9 g, Sodium 808.2 mg, Sugar 4.8 g

CHEESY CHILI



Cheesy Chili image

My six grandchildren enjoy feasting on big bowls of this zesty chili. It's so creamy and tasty you can even serve it as a dip at parties. -Codie Ray, Tallulah, Louisiana

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner     Lunch

Time 25m

Yield 12 servings (about 3 quarts).

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 pounds ground beef
2 medium onions, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 cans (10 ounces each) diced tomatoes and green chiles, undrained
1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
2 cans (4 ounces each) chopped green chiles
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 pounds Velveeta, cubed
Optional: Sour cream, sliced jalapeno pepper, chopped tomato and minced fresh cilantro

Steps:

  • In a large saucepan, cook the beef, onions and garlic until meat is no longer pink, breaking meat into crumbles; drain. Stir in the tomatoes, chiles and pepper; bring to a boil. , Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10-15 minutes. Stir in cheese until melted. Serve immediately. If desired, top with sour cream, jalapenos, tomatoes and cilantro. , Freeze option: Freeze cooled chili in freezer containers; it may be frozen for up to 3 months. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally; add a little broth or water if necessary.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 396 calories, Fat 25g fat (15g saturated fat), Cholesterol 85mg cholesterol, Sodium 1166mg sodium, Carbohydrate 13g carbohydrate (9g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 29g protein.

AUTHENTIC CINCINNATI CHILI



Authentic Cincinnati Chili image

I feel like this is pretty close to the real thing. Tastes more like Dixie Chili than Skyline or Goldstar, but if you live in an area that you can't get to a chili parlor, this will fix your craving!

Provided by lyzzibear

Categories     < 4 Hours

Time 3h55m

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 quart water
2 lbs ground chuck
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
2 large sweet onions, chopped fine
3 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons allspice
1 tablespoon salt
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 garlic cloves, chopped

Steps:

  • Crumble raw meat into cold water in medium stock pot. DO NOT brown meat.
  • Add all remaining ingredients and bring to a boil over medium high heat.
  • Lower heat and simmer for 3-4 hours.
  • Serve over spaghetti with cheddar cheese and onions, on hotdogs with mustard, cheddar cheese and onions, or in a bowl with cheddar cheese, onions and oyster crackers. I put a little hotsauce on mine!

CHEESY CINCINNATI CHILI



Cheesy Cincinnati Chili image

I love this, if you haven't tried it you need to. In Cincinnati the true enthusiasts have their Chili 1 to 5 ways: 1. Plain 2."Two Way" - Spaghetti & Chili 3."Three Way" - Chili, Spaghetti, and Cheddar Cheese 4."Four Way" - Chili, Spaghetti, Cheddar Cheese, and Onions 5."Five Way" - Chili, Spaghetti, Cheddar Cheese, Onions and Kidney Beans

Provided by Tonkcats

Categories     Meat

Time 2h25m

Yield 10 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 15

2 tablespoons oil
2 1/2 lbs beef, Ground
1 quart water, cold
1 -6 ounce tomato paste
2 large onions, diced
1 1/2 tablespoons vinegar
1 teaspoon Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 tablespoons chili powder
5 bay leaves
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon allspice
2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
1 1/2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
salt & pepper

Steps:

  • In a heavy gauge pot - heat oil, add beef until brown, add onions and water and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce to a simmer and add tomato paste and all other ingredients and let simmer 1 1/2 - 2 hours.
  • Adjust with salt & pepper to taste.
  • Remove Bay Leaves before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 814.1, Fat 83.7, SaturatedFat 33.9, Cholesterol 112.4, Sodium 88.5, Carbohydrate 5.6, Fiber 1.9, Sugar 1.9, Protein 10.2

CINCINNATI-STYLE CHILI



Cincinnati-Style Chili image

Provided by Katie Lee Biegel

Categories     main-dish

Time 3h

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 23

16 ounces tomato sauce
12 ounces tomato paste
1 yellow onion, grated
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
2 bay leaves
2 pounds ground beef (I use chuck)
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 pound spaghetti, cooked according to package directions and tossed in olive oil to prevent sticking
One 15-ounce can kidney beans, drained
1 white onion, diced
Two 8-ounce blocks Cheddar, grated
Hot sauce, optional
Oyster crackers, for serving

Steps:

  • For the chili: In a stockpot or Dutch oven, combine the tomato sauce, tomato paste, onions, chili powder, cocoa powder, sugar, kosher salt, cinnamon, cumin, garlic salt, allspice, pepper, cayenne, cloves, bay leaves, beef (do not brown first) and 2 cups water. Mix until combined. Cover and simmer over medium-low heat for approximately 2 hours. Stir in the vinegar and simmer for another 30 minutes.
  • To serve: Serve on a bed of spaghetti and top with the beans, onions and a mound of cheese (or any preferred combination). Add hot sauce, if desired, and eat with oyster crackers.

THE BEST QUICK CINCINNATI CHILI



The Best Quick Cincinnati Chili image

A traditional recipe with all the Greek spices adapted to 20 minute cooking time. (Even tastier as leftovers!)

Provided by KidHeart

Categories     Meat

Time 20m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 19

8 ounces thin spaghetti
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1 lb ground beef (pref. buffalo)
1 large onion
1 large green bell pepper
2 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce
2 teaspoons bottled minced garlic
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon allspice
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
cayenne pepper
salt
1 (8 ounce) can kidney beans
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
fresh diced tomato
sour cream

Steps:

  • Cook spaghetti noodles til tender. Set noodles aside. Heat oil on medium high and add ground beef in skillet. Wash hands and chop onion and bell pepper - adding to beef. Cook til browned.
  • In separate pot, add spices, sauces, drained and rinsed beans, and diced tomatoes. (I believe it's Del Monte that has a small glass jar of diced tomatoes that are as good as fresh ones.)Simmer ingredients and pour in the beef mixture.
  • Season with pepper and salt.
  • Divide drained spaghetti among 4 serving bowls. Top with chili, shredded cheese, and sour cream. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 639.6, Fat 25, SaturatedFat 10.1, Cholesterol 91.9, Sodium 971.5, Carbohydrate 62.8, Fiber 5.8, Sugar 8.9, Protein 41.3

CINCINNATI CHILI



Cincinnati Chili image

This recipe is the best that we have tried. It can be cooked in the slow cooker. If the onions are precooked, it can be simmered on low for at least one hour. The last time we made it, it was very thin, so we had to reduce it by cooking longer with the lid removed. We will perfect the recipe further by reducing the amount of beef broth used.

Provided by Jelzabeth

Time 6h30m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 18

2 cups beef broth (May want to reduce to 1 or 1.5 cups)
8 ounces tomato sauce
1/4 cup tomato paste
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 large yellow onion, diced
2 lbs ground beef, low-fat
1 lb spaghetti noodles (cooked)
finely ground cheddar cheese
white onion, diced (optional)

Steps:

  • In a medium bowl whisk together the broth, tomato sauce, tomato paste, vinegar, chili powder, cocoa, cumin, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, salt and pepper.
  • Add mixture to slow cooker.
  • Stir in garlic and yellow onions.
  • Lightly brown beef in a skillet.
  • Add beef to slow cooker and mix.
  • Cook on high for six hours or low for eight hours covered.
  • Serve over cooked noodles, topped with shredded cheddar and white onions.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 656.5, Fat 24.8, SaturatedFat 9.3, Cholesterol 102.8, Sodium 1121.9, Carbohydrate 66.2, Fiber 5.4, Sugar 6.3, Protein 40.9

CINCINNATI CHILI I



Cincinnati Chili I image

This recipe is an approximation of a famous dish in Cincinnati called "Skyline Chili" or just "Skyline". The original recipe was developed by a Greek who owned several chili parlors, and is very different from what most of us think of as chili. It's very popular in Cincinnati, but the recipe is kept very closely guarded secret. My husband LOVES Skyline, so I found 2 recipes that he declares are the closest to the one made in Cincinnati. This is the first recipe. When serving, you have to serve the chili with the toppings - each person can make their chili "3-way", "4-way" or "5-way" depending on the number of toppings they add.

Provided by P48422

Categories     Stew

Time 2h50m

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 23

4 cups water
2 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce
1 (5 ounce) can tomato paste
2 medium onions, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
2 bay leaves
4 cloves garlic, finely minced
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 lb lean ground beef
1 lb ground lean pork
1 lb thin spaghetti, cooked
2 cups cooked red kidney beans
2 cups finely chopped onions
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
oyster crackers

Steps:

  • In a large, heavy pot, combine all of the ingredients except the beef, pork, and toppings.
  • Cover and bring to a boil.
  • Crumble the meats in gradually and return the mixture to a boil.
  • Reduce the heat and simmer for 2 hours, uncovered, or until the chili is as thick as you like.
  • Discard the bay leaves.
  • Serve the chili in flat soup bowls by putting a layer of spagetti, then the chili over top, then passing the remaining toppings at the table for each person to personalize their own.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 714, Fat 29.3, SaturatedFat 13.1, Cholesterol 107.3, Sodium 937.8, Carbohydrate 67.9, Fiber 7.1, Sugar 9.8, Protein 45.7

SIMPLE CINCINNATI CHILI



Simple Cincinnati Chili image

This is a simple recipe without a long list of ingredients, but it produces a rich, satisfying chili. My kids love this chili better than regular chili!!!

Provided by Charmie777

Categories     Spaghetti

Time 30m

Yield 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 lb ground beef
1 (1 1/4 ounce) package mild chili seasoning mix
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
8 ounces about 4 cups cooked spaghetti, cooked
shredded cheddar cheese
chopped onion

Steps:

  • Cook ground beef in large saucepan until no longer pink; drain.
  • Add chili seasoning, cinnamon, beans and tomato sauce.
  • Add water to bring to correct consistency.
  • Bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes.
  • Serve over spaghetti, topped with cheddar and onions.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 450.7, Fat 18.4, SaturatedFat 6.9, Cholesterol 77.1, Sodium 951.6, Carbohydrate 39.3, Fiber 8.6, Sugar 6.8, Protein 31.4

Tips:

  • Use lean ground beef: This will help to reduce the amount of grease in the chili.
  • Brown the ground beef thoroughly: This will help to develop the flavor of the chili.
  • Use a variety of beans: This will add texture and flavor to the chili. Some good options include kidney beans, black beans, and pinto beans.
  • Use a good quality chili powder: This is the key ingredient that will give your chili its flavor. Look for a chili powder that is made with a blend of different chili peppers.
  • Don't be afraid to experiment with different spices: In addition to chili powder, you can also add other spices to your chili, such as cumin, oregano, garlic powder, and onion powder.
  • Let the chili simmer for a long time: This will allow the flavors to develop and blend together.
  • Serve the chili with your favorite toppings: Some popular toppings include shredded cheese, sour cream, diced onions, and crushed tortilla chips.

Conclusion:

Cheesy Cincinnati chili is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a cold winter day. It is also a great way to use up leftover ground beef. With a few simple ingredients and a little bit of time, you can make a pot of chili that will warm you up from the inside out.

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