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A plate of spaghetti topped with Cincinnati chili, shredded cheddar cheese, and chopped onions, with a fork lifting a bite.

Cincinnati Chili

Chef Jenn
Cincinnati Chili is a rich, boldly spiced meat sauce made with warm spices like cinnamon and cloves, served over spaghetti and topped with cheese, onions, and beans. Cozy, comforting, and full of flavor!
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 15 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American, Midwestern
Servings 6 servings
Calories 263 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • cooked spaghetti
  • 2 pounds lean ground beef
  • 1 quart water
  • 2 onions finely chopped
  • 15 ounce canned tomato sauce or 1 (15-ounce can)
  • 2 tablespoons vinegar
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 3 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon paprika

Seasonings:

  • 1½ teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½ teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1 bay leaf

Instructions
 

  • Place ground beef in a large stockpot or Dutch oven and add enough cold water to submerge it completely. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Use a meat chopper or fork to break the beef into very small pieces. Reduce to a simmer and cook for approximately 30 minutes until thoroughly cooked and finely textured.
  • Add the chopped onions, tomato sauce, vinegar, minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and cocoa powder to the pot. Stir with a heatproof spatula until well blended.
  • Measure in the chili powder, paprika, salt, cumin, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, cloves, allspice, and bay leaf. Mix thoroughly to distribute spices evenly.
  • Bring the mixture back to a boil, then immediately reduce to a low simmer. Cook uncovered for about 3 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Add water in small amounts if the mixture becomes too thick.
  • Remove and discard the bay leaf before serving. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve overcooked spaghetti with your preferred toppings.

Notes

Serving Options:

  • 2-Way: Chili over spaghetti
  • 3-Way: Chili over spaghetti, topped with shredded cheddar cheese
  • 4-Way: Chili over spaghetti with diced onions and shredded cheddar cheese
  • 5-Way: Chili over spaghetti with kidney beans, diced onions, and shredded cheddar cheese

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 263kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 35gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 94mgSodium: 1120mgPotassium: 932mgFiber: 4gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 2147IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 68mgIron: 6mg

A Note on Nutritional Information

Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed.

Keyword 5 way chili, chili with spaghetti, Cincinnati chili, homemade chili recipe,, midwestern chili
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