Cincinnati Chili
In short: A thin, fragrant beef sauce spiced with cinnamon, allspice and cocoa, ladled over spaghetti and piled high with finely shredded cheddar. It takes about 2 h 30 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 2 h 15 min
- Total
- 2 h 30 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 650 kcal
Cincinnati chili is a different dish from Texas chili. It is a finely textured meat sauce scented with cinnamon, allspice, cloves and a little cocoa, served over spaghetti and buried in a mound of shredded cheddar. Orders are called by ways: three-way means spaghetti, chili and cheese, four-way adds onions or beans, and five-way adds both. The beef is simmered in liquid rather than browned, which gives the sauce its fine texture.
Instructions
- Pour the water and stock into a large pot. Crumble the raw beef into the cold liquid and break it up with a whisk or potato masher until no clumps remain. This gives the sauce its signature fine texture.
- Stir in the onion, garlic, tomato paste, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, cocoa, cumin, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, cayenne, salt and bay leaf.
- Bring to a gentle boil, stirring, and skim off the foam. Lower the heat and simmer uncovered for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, stirring every 15 minutes, until the liquid has reduced to a thick, loose sauce.
- Skim off the fat, remove the bay leaf and adjust the salt and vinegar.
- Cook the spaghetti in well-salted water until tender and drain.
- For a three-way, heap spaghetti on a plate, ladle the chili over it and top with a mound of cheese. Add chopped onion and beans for a four-way or five-way.
Tips
- Chill the chili overnight and lift off the solid fat from the surface the next day for a lighter result.
- The spice mix is aromatic rather than hot. Add more cayenne or a few drops of hot sauce for heat, and shred the cheese on the small holes of the grater so it melts into the sauce.
Questions and answers
Does Cincinnati chili really have chocolate in it?
Yes, a spoonful of unsweetened cocoa, along with cinnamon and allspice, gives the sauce depth and a faint sweetness. It does not taste like chocolate.
What is a three-way in Cincinnati chili?
A three-way is spaghetti topped with chili and cheese. A four-way adds chopped onions or kidney beans, and a five-way adds both.
Can I freeze Cincinnati chili?
Yes. The sauce freezes well for 3 months. Thaw it overnight in the fridge and reheat gently, adding a splash of water if it has thickened.
How long does it take to make Cincinnati Chili?
About 2 h 30 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 2 h 15 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Cincinnati Chili?
About 650 kcal per serving, with 40 g of protein, 62 g of carbohydrates and 27 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 650 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 40 g |
| Carbohydrates | 62 g |
| Fat | 27 g |
| Fiber | 5 g |
| Sugar | 5 g |
| Sodium | 1100 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
