When I want comfort food that’s sure to please both the kids and adults, I turn to traditional recipes such as biscuit chicken pot pie, stuffed green peppers, cabbage and sausage skillet, slow cooker pot roast, hamburger casserole and this savory Cincinnati style chili, which is also known as Skyline chili. Traditional chili is great and all, but when I want a little variety, I make a big pot of Cincinnati chili. This chili is not served in a bowl like soup, instead it goes over spaghetti with shredded cheese, onions and even oyster crackers!
Cincinnati Chili Ingredients
This dish contains a lot of ingredients, but they are all very easy to source at most grocery stores. You will likely already have the various spices and seasonings in your pantry!
How do you make Cincinnati chili?
Start by sauteeing onions in a little oil until they are tender. Stir in an assortment of spices, beef broth, tomato products, a touch of brown sugar and unsweetened chocolate. Add ground beef, then bring the mixture to a simmer. While the chili simmers, you’ll want to stir it to help break up the meat into very small pieces. After the meat is broken up, let the chili cook for an hour or until it has thickened. Serve the chili over spaghetti with the toppings of your choice.
Tips for the perfect dish
The type of ground beef that you use in this dish really matters because you won’t get a chance to drain the grease off, as the meat goes straight into the liquid without being browned first. I typically use 85% or 90% lean as it has plenty of flavor but is not overly greasy. Skyline chili will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, and can be frozen for 2 months. You can make this dish a day in advance. Prepare the chili as directed, then refrigerate. When you’re ready to eat, you can remove any fat that’s solidified on top, then place in a pan and heat until warm. I recommend using freshly grated cheddar cheese for the topping, as I find the flavor and texture is better than the bags of pre-grated cheese at the grocery store. It’s your choice whether you serve your chili over spaghetti or hot dogs, although my family prefers the spaghetti route.
Skyline chili ways
Cincinnati chili is offered in different preparations with different toppings. Typically if you were ordering this dish at a restaurant, you’d specify whether you want it two-way, three-way, four-way or five way. In addition to the toppings served under the “way” system, oyster crackers are often offered on top or on the side.
Two-Way: Spaghetti with chili on top. Three-Way: A two-way with the addition of shredded cheddar cheese. Four-Way: Add either diced raw onions or kidney beans to your three-way. Five-Way: Add both onions and kidney beans on top of the cheese, chili and spaghetti.
This dish is a fun way to do chili night. Everyone loves to make their own creation, and the complex savory flavor of the chili just can’t be beat.
More chili recipes to try
Chili Mac Beef Chili Instant Pot Chili Turkey Chili Chili Cheese Fries
Cincinnati Chili Video
