# Cincinnati Chili

A unique chili dish that resembles a combination of the Middle Eastern dish musaka and the Greek dish pastitsio, traditionally served over spaghetti and with various toppings.

- Total time: 60 min
- Cuisine: Italian
- Category: Soup
- Language: en

## Ingredients

- scoosh Olive oil
- 2 Onions
- 2 cloves Minced garlic
- 2 pounds Ground beef
- 1 quart Chicken broth
- 15 ounces Tomato sauce
- 6 ounces Tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons Chili powder
- 0.5 tablespoon Coriander cumin
- 0.5 tablespoon Cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon Ground cloves
- 0.5 teaspoon Allspice
- 0.25 teaspoon Cayenne pepper
- 0.5 tablespoon Brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons Apple cider vinegar
- 0.5 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Bay leaf
- 1 ounce Unsweetened chocolate
- Spaghetti
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Chopped onions
- Red kidney beans

## Instructions

1. Add a scoop of olive oil and two onions (medium yellow and medium sweet) to a heavy-bottomed soup pot and sauté until they start to soften.
2. Add two cloves of minced garlic to the pot.
3. Add 2 pounds of ground beef (85/15 recommended) to the pot with the onions and garlic.
4. Break up the ground beef finely, using a potato masher if necessary.
5. Add 1 quart (4 cups) of chicken broth to the pot.
6. Add a 15-ounce can of tomato sauce to the pot.
7. Add a 6-ounce can of tomato paste to the pot.
8. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
9. Add 2 tablespoons of chili powder, 0.5 tablespoon of coriander cumin, 0.5 tablespoon of cinnamon, 1 teaspoon of ground cloves, 0.5 teaspoon of allspice, 0.25 to 0.5 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, and 0.5 tablespoon of brown sugar.
10. Add 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar.
11. Add about 0.5 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce.
12. Add 1 bay leaf.
13. Add 1 ounce of unsweetened chocolate (or a couple of tablespoons of cocoa powder).
14. Maintain a controlled simmer with the lid off for at least an hour, or longer for a thicker consistency.
15. Serve the chili over spaghetti (Two-Way).
16. Top with plenty of fresh grated cheddar cheese (Three-Way).
17. Add chopped onions (Four-Way).
18. Finally, add red kidney beans (Five-Way).

## Equipment

- Heavy-bottomed soup pot
- Wooden spoon
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Potato masher
- Ladle
- Plate
- Fork

## Tips

- For the ground beef, 85/15 is recommended but 96/4 and 80/20 can be used.
- The meat in Cincinnati chili is very thin, so break it up well, even using a potato masher.
- Cook the chili for at least an hour, or up to three hours, depending on desired consistency.
- Cocoa powder can be used as a substitute for unsweetened chocolate.

## Source

- Original video: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSf4RB7F8/
- Recipe page: https://www.cliprecipe.com/recipe/6add1699-2da2-4732-a693-055a6692f79e
- Extracted: 2025-11-30

Extracted from the video by Clip Recipe (https://www.cliprecipe.com). Quantities and steps are as stated or shown in the video. Site guide for agents: https://www.cliprecipe.com/llms.txt