Ode to Authentic Cincinnati Style Chili (2024)

FAQs

What is the distinguishing ingredient in Cincinnati chili? ›

Traditional red chili often includes cumin, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder, though it's not limited to these spices. Cincinnati chili, on the other hand, has a sweeter edge with spices like cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice. Some recipes also use cocoa powder.

The chili at this Cincinnati institution can be served plain, 3-way, 4-way, 5-way or 6-way. Learning the lingo didn't take long for Guy Fieri. He ordered the 6-way, which includes everything: chili, spaghetti, beans, onions, cheese and fried jalapeno caps.

Ground beef: We like to use a lean ground beef like 85/15 since it has less fat and makes for a nicer, less greasy chili. Spices: Don't be intimidated by the long list of recipe ingredients.

In the Cincinnati region, chili is done differently. In place of chunks of meat and sizeable beans, you'll get savory soupiness and creative accoutrements like spaghetti, hot dogs and mustard. In place of an overtly tomato-y base, you'll taste hints of cinnamon, cloves, allspice and maybe even chocolate.

One-way: Just a bowl of chili. Order it like that if you want, but you're missing out. And no one calls it a "one way." Two-way: Chili plus spaghetti.

Two-way: spaghetti topped with chili (also called "chili spaghetti") Three-way: spaghetti, chili, and cheese.

Originally, Cincinnati chili was just chili spaghetti. It was based on the Greek saltsa kima, which is meat sauce on pasta.

Skyline Chili is unique in that it is not chili con carne, the meat dish that originated in (and is the state dish of) Texas. Instead, Cincinnati chili is a sauce usually used over spaghetti or hot dogs, containing a unique spice blend that gives it a very distinct, sweet-and-savory taste.

Make a cornstarch slurry: Mix together 1 tablespoon each of cornstarch and cold water, stirring well to remove any lumps. Then, stir the slurry into your chili and let it simmer for another 10 minutes to fully thicken.

1. Cincinnati Chili. Cincinnati chili is a beloved local specialty that has gained nationwide recognition. Unlike traditional chili, Cincinnati chili is spiced with a unique blend of Mediterranean-inspired flavors, including cinnamon, allspice, and cloves.

What gives Skyline Chili its flavor? ›

I would say the real secret is in the addition of cocoa and cinnamon and the large amount of spices you add. The chili tasted really hot at first, but as it cooked, the flavors mellowed and created that just right blend of spices that makes Cincinnati chili so different.

They realize that the only correct way to eat Skyline chili is by using the edge of the fork to cut down vertically through the cracker-cheese-chili-spaghetti mass, so that every bite is a small yet perfectly proportioned combination of spaghetti, sauce, cheese, and a cracker or two.

-1 large brown/yellow onion (I have seen these called both brown or yellow, just don't use white onion. Red onion is good too, but it gives the chili a different flavor.)

After we've cooked our spaghetti, we mix it with a specially prepared tomato sauce that adds both color and flavor to the pasta. The cooking process is completed by steam heating the refrigerated, prepared pasta before being taken to the steamtable.

A favorite from Cincinnati, this Skyline Chili is traditionally served over noodles with piles of cheddar cheese on top! With unique spices like cinnamon, allspice, cumin and cloves, this unique dish is now loved all over the country! DM for clickable link! @thelemonbowl the best!

Cincinnati chili has a flavor all its own

The unique spice blend, texture, and toppings are the three elements that set Cincinnati chili apart from the rest. According to Simply Recipes, many soup and stew dishes get their flavor from the caramelization that occurs when you sear the protein featured in the dish.

Cincinnati chili is a unique type of chili that's flavored with not just chili powder but lots of other spices, including cinnamon, allspice, and cloves. This recipe was handed down to me by Mom, a Cincinnati native. I like mine 4-way, with spaghetti, raw chopped onions, and grated mild Cheddar.

Cumin, Chile Powders, and Paprika are the most common spices in chili followed by garlic, onion, coriander, Mexican oregano, and bay leaves. These ingredients can be combined to create a savory and well-balanced pot of top notch comfort food.