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A plate of spaghetti topped with meat sauce and shredded cheddar cheese, with a fork resting on the side; cheese grater and extra cheese in the background.

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 5 ways with cheese, onions, and beans. Cozy, comforting, and full of flavor!
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 15 minutes
Course Main Course
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
 

  • Add the ground beef to a large pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Break up the beef with a fork until it has a very fine texture. Let it simmer until fully cooked, about 30 minutes.
  • Stir in the onions, tomato sauce, vinegar, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and cocoa powder. Mix until everything is well combined.
  • Add the chili powder, paprika, salt, cumin, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, cloves, allspice, and bay leaf. Stir until all spices are evenly distributed.
  • Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat to a gentle simmer. Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, for about 3 hours. Add water as needed to prevent burning or excessive thickening.
  • Remove the bay leaf before serving. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Serve overcooked spaghetti with your preferred toppings.

Notes

Serving Options:

  • 2-Way: Chili + spaghetti
  • 3-Way: Chili + spaghetti + shredded Cheddar cheese
  • 4-Way: Chili + spaghetti + diced onions + shredded Cheddar cheese
  • 5-Way: Chili + spaghetti + red kidney beans + diced onions + 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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