Cincinnati Chili (Skyline Chili Copycat)
A comforting Skyline style Cincinnati chili with warm spices, perfect over spaghetti and topped with cheese. Ideal for family breakfasts, brunches, or a hearty weeknight meal.
Ingredients
For the Chili Base:
- 1 ½ pounds lean ground beef
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 medium onion diced
- 4 cups water
- 1 can 6 ounces tomato paste
- ¼ cup chili powder
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar or brown sugar
For Toppings and Sides:
- Grated cheddar cheese
- Chopped onions optional
- Kidney beans optional
- Oyster crackers optional
- Hot chili sauce optional
- Cooked spaghetti noodles for serving
- Traditional Greek salad as a side (optional)
Instructions
- In a Dutch oven, whisk water and tomato paste over medium-high heat until smooth.
- Crumble in raw ground beef and break it up evenly.
- Stir in onion, spices, cocoa, vinegar, Worcestershire, garlic, bay leaf, and sugar. Mix well.
- Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer on low for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Cool, cover, and refrigerate overnight to deepen flavor and let fat solidify.
- Remove solid fat and bay leaf. Reheat until hot.
- Ladle over spaghetti, top with cheddar, and serve with optional toppings and a Greek salad.