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    Home » Recipes » Soups & Chilis » Southern Cincinnati Chili

    Southern Cincinnati Chili

    Published: Nov 2, 2013 · Modified: May 7, 2022 by Barbara Curry · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Bowls of Cincinnati chili served 5 different ways
    A bowl of Cincinnati Chili Southern style

    Southern Cincinnati Chili has a unique flavor and it’s served over spaghetti. Add toppings your “way” and enjoy chili the way the Buckeyes do or add pimento cheese for a Southern flare. 

    A bowl of Cincinnati chili with all the toppings
    Cincinnati Chili

    Chili found in the Cincinnati area is different than any other version around. We would get this type of chili when we lived in Kentucky as we weren’t far from Cincinnati.  The sauce is made with ground beef and tomato sauce but with seasonings you will only see in Cincinnati Chili. Cocoa powder, cloves and cinnamon create a flavor filled sauce that is then poured over spaghetti.  To that you are asked how you want it served, your choices are as follows:

    A bowl of spaghetti for Cincinnati chili
    Cincinnati Chili

    Two way: Chili and spaghetti

    A bowl of Cincinnati Chili two way
    Cincinnati Chili

    Three way: Chili, spaghetti and cheese

    Four way: Chili, spaghetti, cheese and onions

    A bowl of Three way Cincinnati chili
    Cincinnati Chili

    Five way: Chili, spaghetti, cheese, onions and beans

    My way: Chili, spaghetti, pimento cheese, onions,  jalapeño slices, and sour cream

    A bowl of Cincinnati chili with all the toppings
    Cincinnati Chili

    However, here in the South, I like to use Pimento cheese instead of grated cheddar and to spice it up a bit, add some jalapeño slices. Now that it’s spicy, you need a little sour cream to cool it off.  I don’t like beans on my chili, but if you do, just add cooked kidney beans.  And last but not least, don’t forget the oyster crackers!

    For the pimento cheese, I used my Smokey Pimento Cheese recipe but just left out the chipotle peppers.

    A bowl of Smokey Pimento Cheese
    Smokey Pimento Cheese

    How do you make Southern Cincinnati Chili

    The chili itself is not different from other chili recipes, it’s just the seasoning and presentation that are different. You will need lots of seasonings, so check your pantry before starting out.

    Step 1: Cook the onion and garlic and then add the hamburger or turkey and cook until browned.  Add some bell peppers and cook until slightly soft.

    Step 2: Add all the seasonings except the bay leaf and let them simmer for a minute. Next add the tomatoes and sauce, molasses and the bay leaf and bring it to a boil.  Reduce heat and let it simmer for two hours. While traditional Cincinnati chili has allspice, it’s not my favorite, so I leave it out. If you like the flavor of allspice add a ½ teaspoon to the sauce.

    Step 3: Cook spaghetti, drain and put in individual bowls and top with a scoop of chili and the toppings that you prefer. 

    This type of chili is a nice change from the more traditional chili.  The chili itself is pretty thick which makes it great for serving over spaghetti.  It’s also nice for large gatherings as everyone can make the version they prefer.  You don’t even need cornbread since you’re serving it over spaghetti.

    A fork full of Southern Cincinnati Chili
    Cincinnati Chili

    Can you make Cincinnati Chili with TURKEY

    I typically substitute ground turkey or ground chicken for the hamburger in this recipe.  It’s hard to tell the difference with all the other flavorings going on so you can make this healthier by this simple substitution.

    MORE chili recipes

    • A healthy chicken chili
    • Short rib chili is a hearty chili that needs to cook for several hours
    • Make this chili in the Instant Pot
    • Try chili with sweet potatoes  with apple cider
    • Add a little Kahlua and chocolate to your chili
    • Try adding acorn squash and pumpkin seeds
    • Pull out the slow cooker and add some chicken and Ancho peppers
    • While you have the slow cooker out, try chicken salsa chili

    It’s a long winter so you have lots of time to experiment with some of these chili recipes. If you’ve had enough chili already, then soup is the next best thing. I especially like Zesty Chicken Soup, and Sausage and Mushroom Soup.

    If you make Southern Cincinnati Chili be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to also tag me on Instagram! I would love to see your creation.

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please know that I only provide links to things that I use on a regular basis and think you might find helpful.

    A bowl of Cincinnati chili with all the toppings

    Southern Cincinnati Chili

    Author: Barbara Curry
    Southern Cincinnati Chili has a unique flavor and it's served over pasta. Add toppings your "way" and enjoy chili the way the Buckeyes do or add pimento cheese for a Southern flare. 
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin
    PREP: 30 minutes
    COOK: 12 hours
    Servings: 8

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 large onion chopped
    • 3 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 lb. ground beef or turkey
    • 2 green peppers diced
    • 2 tablespoons chili powder
    • 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • 1 teaspoon cumin
    • 1 teaspoon oregano
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon allspice optional
    • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon cloves
    • 15 ounces tomato sauce
    • 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes
    • 1 tablespoon molasses
    • 1 bay leaf
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Heat the oil in a large pot over medium high heat. Add the chopped onion and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the meat and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon into small pieces, until just cooked through and no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add the bell peppers and cook until they begin to soften, about 2 minutes. hours. Remove the bay leaf.
    • Add the seasonings, stirring until fragrant, about 1 minutes. Add the tomato sauce and tomatoes with their juices, ½ cup water, molasses and the bay leaf and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the mixture has thickened considerably but is still soupy, about 2 hours. Remove the bay leaf.
    • Serve over spaghetti and top with kidney beans, red onion grated cheese or pimento cheese.
    • Top with sour cream and jalapeño slices.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 132kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 494mg | Potassium: 612mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1183IU | Vitamin C: 34mg | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 2mg
    Follow Me On SocialDid you make this recipe? Mention @ButterandBaggage or tag #ButterandBaggage on Instagram!

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    Comments

    1. dana says

      November 03, 2013 at 4:21 pm

      This looks delicious! Thank you for sharing.

      Reply

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    Barbara Curry is the culinary adventurer of Butter & Baggage. With a dedicated enthusiasm for real butter made from happy cows she is in constant pursuit of delicious recipes and tasty dishes. She shares her experiences, ventures, and occasional misadventures because let’s face it things can get messy in any kitchen.

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