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Cincinnati Chili Recipe

Cincinnati Chili Recipe photo by Taste of Home

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The chocolate in this recipe threw me off at first, but now it's the only way I make chili. You'll find layers of delicious flavor in this heartwarming dish. It's well-worth the time it takes! —Joyce Alm, Thorp, Washington

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Cincinnati Chili Recipe

Prep: 25 min. Cook: 5-1/2 hours

Yield: 10 Servings

25 330 355

Ingredients

3 pounds ground beef
1-1/2 cups chopped onions
1-1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 cans (16 ounces each) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
2 cans (15 ounces each) tomato sauce
2 cups beef broth
1/4 cup chili powder
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1 ounce unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
Hot cooked spaghetti
Shredded cheddar cheese and sliced green onions, optional

Directions

In a Dutch oven, cook beef and onions over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain.
In a 5-qt. slow cooker, combine the beans, tomato sauce, broth, chili powder, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, chocolate, cinnamon, cumin, salt, oregano, pepper and cloves. Stir in beef mixture. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or until heated through.
Serve with spaghetti. Garnish with cheese and green onions if desired. Yield: 10 servings.

Originally published as Cincinnati Chili in Simple & Delicious January/February 2008

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Reviews for Cincinnati Chili

Cincinnati Chili

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Reviewed on Jan. 27, 2013 by MrsKase

oh forgot wanted to say-since we eat grass-fed organic ground beef it is expensive so I use only 1 pound of ground beef and one pound dry soaked beans or 4 cans of organic beans. I have used a mix of black beans and kidney before too-this works good too.

Reviewed on Jan. 27, 2013 by MrsKase

I just saw I already reviewed this in 2011-see still lovin' it lol!!!

Reviewed on Jan. 27, 2013 by MrsKase

I grew up eating chili over spaghetti that my Mom called Cincinnati Chili but she used a box mix of seasonings called Cincinnati Chili and yes browned the beef in a fry pan. I eat a diet of minumum processed foods since 2010 and this recipe is so good-we have made several times in past couple years bc it tastes like Mom's without using a proceesed food packet. My whole family loves this chili and I have made it for others from Church and they all loved it and we had a Pastor tell us that his kids ate it even and they won't normally eat chili. I don't see why anyone would get bent out shape about authenticity but I am not from nor ever been to Cincinnati and if this how the locals act-never really want to go there lol!

Reviewed on Nov. 23, 2012 by Taygin

As someone who grew up in Cincinnati (and still lives nearby) I cannot believe the rudeness of supposed other Cincinnatians about how the chili is made. I can confirm as a fact that everyone has their own recipe for this chili around here. Some boil it, some brown it. Some use chocolate, some use cocoa. It's good either way and still retains the awesome flavor! To say you're "ashamed" over how some chili is made is unbelievable! And those of you who think the spaghetti or chili dogs are weird... just try them. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!

Reviewed on Nov. 08, 2012 by muffbear74

This was wonderful! Then again, how can you go wrong with both chocolate AND cinnamon?

Reviewed on Oct. 31, 2011 by whatever41

I don't get the spaghetti thing, but to each his own. The chili is great by itself with bread and butter.

Reviewed on Oct. 31, 2011 by cindylu1231

As someone who has lived in Cincinnati all my life, I have to say that the other reviews are correct in saying that the meat needs to be boiled in water. Next, we would never add the beans to the chili. They are added separately on top of the chili, along with chopped raw onion to make a 5-way. Then it's topped with finely shredded cheddar. We NEVER add green onions or sour cream!

Reviewed on Jun. 30, 2011 by jollyoutcast

Just like back home!

Reviewed on Jun. 17, 2011 by MrsKase

We love love love this chili, i made this several times as care dinners for church friends for people with kids b/c this is the only chili I have ever found that kids love! The magic of chocolate I guess=) I could care less if it is not what they serve in Cincinnati, everybody I have ever made it for and me and my family love this chili!

Reviewed on Apr. 04, 2011 by jodia1971

This in no way is anything like Cincinnati Chili!!! You do not ever brown the meat, you don't add green onions and never never never do you add sour cream (who ever it was that said that) If you do not know anyone in Cincinnati, you need to try http://www.goldstarchili.com/ or http://www.cincinnatifavorites.com/skylinechili.php and you can order the real thing online and have it shipped to you.

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