Print

Savory Cincinnati Chili 5-Way

Cincinnati Chili 5-Way - featured image
Print Recipe

A classic Cincinnati chili served over spaghetti noodles, topped with chili, kidney beans, shredded cheddar cheese, and chopped onions. This recipe features a unique blend of warm spices including cinnamon, cloves, and cocoa for a rich, comforting flavor.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds lean ground beef (85% lean recommended)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 15 ounces tomato sauce, plain or no-salt-added
  • 2 cups low sodium beef broth
  • 1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 3 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 bay leaves
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 pound spaghetti noodles, cooked al dente
  • Shredded cheddar cheese for topping
  • Chopped onions for topping
  • Extra kidney beans for topping (optional)

Instructions

  1. Brown the beef in a large pot over medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes until no longer pink and slightly browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
  2. Add chopped onion and minced garlic to the beef. Cook for 5 minutes until softened and fragrant, stirring occasionally.
  3. Stir in chili powder, cocoa powder, cinnamon, allspice, and ground cloves to coat the meat and onions.
  4. Pour in tomato sauce and beef broth. Stir in Worcestershire sauce and add bay leaves.
  5. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
  6. After 1 hour, stir in drained kidney beans and simmer uncovered for another 15 minutes.
  7. While chili simmers, cook spaghetti noodles in salted boiling water until al dente (8-10 minutes). Drain well.
  8. To assemble, place spaghetti on plates, ladle chili over noodles, then top with kidney beans, shredded cheddar cheese, and chopped raw onions.
  9. Serve immediately, optionally with oyster crackers or hot sauce on the side.

Notes

Remove bay leaves before serving. Simmer low and slow for best flavor. Brown beef well to develop flavor. Cook spaghetti al dente to avoid mushiness. Stir gently during simmering to keep beans intact. For variations, swap ground beef with turkey or chicken, use vegetable broth and textured vegetable protein for vegetarian version, or use gluten-free pasta for gluten-free option.

Nutrition

Keywords: Cincinnati chili, 5-Way chili, savory chili, homemade chili, classic chili recipe, comfort food, chili with cocoa, chili with cinnamon

Find it online: https://emmayum.com/savory-cincinnati-chili-5-way-recipe-easy-homemade-classic-toppings/