We are eating Cincinnati chili for Thanksgiving

I have both of my daughters for Thanksgiving (tomorrow)..I didnt find out till today..but that is cool..anytime that I get with them I am thankful...
I was originally going to just go to OB and buy the hippy homeless kids food and bring it to them..even have some blankets to give away..but I will just do it on Friday..which is a cooler day anyway..
My youngest mentioned she would like this chili for her Thanksgiving meal..I asked her why she didnt want turkey or whatever..she said that stuff ruins thanksgiving and this would be much cooler and original..I am always down for this kind of thinking, plus I think she is doing thanksgiving a few times with my ex's family. LOL
Anybody ever had Cincinnati Chili? It is some serious grub..huge in Cincinnati..there has to be a couple hundred chili places that serve this kind of chili...there are few things that are interesting while cooking it..one is that the hamburger meat is not browned at all..it is pretty much boiled and also this chili has cinnammon.
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History of Cincinnati Chili

Outside of the state of Texas, Cincinnati, Ohio, is the most chili-crazed city in the United States. Cincinnati prides itself on being a true chili capital, with more than 180 chili parlors. Cincinnati-style chili is quite different from its more familiar Texas cousin, and it has developed a cult-like popularity.

What makes it different is the way the meat is cooked. The chili has a thinner consistency and is prepared with an unusual blend of spices that includes cinnamon, chocolate or cocoa, allspice, and Worcestershire. this is truly the unofficial grub of Cincinnati.

The people of Cincinnati enjoy their chili spooned over freshly made pasta and topped with a combination of chopped onions, shredded Cheddar cheese, refried beans or kidney beans, and crushed oyster crackers. If you choose "the works," you are eating what they call Five-Way Chili. Make sure to pile on the toppings - that's what sets it apart from any other chili dish.

To test a restaurant for authenticity, ask for a Four-Way. If the server asks you whether you want beans or onions, you know this is fake Cincinnati chili, since Four-Way always comes with onions.

Macedonian immigrant Tom Kiradjieff created Cincinnati chili in 1922. With his brother, John, Kiradjieff opened a small Greek restaurant called the Empress. The restaurant did poorly however, until Kiradjieff started offering a chili made with Middle Eastern spices, which could be served in a variety of ways. He called it his "spaghetti chili." Kiradjieff's "five way" was a concoction of a mound of spaghetti toped with chili, chopped onion, kidney beans, and shredded yellow cheese, served with oyster crackers and a side order of hot dogs topped with more shredded cheese.

Check out Linda's Soups, Stews, and Chili Recipes.


Cincinnati Chili Recipe

1 large onion chopped
1 pound extra-lean ground beef
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon red (cayenne) pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa or 1/2 ounce grated unsweetened chocolate
1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1/2 cup water
1 (16-ounce) package uncooked dried spaghetti pasta
Toppings (see below)

In a large frying pan over medium-high heat, saute onion, ground beef, garlic, and chili powder until ground beef is slightly cooked. Add allspice, cinnamon, cumin, cayene pepper, salt, unsweetened cocoa or chocolate, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, cider vinegar, and water. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, 1 1/2 hours. Remove from heat.

Cook spaghetti according to package directions and transfer onto individual serving plates (small oval plates are traditional).

Ladle chili over spaghetti and serve with toppings of your choice. Oyster crackers are served in a separate container on the side.


Cincinnati chili lovers order their chili by number. Two, Three, Four, or Five Way. Let your guest create their own final product.

Two-Way Chili: Chili served on spaghetti

Three-Way Chili: Additionally topped with shredded Cheddar cheese

Four-Way Chili: Additionally topped with chopped onions

Five-Way Chili: Additionally topped with kidney beans


Makes 6 to 8 servings.

I live in Cincinnati.. the chili is AMAZING! Skyline is definitely the chili place around here.

Never heard of it till now,but sounds good,Thanks for this.

I saw skyline chili on the food network awhile back and ordered some skyline chile online it was definately different then any other chili I have ever had but it was amazing, happy thanksgiving geonagual

I love Cincinnatti chili! I have a recipe very much like that one, Geo. I'll have to try the spice proportions in this one. The guys in my family aren't fans like I am, though. They either want it to taste like Texas-style chili or like spaghetti sauce, one or the other.

This has given me an inspiration for what I'll fix tomorrow. I think I'll do homemade spaghetti sauce and pasta, garlic bread, Caesar salad, etc. That sounds like a good after-Thanksgiving meal when everyone's had enough turkey leftovers.

It's definitely not bad, I've only had it once though. I wasn't a fan of the cinnamon in it. I prefer the regular mexican/texmex chili that I'm accustom to. Still, Cincinnati chili is good when you need a change I guess.