This recipe for Cincinnati-Style Chili is an adaptation from an old cooking light recipe. This spicy-sweet chili is flavored with a little cinnamon and chocolate to make it special. Serve it over hot spaghetti noodles (or spaghetti squash if you are watching your carbs!) and top it off with onions and cheese. Super easy and super delicious!
Trying Cincinnati Chili
The first time I made Cincinnati Chili was back in 2009 when I was exploring all kinds of recipes to blog about. I was always a foodie, but never much of an enthusiastic foodie until I started food blogging. Chili Dogs have always been a favorite food of mine and upon reading about different ways to make chili, I found out that the Coney Dog (which I have never officially had one of) is basically a Mediterranean spiced meat sauce over a hot dog. In the next sentence I read that Cincinnati Chili is basically the same thing, only served on top of spaghetti instead!
Before I made this recipe, I had never put chocolate or cinnamon in my chili. This is the conversation I had with Grumpy the first time we ever ate this:
Grumpy: What is so special about Cincinnati Chili?
Me: Nothing, I just like the ingredients so I thought we would try it. (note chocolate and cinnamon)
Grumpy: Yeah, there is chocolate in there, that is why you liked it.
Me: Not necessarily.....ummm, yeah. Not really. (Secretly making this smug face because that was a big part of the reason I wanted to try this!)
Grumpy: What is with the spaghetti?
Me: It's Cincinnati style.
Grumpy: Well, we live in NY.
Ha ha ha. I told him to try it. If he didn't like it I wouldn't have to make it again.
Pretty basic ingredients until you get to the spices. The original recipe does call for allspice. I didn't have any, so I didn't use it. However, I did have this fantastic chocolate I received in my complimentary Roost Crate package!
The Chocolate
This chocolate is ah-mazing! I have been storing it in my refrigerator and nibbling it a little bit at a time to savor the smooth, salty chocolate deliciousness! When making my Cincinnati Chili, I knew this would be an excellent addition for the chocolate part of the recipe!
The essentials
You will need red kidney beans, diced tomatoes, vegetable broth, onions, bell pepper, garlic, tomato paste and chili spices.
Easy Stove-top Cooking!
This is an easy recipe made right on your stove-top all in one pot!
The final look in the pot!
I love how rich and delicious this chili turned out. Not too spicy, with the warming cinnamon and comforting chocolate. Pure satisfaction.
Having fun with your food!
Be sure if you're eating spaghetti, that you twirl your fork to wrap the spaghetti around it and always attempt to get some of the delicious toppings with it!
📖 Recipe
Cincinnati-Style Chili in New York
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Ingredients
- 4 ounces uncooked spaghetti
- 12 ounces ground beef
- ¾ cups onion
- ¾ cup chopped green bell pepper
- 3 large cloves garlic chopped
- 2 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup vegetable broth
- 1-15- ounce can kidney beans rinsed and drained
- 1-14.5- ounce) can diced tomatoes undrained
- 2 ounces chopped dark chocolate
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ tablespoon light brown sugar
- ¾ cup 3 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 4 tablespoons chopped cilantro if desired
Instructions
- Cook spaghetti according to package instructions.
- In a hot dutch oven, cook ground beef, onions, garlic, and green peppers until meat is browned. Drain any fat from meat. Place pot back on stove and stir in spices. Cook for 1 minute.
- Add broth, beans, brown sugar, and tomatoes. Cover, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat and stir in chocolate. Serve chili over spaghetti. Top with cheese, onions, and cilantro (if desired).
Nicole @ Crazed Mom says
Mmm I remembered you mentioned a recipe going up today and I am SO GLAD I came to check it out. This looks and sounds amazing!