Copycat Skyline Chili (Cincinnati Style Chili)
Created by the famous Skyline Chili in Cincinnati, Ohio this Cincinnati style chili is packed with unique flavor, served over spaghetti, with whatever "way" you like your toppings. A regional classic you can make in the comfort of your own home.
Servings: 6 Servings
Calories: 290kcal
Ingredients
Skyline Chili Ingredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef (96% / 4% blend recommended)
- ¼ Cup chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground all-spice
- ¼ teaspoon ground sage (or ground clove)
- ½ teaspoon chipotle flakes
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 , 6 ounce can tomato paste
- ½ ounce unsweetened baking chocolate
- 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 4 Cups beef broth
Ingredients for Serving
- cooked spaghetti
- shredded cheddar cheese
- optional: diced onion, kidney beans, oyster crackers
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef, breaking it down into small crumbles while doing so (about 7-10 minutes).*
- One the meat is browned, drain or spoon off any excess fat.*
- Add all of the spices and the sugar (chili powder, cinnamon, garlic powder, cumin, onion powder, all-spice, sage, chipotle flakes, cayenne, black pepper, salt, and sugar) and cook until fragrant (about 30-seconds) to open up the spices.
- Add the tomato paste and unsweetened baking chocolate, stirring to break down and melt, scraping the bottom of the pan to release any bits that may have stuck.
- Pour in the apple cider vinegar and beef broth, stirring to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer uncovered for 1 hour, until the sauce has thickened.
- Serve over spaghetti (known as "two-ways") or over a hot dog (called a Coney) and enjoy! *See the 'How to Serve Cincinnati Skyline Chili' for more information on how to serve this dish "three-ways", "four-ways", or "five-ways" too. Our photos show this dish being served "three-ways" with oyster crackers.
Notes
*Variation: boil the meat in the sauce without browning it first. This is the more traditional way of making this style of chili (but we brown ours because we find it to be more flavorful). If you choose to do this, mix up your sauce first, then crumble the raw ground beef into the sauce. Then use a potato masher, whisk, or fork to break up the meat into very fine pieces.
Storage: Store fully-cooled leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
*Note: the nutrition values were calculated WITHOUT spaghetti or toppings as the amount and type used may vary widely
Nutrition
Calories: 290kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 1380mg | Potassium: 1140mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 3552IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 7mg
