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Cincinnati chili (copycat Skyline chili) served over spaghetti and topped with shredded cheese.

Easy Cincinnati Chili (Copycat Skyline Chili)

Chrysti Benner
If you're a fan of Cincinnati chili, you'll be glad to know you can make a from-scratch version at home! Serve over spaghetti with some shredded cheese and your favorite toppings.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6 Servings
Calories 248 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

For the Chili:

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1/2 medium onion (diced)
  • 2 teaspoon garlic
  • 1 - 1 1/2 cups beef broth
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1/4 teaspoon allspice
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 cup tomato sauce
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 oz of unsweetened chocolate OR 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
  • 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • Salt and pepper (to taste)

For Serving:

  • Cooked spaghetti, shredded cheese, diced onions, kidney beans.

Instructions
 

  • Add ground beef and onions to a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, breaking apart the ground beef, until the beef is browned and onions are soft. Drain excess grease.
  • Add garlic, 1 cup of the broth, and the remaining chili ingredients (except for salt and pepper). Stir to combine.
  • Bring the mixture to a boil, then decrease the heat and allow the chili to simmer for about 10-15 minutes.
  • Transfer the chili mixture to a small mixing bowl or large liquid measuring cup, then use an immersion blender to blend the chili to a smooth consistency. Return the chili to the pan.
  • Add salt and pepper to taste. If the mixture is too thick, stir in some more beef broth to thin it.
  • Serve over cooked spaghetti noodles, topping as desired with shredded cheese, diced onions, or cooked beans.

Notes

  • Feel free to add extra seasonings if preferred.
  • For unsweetened chocolate, I use Baker's brand, where four squares of the bar equals 1 ounce. When I don't have that on hand, I use cocoa powder.
  • I prefer to hand-shred cheese with a box grater, as you can get finer, softer shreds that are more similar to what Skyline uses.
  • I love using these Fiesta oval baker dishes for serving--they're just the right size and shape.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 248kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 15gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 550mgPotassium: 496mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 973IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 48mgIron: 4mg
Keyword Cincinnati chili, copycat skyline chili, how to make cincinnati chili, how to make skyline chili, skyline chili without the can, stove top skyline chili recipe
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