Cincinnati Chili Spiced Meat Sauce (Printable version)
Unique spiced meat sauce over spaghetti topped with cheese, onions, and beans.
# What you need:
→ Meat & Dairy
01 - 2 lbs ground beef (80/20)
02 - 2 cups finely shredded cheddar cheese
→ Vegetables & Beans
03 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
→ Tomato & Liquid
06 - 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
07 - 2 cups water
08 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
→ Spices & Seasonings
09 - 2 tbsp chili powder
10 - 1 tsp ground cinnamon
11 - 1 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
12 - 1/2 tsp ground allspice
13 - 1/2 tsp ground cumin
14 - 1/4 tsp ground cloves
15 - 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
16 - 1 bay leaf
17 - 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
18 - 1 tsp salt
19 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
20 - 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
21 - 1 tbsp brown sugar
→ Pasta
22 - 1 lb spaghetti
# How To:
01 - Combine ground beef and water in a large stockpot. Break up meat thoroughly with a wooden spoon, ensuring no large clumps remain. Do not brown the meat.
02 - Stir in chopped onion, garlic, tomato sauce, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, chili powder, cinnamon, cocoa powder, allspice, cumin, cloves, cayenne, bay leaf, salt, and black pepper. Mix until evenly distributed.
03 - Bring mixture to a gentle boil over medium-high heat. Reduce to low and simmer uncovered for 1 hour 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Skim any excess fat from surface during cooking.
04 - Taste chili and adjust salt or spice levels as desired. Remove and discard bay leaf before serving.
05 - While chili simmers, cook spaghetti according to package directions until al dente. Drain well in a colander.
06 - Layer cooked spaghetti in bowls. Ladle hot chili sauce over pasta. Add toppings based on preferred style: two-way (chili only), three-way (add cheese), four-way (add onions or beans), or five-way (add both onions and beans). Serve immediately with extra toppings on the side.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The spice blend creates this incredibly rich, complex flavor that makes people guess what is in it for days
- It feeds a crowd easily and somehow tastes even better the next day
- The customizable toppings mean everyone can build their perfect bowl exactly how they like it
02 -
- Whatever you do, resist the urge to brown the beef first because that authentic texture comes from simmering it raw in the liquid
- The sauce will look impossibly thin at first but trust the process because it thickens beautifully during that long simmer
- Cincinnati chili is meant to be more like a meat sauce than traditional chili, so do not expect the same thick consistency you are used to
03 -
- Letting the chili rest in the refrigerator overnight makes the flavors even more intense and cohesive
- Use a box grater to shred your own cheese because pre-shredded cheese has anti-caking agents that prevent it from melting properly