Homemade copycat Skyline Cincinnati chili… unique and flavorful, this regional delicacy is easy to make at home for way less than the restaurant charges!
Have you ever had Cincinnati chili? It’s totally unique, and NOT like a traditional chili, but it’s an absolutely delicacy here in the Midwest. It’s also really easy to make at home, freezes wonderfully, and can be served in so many ways!
I love hometown things, and growing up in the suburbs of Cincinnati, that means Cincinnati-style chili!
It’s definitely NOT like any chili you’ve had before. To most people, chili is something like this. For us Cincinnati-ans… this is our chili:
A meat sauce full of unique seasonings that is served on top of spaghetti and topped with cheese (which we call a 3 way), and sometimes onions and/or beans will be added with the cheese (4 or 5 way).
Another classic way we enjoy this chili is on top of a hot dog, with some mustard and onions and a mound of cheese.
That delicious looking dog is called a coney. And they are heavenly… seriously.
I know… the term chili is confusing, because this dish is completely different… but wonderful (as most Cincinnati-ans are as well!).
I urge you to try it, at least once. Most people who try it, love it!
Around here, you can buy Skyline (and Gold Star) chili in cans, packets, and frozen trays. Which is convenient, but p-r-i-c-e-y! So I wanted to find a recipe that starts from scratch… for a few reasons.
- The price. I’m a cheap you know what, and refuse to pay that much for one can of chili.
- I don’t want the preservatives and whatever is in those packets.
- The most important reason… unless you live here, you probably won’t be able to find those cans, trays or packets in your grocery store. Bummer huh? Everyone should be able to enjoy this fabulous chili, no matter where you live!
It’s really simple to make too, just add water, tomato paste and chocolate to a large pot and cook over medium heat for a few minutes.
That’s right, you read that correctly… chocolate. Not the milk chocolate we all love to snack on mind you, but unsweetened 100% cacao bakers chocolate. My turkey chili uses this chocolate as well!
Add your spices, vinegar, and your beef. Crumble it using your fingers, then use a potato masher, whisk, or mash the beef against the side of the pan. Basically you want the meat all broken up into fine pieces. I mainly used the fork and went to town with my whisk. Get mad at it, break up that meat!
Now just bring it to a boil, reduce heat to medium low and let it cook, uncovered for 1 – 1 1/2 hours (you want a low boil). It will thicken up and become a wonderful meat sauce. And the smell that fills your house…. incredible!!
It’s up to you how you would like to serve up your chili… do you want coneys? A “way”? Or just chili in a bowl with cheese and oyster crackers?
It’s your house, your rules! I typically go for “ways” and coneys. Remember, here’s the breakdown.
CINCINNATI CHILI “WAYS”:
- 2-way = spaghetti and chili
- 3-way = spaghetti, chili, cheese
- 4-way = spaghetti, chili, onions OR beans, cheese (my fav is with onions!)
- 5-way = spaghetti, chili, onion AND beans, cheese
CINCINNATI CHILI CONEYS:
- Bun, hot dog, chili
- Bun, hot dog, chili, cheese
- Bun, hot dog, chili, mustard OR onion, cheese
- Bun, hot dog, chili, mustard AND onion, cheese (my fav!!)
Traditionally, people top their “ways” with oyster crackers and hot sauce. They’re great additions, I use them both!
This chili is also fantastic over crispy french fries or even a baked potato!! You can also use it in an amazing Skyline Chili Dip for your next party.
This chili season, I hope you give this non-traditional Cincinnati chili a try! Let me share this piece of my hometown with you all… I think you’ll LOVE it 🙂
Here are some other versions of chili to try too!
- Slow Cooker Beef and Bean Chili
- Slow Cooker Creamy White Chicken Chili
- Beef and Poblano Chili
- Healthier Turkey Chili
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @the_chunky_chef on Facebook and Instagram!
Ingredients
- 5 cups water
- 6 oz can of Tomato paste
- 1/2 oz baking chocolate (unsweetened - I use Baker's brand)
- 1/4 cup chili powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/4 tsp allspice
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, or less, depending on your desired heat level
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 1/4 lb lean ground beef
Instructions
- Add the water to a large pot. I like to use my dutch oven for this.
- Add the tomato paste and chocolate and heat over medium heat stirring to combine for about 3 minutes. (I stir with a whisk to really break up the tomato paste)
- Add chili powder, cinnamon, garlic powder, cumin, allspice, cloves, red pepper flakes, black pepper, salt, sugar and vinegar.
- Next, crumble the raw ground beef into the pot with your fingers, then use a potato masher, whisk or fork to break up the meat into very fine pieces.
- Turn heat to high to bring to a boil.
- Once boiling, turn the heat down to med-low.
- Cook, uncovered, for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, at a low boil.. stirring occasionally until sauce has thickened quite a bit.
- Serve over thin spaghetti or a hot dog.
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Nutrition Disclaimer
The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Bill says
We put the meat in a blender, with some broth to get it really fine before putting it in the pot.
Bill says
Making this tomorrow! We buy the skyline hot sauce from their website or Amazon. There is definitely a difference between their sauce and Tabasco.
Susan says
I love your recipes, and this one is a family favorite. My husband used to eat Skyline weekly, when he lived near one. I will never understand people who post negative and insulting comments. The rudeness is inexcusable. Thank you again, and remember that there are exponentially more positive people who appreciate you than unhappy, negative Nancy-types! Susan
The Chunky Chef says
Thank you for your kind words Susan! Some people like to take all their frustrations out on recipe writers, even though all we’re doing is sharing our recipes with the world for free.. how dare we? But folks like you make this job worth doing, so thank you again!
Steven says
Lifelong cincinnatian here – I’ve come back to this recipe for years, it is hands down the best copycat skyline chili out there. People ooo and ahh over it every time I make it.
Subbing ground meat substitute to make it vegetarian works magically.
Coleen Robertson says
Could I use unsweetened cocoa POWDER instead?
The Chunky Chef says
I haven’t tested this recipe that way, so I can’t say for certain how well that would work. You might want to check out the comments to see if anyone else has tried it 🙂
Bill says
I’ve used Hersheys unsweet powder in other knock off recipes and they turned out good.
I used a couple of tablespoons of it.
Nikki says
Locate Ohioan here!! Love this recipe and making it right now! One of the closest recipes to the real thing!
Sindi says
I’m sorry but this recipe is quite inaccurate. I’m from Cincinnati and my grandmother worked in the first 3 way chili restaurant in town. It’s called Emprise Chili. She got the recipe from the owner and all of her children and grand children have that original recipe. The recipe contains no cumin, sugar, chocolate, cloves, or chili powder. It is not American chili, it’s German.
You boil the ground beef and add pureed garlic/fresh onion and tomato puree. The only spices in it are Hungarian paprika, allspice and cinnamon, and yes, there is vinegar but it should be white vinegar because it give it sweetness without being too sour. The vinegar should be added once the chili has cooled to so it doesn’t evaporate while cooking. The chili should be very fine and thick, not watery. I have added 2 flavor enhancers, MSG and beef bouillon.
There are two franchises, Gold Star and Ski Line. Gold Star is not too bad as a knock-off, but Ski Line is complete garbage. Neither one of the places are as good as Emprise. When made correctly you will be hooked. I make a huge pot and freeze it. We have it at least once a week because I actually crave it it’s so good.
The Chunky Chef says
I never claimed this was THE Skyline recipe, just one that we think (and many others as well) tastes similar. Sounds like you should start a website and share your version with the world.
Karen T. says
Never heard of Emprise Chili.
Skyline is ranked best in America.
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/dining/2024/07/17/skyline-chili-best-regional-fast-food-usa-today-10-best/74440092007/
CincyA says
Sindi,
It is Empress chilli and it is Greek not German. I do think it would have had cummin.
Bill says
Sindi,
post your recipe and we will let you know if it’s any good!
Marissa says
your website ha recipe blog equivalent of syphilis. Popups and adds make it near ilympossible to use. Get some antibiotic.
The Chunky Chef says
Or you could get some manners. I’d offer you a refund, but you paid nothing for myself and my team’s hard work. Ads offset the ENORMOUS cost of running a website.
Bill says
I find the website very easy to navigate, and there is nothing obtrusive about the ads browsing it from a phone.
Cindy says
Best copycat I have found. Originally from Cincinnati area and MISS Skyline! This is close enough to satisfy my craving. Thank you!
Scott Antonecchia says
Not quite Skyline, next time I feel like I will add more chocolate and cinnamon as it seemed fine on heat, but lacked the sweetness that I associate with good Cincinnati style chili.
Heidi says
Yours is the best copycat Skyline chili recipe out there. I’ve made it many times, and we like it even better than Skyline. Skyline is a bit too salty and tastes too much like clove. I omit the cloves and add nutmeg. I also use vegetable broth in place of water, and I make the meat seperately, since my husband eats meat and I do not. Mine tastes GREAT with the beans and everything else added!
Thank you for this great recipe!
Jacqueline says
Hi, I’m from California. I’ve never had skyline chili, but I do enjoy making this recipe for my family.