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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Chef Tips
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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.
Katie says
We love this recipe for Skyline chili! Best one we’ve tried yet. I’m trying to figure out what one serving would be though, now that I’m on a diet… one cup?
The Chunky Chef says
So happy you love this recipe! I honestly haven’t measured it, as the servings are a rough estimate. I would say probably between a cup – cup and a half 🙂
Aj says
Sooooooo… It depends on the diet. I was surprised to find that it’s pretty keto friendly. I regularly would stop and get three keto coney’s (mustard, onions, chilli, and hot dogs) and it usually ended up being about 2 cups of chilli.
Also this recipe is close enough that you can use the serving sizes in Carb Manager or My Fitness Pal and it’s close enough.
Barb S. says
I have to leave you a review, this recipe is awesome!! I have made several skyline copycat recipes and i love yours the most. Even better than todd wilbur’s. This will be a staple from now on. My only change was to add a not-beef bullion because i cant have beef, i use bison and turkey. Thank you so much!!!
Charlie says
My story about Cincinnati chili is different than most that you will read here. I am from Indianapolis, Indiana. I got out of the Navy in 1962 and got a job in Cincinnati. I worked there for about a year and a half. I didn’t have much money so I rented a room at the YMCA in downtown Cincinnati. rode a bus to work and ate a lot of cheap meals. I worked at a company called AVCO, located in the old Crosley factory. I went to a couple of Reds games at Crosley Field, which held 28,000 seats. I also attended a couple of Cincinnati Royals basketball games when Oscar Robertson played for them. And there was an amusement park in Cincinnati called Coney Island. Anyway, I worked there for a year and a half. was active in a good size church in Norwood. I ate at a lot of mom and pop little restaurants and sometimes ate chili there. But I never saw a Cincinnati chili restaurant like Skyline and nobody where I worked or went to church ever mentioned Cincinnati chili to me. Only years later I read a review of Skyline in Indianapolis in the Sunday paper that raved about how good this Cincinnati chili was. So my wife and I had to try it. Utterly disappointed. I grew up eating midwest chili and I thought this stuff was awful. I tried Skyline twice more over the years. The last time was when I was working in Dayton, Ohio. It was bad all three times. I gave up on Skyline. However, I understand that Cincinnati chili is popular with a lot of folks around Cincinnati. I like trying different dishes and decided I would try a homemade version of Cincinnati chili and see if that was better. After all, all those good folks in Cincinnati couldn’t be all wrong. That brought me here. I haven’t tried this recipe yet but I will and I’ll let you know how it turned out. By the way, my mom always served her chili over spaghetti and that was in the ’40s. We had not heard of Cincinnati chili, 3, 4, or 5 way.
Eric Rice says
You should give Gold Star a try. I was similar to you, the first few times I tried Skyline I was unimpressed. But the first time I tried Gold Star I was totally hooked. I’ll eat Skyline if it’s offered to me, but if I’m spending money I’m going Gold Star every time. It’s a different flavor and not as runny as Skyline.
Lydia says
I saw a video of this chiili being made on “Mandy in the Making’. The ingredients list intrigues me so much that I have to make it. Whether it’s Cincinnati or skyline doesn’t really matter to me, because I have nothing to compare it too except traditional be western or southwestern chili. I can’t wait to try these seasonings. Not to mention the chocolate!!! Thank you! I will let you know how it goes.
Christina Breaux says
Love this recipe. I have made it several times! I sub the ground beef with split red lentils and it gives a ground beef like texture. I grew up on skyline chili but my kids grew up in Florida and never had it. Now they are hooked too! Thank you for this great recipe! It freezes really well too!
Betty says
I grew up in Cincinnati, but we rarely went out to eat when I was young. My mom used to make a homemade chili that included kidney beans and onion and she served it over spaghetti. It wasn’t until I was in High School that I finally gave Skyline a try. I didn’t care much for it! Later, in College, I tried Gold Star and developed a taste for that, but still preferred my mom’s more traditional chili. Now, I have finally developed a liking for Skyline, but I always ask for it “dry”… which means they drain most of the liquid off when they serve it! I currently live in Pittsburgh, where no one knows what “Cincinnati Chili” is… so I’ve made it from a package a couple of times for my husband. Now maybe I’ll give this one a try too!
Trebor LeBeog says
Finneytown here 🙂 Skyline is the best. I,m near 75 years old and I started eating skyline Coney Dogs in Clifton & Ludlow ( across from the firehouse and next to Virginia Bakery) when I was 5 years old. My wife never had it, not there is no other!!!
Dave says
Originally from southwestern PA. Loved it!
Question? Do you have a copycat for their Black Beans And Rice? Email me if you do. Thanks. Dave
The Chunky Chef says
Sadly I don’t, but I can add it to the list 🙂
Arielle says
Me and the husband were both born in raised in Cincinnati, living in Chicago. We had such a good time making this, and the recipe is pretty spot on. DELICIOUS. One of those places we took for granted while we lived there. Many a late night shared at the clifton skyline, thanks for sharing!!
Stacy says
I grew up eating Skyline and always stop and get some when I go visit my parents. I have to say it was fun making it and I had high hopes, but something was off. I just can’t put my finger on it. I followed your recipe with no variations so maybe I will tweak it a bit and see what I can come up with. That being said it was still delicious and I am very full right now 🙂 Thanks!
Jim Stocks says
From the description you gave about Cincinnati it sounds like you’re from College Hill. Same here from a long time ago. I went to Aiken back in the 70’s. Thank for the recipe and looking forward to trying it. Trying to find “Skyline” style chill in Florida is not easy.
Helen D Capone says
Where do you live in Florida, Publix carries it in cans and in the freezer section. I lived in Fort Myers and they have a skyline chili restaurant as does Naples
Brittany says
I’m from the Cincinnati area and recently moved to Florida. I LOVE Skyline chili and would eat it about once a week back home. We live about an hour from a Skyline so we’re not totally out of luck but we used to live a half mile from one back home. Big difference!
I have tried a few copycat Skyline recipes but this one is BY FAR the best one. Very very close to the real thing! Thanks for sharing and making our relocation a bit more tolerable without our love of Skyline!
Colin N. says
Giving this a shot, but adding my favorite – Bob Evans Sausage. Also another Ohio company so it’s fitting 🙂 After trying their own sausage chili years ago I couldn’t eat chili any other way, save a few really, really good beef only and chickenrecipes (Skyline being one of them!)
JC Troy says
Not even close. Way to much chili powder. Skyline is a deep rich taste not a hot chili flavor
The Chunky Chef says
My chili powder isn’t spicy… so this isn’t a hot and spicy dish.
Diane says
What chili powder are you using CC that isn’t hot/spicy? All the grocery store carries in the baking/spice aisle is chili powder, and they are all pretty spicy to me.
The Chunky Chef says
Here in the US, chili powder is a blend of spices, which is full of flavor, but not heat. In other parts of the world, chili powder may be literally dried chiles which would be hot. This the brand I normally buy https://amzn.to/3jUEtqv
Gene Nelson says
I was raised in the east side of Cincinnati since I was 14 years old. Skyline has a place in my heart. I know we can buy it in a can here, but it just isn’t the same as sitting down in the chili parlor back home.
My wife and I moved away from Cincy in 1994 and moved to Florida. There a few Skyline chili parlors in Florida, one just happen to be south of we’re we lived in Ft. Myers . Now they have several at different locations across the state.
I served in the Navy and was the ships cook, so cooking is a hobby with me, I found your recipe on Pinterest and so I made a pot of it, as any good cook knows, you always change things to your own taste, but this recipe is very close to Skyline. I prefer your recipe compared to other copy cat Cincy chili over the others. Thank you for sharing. Gene Nelson , Crossville Tn.
Joe Lucca says
An easy, authentic and excellent recipe. Even though there are 4 (count em’ four) chili parlors within a mile of me I made this last night (we are on lockdown due to COVID-19) using the small instant pot (it was a perfect fit!). I also used an immersion blender to get the beef consistency just about right. For the uninitiated this will seem like a rather runny chili – and it is – as it is supposed to be. All the better then to serve over decidedly not al dente spaghetti and top with grated cheddar, onion, kidney beans and crackers. And don’t forget the hot sauce.
Thank you and good luck!
Michele says
My husband and I used to live in Cincinnati. Recently, I was craving Skyline, but I can’t get it in my current area. Tried this recipe and made 3 ways for myself and son. My husband went for Chili Sandwiches. My 3 way tasted just how I remembered them to taste, although it has been 16 years. My son has never been to Cincinnati, but he liked it too. 6 thumbs up and I will be making again. Easy to make. You just need to have the time to let it simmer for a couple hours.
For step 4, I used an immersion blender to really get the meat into small pieces.
The Chunky Chef says
I’m so happy you all loved this recipe! Great tip about the immersion blender 😉
Sarah says
Born and raised on Skyline, my husband and I traveled the world (he joined the military about 6 months after we graduated) and I NEEDED Skyline while we lived everywhere else- especially Germany!
The copycat recipe I use is so freaking close to the original, and I’ve been making it for close to 7 years now. I use ground turkey because we don’t eat beef anymore here, and you cannot tell a difference.
Your recipe is actually really close to mine I use! The biggest difference is that I use about 1 1/2tbs Of unsweetened cocoa powder. It’s so easy- I just mix it in with the other seasonings.
Also, my recipe adds in a half a diced onion to the meat and stock in the beginning. I was like what?? Onions? You never see them! But I’m about 95% sure that skyline blends their chili. I use a blender. About 4 pulses on the finished chili and the consistency is exactly the same as the real thing!
I would like to try yours as well to see if it tastes the same! Here’s mine if you’re curious:
1 lb. ground beef or turkey
1/2 c. chopped onion
2 c. beef stock
1 (8oz.) can tomato sauce
1 tbs. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. instant minced garlic
Dry Ingredients:
1 tbs. chili powder
1 3/8 tbs. unsweetened cocoa
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/8 tsp. ground allspice
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
1 bay leaf
Mix dry ingredients together and set aside
❖Cook ground beef (or turkey) and onion in beef stock on medium-high
❖Turn down heat to simmer and add dry ingredients, plus tomato sauce, vinegar, Worcestershire, and garlic
❖Simmer for one hour, stirring occasionally
❖After first hour, cover and simmer for 30 minutes, then take off lid and simmer uncovered 30 more minutes
*To serve traditional skyline, put the chili in a blender once finished and blend about 3 seconds until smoother consistency
❖Serve chili over cooked spaghetti noodles
❖Top with cheese and oyster crackers, plus onions, beans, and/or hot sauce
Jake says
This recipe doesn’t include onion. That’s what’s missing from the original, IMO.
Hope says
I’ve been meaning to post here for a long time. I’ve been making this exact recipe for my skyline fix for a long time and it’s obviously a hit! My child loves it and she’s never had it even though she was born in Ohio. I used to miss Skyline but thanks to you we have it all the time. I have my recipe on my fridge but I’ve made it so many times I have it memorized. Thank you for this. It’s going to be a staple in our home even after I’m gone I’m sure! My daughter won’t eat any other chili. Ok
Aaron says
Made it for a Chili Festival – no actual judging involved. Still, this was a huge hit. Thanks!
Nicole says
I made this recipe for my family. Instead of using ground beef to make it I used ground turkey because my mom can’t eat beef. We put it over beef and turkey hotdogs and everyone LOVED it. It was a big hit for having 6 picky kids to feed! To complete the whole skyline thing I served it with oyster crackers! If a 14-year-old high schooler can pull this off so can you!
Brian says
The only thing missing is cinnamon. I would test at probably a 1/2 tsp. But there’s definitely cinnamon in Skyline chili.
Hope says
There is cinnamon in this recipe. I’ve been making this exact recipe for about 2 years.
Mark says
Maybe read the recipe next time? There’s cinnamon in this recipe.
Kit says
After moving away from the Cincinnati area a few months ago, I immediately started searching for a copycat Skyline recipe. After all, growing up on it made it a huge comfort food for me and one that I crave often. After finding this one and trying it out, it is safe to say that it taste delicious! However, not exactly like skyline. I can’t quite put a finger on what its missing, but it isn’t the same. Besides, I will continue to make it as it tastes great and as close as I can get to regular Skyline. It is also quite cheap and very easy to make. The only change I made to it was replacing out normal beef with a vegan version, which still was delicious. And of course, I topped it with loads of cheese, hot sauce and oyster crackers over some spaghetti!
Ann says
What did you substitute for the meat to make it vegan? Tofu, beans?
s. london schertzer says
use TVP from the bulk section of health food stores or order on amazon. It’s textured vegetable protein.
J-Cakes says
Tastes like crap. I’ll stick to Texas chili.
Scott Watts says
Can i make this in a instant pot and or pressure cooker.Thanks
The Chunky Chef says
I’ve not tested this recipe in one, so I can’t say for certain. I’m sure it can be, I just don’t have the times as it hasn’t been tested.