A tale of two chilis.
By Corey Williams Updated August 13, 2019
Sure, Cincinnati chili and classic chili look similar—but are they?
What Is Cincinnati Chili?
Cincinnati chili was created in—you guessed it—Cincinnati, Ohio. Tom and John Kiradjieff, Macedonian immigrants and founders of Empress Chili Parlor, began serving a "stew with traditional Mediterranean spices” in 1922, according to The Authentic History of Cincinnati Chili.
The brothers’ signature dish was an Americanized version of a Greek stew with traditional Mediterranean spices like cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Their addition? Chili powder.
Cincinnati chili is most often served on top of spaghetti, but it’s also considered a hot dog topping. When it’s used to top a hot dog, it’s called a “coney.”
Traditionally, Cincinnati chili can be ordered five ways:
- Two-way: spaghetti topped with chili
- Three-way: spaghetti, chili, and cheese
- Four-way onion: spaghetti, chili, onions, and cheese
- Four-way bean: spaghetti, chili, beans, and cheese
- Five-way: spaghetti, chili, beans, onions, and cheese
Cincinnati Chili vs. Classic Chili
Cincinnati Chili vs Regular Chili
Credit: Jamie Casper/Getty Images Plus, Greg DuPree/Rishon Hanners/Thom Driver
Jamie Casper/Getty Images Plus, Greg DuPree/Rishon Hanners/Thom Driver
There’s no denying that Cincinnati chili and classic chili (or chili con carne) are quite similar. Both dishes start with a tomato base, involve ground meat and chili powder, and have somewhat similar consistencies. However, there are a few ways to tell them apart:
How It’s Served
Classic chili is typically served alone and in a bowl, while Cincinnati chili is served as a topping—usually either to spaghetti or a hot dog—on a plate.
The Spices Used
Chili lends itself to creativity, so there is some overlap when it comes to which spices are used in Cincinnati chili and which are used in regular chili.
Cincinnati chili, though, is usually sweeter as it is seasoned with spices that are often associated with desserts, like cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and nutmeg. Some recipes even call for cocoa powder.
Consistency
Classic chili is closer to a stew than a soup, while Cincinnati chili is closer to a soup than a stew. Since Cincinnati chili is a topping, it’s normally of a thinner consistency. The Ohioan dish is often compared to Greek pasta sauces or meat sauces used to top hot dogs.
How to Make Cincinnati Chili
Cincinnati chili, which is prepared using a pot or Dutch oven on stovetop, is remarkably easy to tackle at home. If you can make classic chili, you can make Cincinnati chili. Want to learn more? You can find our best recipe here.
FAQs
Traditional red chili often includes cumin, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder, though it's not limited to these spices. Cincinnati chili, on the other hand, has a sweeter edge with spices like cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice. Some recipes also use cocoa powder.
What is so special about Cincinnati chili? ›
In the Cincinnati region, chili is done differently. In place of chunks of meat and sizeable beans, you'll get savory soupiness and creative accoutrements like spaghetti, hot dogs and mustard. In place of an overtly tomato-y base, you'll taste hints of cinnamon, cloves, allspice and maybe even chocolate.
What's the difference between chili and skyline chili? ›
Skyline Chili is unique in that it is not chili con carne, the meat dish that originated in (and is the state dish of) Texas. Instead, Cincinnati chili is a sauce usually used over spaghetti or hot dogs, containing a unique spice blend that gives it a very distinct, sweet-and-savory taste.
What is the classic Cincinnati dish Cincinnati chili is chili served over? ›
Cincinnati chili (or Cincinnati-style chili) is a meat sauce with Mediterranean-inspired flavors that's traditionally used to top spaghetti or hot dogs. It's similar to chili con carne, but it's different in flavor and texture. It's also used primarily as a topping, while chili con carne is usually served in a bowl.
Can you eat Cincinnati chili by itself? ›
One-way: Just a bowl of chili. Order it like that if you want, but you're missing out. And no one calls it a "one way." Two-way: Chili plus spaghetti.
Why does Cincinnati chili have spaghetti? ›
Originally, Cincinnati chili was just chili spaghetti. It was based on the Greek saltsa kima, which is meat sauce on pasta.
What gives Skyline Chili its flavor? ›
It's mostly just a bunch of spices already in your cupboard at home. Chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, and cayenne pepper are par for the course, by a little ground cinnamon, allspice, and cloves add a new flavor dimension that sets Cincinnati chili apart. Chocolate: Yes, chocolate.
How to eat Cincinnati chili? ›
The people of Cincinnati enjoy their chili spooned over freshly-made pasta and topped with a combination of onions, shredded cheddar cheese, refried beans or kidney beans and crushed oyster crackers. If you choose ” The Works,” you are eating what they call Five-Way Chili.
What is the Greek dish in Cincinnati chili? ›
What is Cincinnati chili? Cincinnati chili is a Mediterranean-spiced beef dish (some call it chili, some call it a sauce) that is served atop spaghetti or hot dogs. It was created by Macedonian immigrants that settled in the Cincinnati area in the 1920s.
What is pasta topped with chili in Cincinnati called? ›
Two-way: spaghetti topped with chili (also called "chili spaghetti") Three-way: spaghetti, chili, and cheese.
1. Cincinnati Chili. Cincinnati chili is a beloved local specialty that has gained nationwide recognition. Unlike traditional chili, Cincinnati chili is spiced with a unique blend of Mediterranean-inspired flavors, including cinnamon, allspice, and cloves.
How does 3 way Cincinnati chili differ from 2 way chili? ›
The "way" system
The number before the "way" of the chili determines which ingredients are included in each chili order. Customers order a: Two-way: spaghetti topped with chili (also called "chili spaghetti") Three-way: spaghetti, chili, and cheese.
What is the difference between competition chili and regular chili? ›
First of all, competition chili will contain a lot more spices and seasonings than eatin' chili. Eatin' chili may contain beans, but competition chili won't contain beans or any other substance considered filler; i.e., macaroni, rice or oatmeal.
What is the difference between Texas chili and regular chili? ›
What primarily distinguishes Texas chili from other chili recipes you might find is a lack of beans, but it also doesn't feature any tomatoes. It is, largely, a ground beef dish that's seasoned with a spicy chili paste made of dried peppers.
What is 6 way Cincinnati chili? ›
The chili at this Cincinnati institution can be served plain, 3-way, 4-way, 5-way or 6-way. Learning the lingo didn't take long for Guy Fieri. He ordered the 6-way, which includes everything: chili, spaghetti, beans, onions, cheese and fried jalapeno caps.
