Crock Pot Cincinnati Style Chili

I've heard and read about Cincinnati chili for years.  Skyline is the restaurant that started it all and theirs is the standard that all other Cincinnati Chili versions aspire to be.

If you order it at Skyline, be prepared to tell them which "way" you would like:

2 Way - Spaghetti noodles topped w/chili

3 Way - Spaghetti noodles topped w/chili and shredded cheese

4 Way - Spaghetti noodles topped w/chili, shredded cheese, chopped onions

5 Way - Spaghetti noodles topped w/chili, cheese, onion AND beans

There are as many variations of chili as there are for BBQ.  Texans says no thank you to beans (except maybe on the side) and chunks of beef, not ground beef.

Others include many different types of beans.  Whether to add, or what kinds of toppings to add, can start a debate lasting for days.

But Cincinnati chili?  Over spaghetti noodles?  With cinnamon and chocolate? Without browning the meat first?  As you can see, this goes against every notion I have when it comes to making chili.

But when in Rome, or Cincinnati as the case may be, you have to follow their rules.  

Here's the recipe I used:

2 lbs. lean ground beef

1 quart water or amount to cover

2 onions, finely chopped

1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce

2 T. apple cider vinegar

2 t. Worcestershire sauce

4 cloves garlic, minced

½ (1 ounce) square unsweetened chocolate

¼ cup chili powder

1 ½ t. salt

1 t. ground cumin

1 t. ground cinnamon

½ t. ground cayenne pepper

¼ t. ground cloves

¼ t. ground allspice

1 bay leaf

Place the ground beef in a 4 quart Dutch oven, cover with about 1 quart of cold water, and bring to a boil, stirring and breaking up the beef.  

Slowly boil until the meat is thoroughly cooked, about 30 minutes, then remove from heat and refrigerate in the pan overnight.  I skimmed a LOT of fat off BEFORE putting it in the refrigerator.

The next day, skim the remaining solid fat from the top of the pan and discard fat.  Heat the beef on the stove top to get the chill off before putting into the crock pot.

Place the beef mixture in the crock pot and set to high.

Stir in the onions, tomato sauce, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, chocolate, chili powder, salt, cumin, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, ground cloves, ground allspice, and bay leaf.

If you have time to let it cook on high, let it cook for an hour then reduce to low.  If not, go ahead and set crock pot to low setting and let simmer for 4 - 6 hours.

Remove Bay leaf before serving.

You can now top hot dogs, burgers or in true Cincinnati style: Cooked spaghetti noodles!

from www.allrecipes.com