This post may contain affiliate links.
This Skyline Chili Recipe is a spot on copycat of the famous Cincinnati chili, with a thin, finely textured beef sauce gently spiced with cinnamon and cocoa. I first simmered a pot of this on a cold winter Sunday after Jason kept raving about the Cincinnati chili parlors, and now our whole family is hooked on building their own cheese coneys. If you love our coney sauce, this Cincinnati style chili takes it to a whole new level.
Pile it over spaghetti for a classic three way or spoon it onto hot dogs for cheese coneys, then bury it all in a mountain of shredded cheddar.
Skyline Chili Recipe Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 15 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 2 hours
- ⏳ Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
- 🍽️ Serving: 8 servings
- ⚡ Calories: 326kcal
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Savory, lightly sweet, spiced
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, on par with our award winning chili
Quick Answer
Add raw ground beef, onion, garlic, tomato paste, and warm spices like cinnamon and cocoa to a pot. Stir in tomato sauce and beef broth, then mash the beef fine with a potato masher. Simmer 1 and a half to 2 hours until thickened, then serve over spaghetti or hot dogs with shredded cheddar.
Jump to:
Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- Simmered in liquid, not browned. Cooking the raw beef right in the broth is the Cincinnati secret to that ultra fine, smooth chili texture.
- Warm spices set it apart. Cinnamon, cocoa, allspice, and cloves give this chili its unmistakable sweet and savory Skyline flavor.
- A potato masher is key. Mashing the beef while it simmers breaks it down fine so the chili pours smoothly over spaghetti and coneys.
- Low and slow blooms the spices. A long, gentle simmer lets all those spices meld into a deep, rich sauce without scorching.
- Built for toppings. This thin chili is made to be layered with spaghetti, cheese, onions, and beans for the classic ways.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It tastes just like the famous Cincinnati chili parlors, made right at home.
- Everyone builds their own cheese coney or three way, so it is a fun family dinner.
- It makes a big batch and freezes beautifully for easy future meals.
Key Ingredients
Here is what makes this Skyline chili recipe so good. The warm spice blend is everything.
- Ground Beef: Simmered right in the liquid, not browned, for that signature fine texture.
- Cocoa and Cinnamon: The secret warm spices that give Skyline chili its unique sweet, savory flavor.
- Tomato Sauce and Paste: They build the rich, tangy tomato base.
- Beef Broth: Keeps the chili thin and pourable, just like the real thing.
- Cheddar Cheese: Finely shredded for piling on top so it melts into the warm chili.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
This Skyline chili recipe is meant to be built your way.
- Three Way: Spaghetti topped with chili and a mountain of shredded cheddar.
- Four Way: Add diced onions or beans on top of the three way.
- Five Way: Pile on both onions and beans for the full experience.
- Cheese Coneys: Spoon the chili over hot dogs in buns, then top with cheese and onion.
- Spicier: Add extra cayenne or a dash of hot sauce, like in our award winning chili.
How to Make Skyline Chili Recipe
- In a large pot, add the ground beef, chopped onion, garlic, tomato paste, and all of the spices.
- Mix everything together with the raw beef until well combined.
- Stir in the tomato sauce, beef broth, apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce.
- Use a potato masher to break up the beef for that signature fine Cincinnati texture.
- Add the bay leaves, bring to a gentle boil, then simmer partially covered for 1 and a half to 2 hours.
- Simmer until thickened, remove the bay leaves, taste, and serve over spaghetti or hot dogs.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Mash early and often while the beef is still in the liquid for the finest, most authentic texture.
- Simmer low and slow so the spices bloom without scorching the bottom of the pot.
- Skim the fat by chilling the cooked chili and lifting off the solid fat for a leaner bowl.
- Shred the cheese fine so it melts quickly over the warm chili.
- Warm your bowls to keep the chili and spaghetti cozy longer.
- Double the batch and freeze half for an easy future dinner.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
This Skyline chili recipe is all about the toppings. Serve it over spaghetti for a classic three way, then let everyone add cheddar, onions, and beans to build their own four way or five way.
For cheese coneys, spoon the warm chili over hot dogs nestled in buns, then top with shredded cheese and diced onion. Set out oyster crackers and hot sauce on the side.
Round out the meal with our hot dog spaghetti or a batch of frito chili pie for a fun chili night spread.
Skyline Chili Recipe FAQs
A Skyline chili recipe is a Cincinnati style chili with a thin, fine texture and warm spices like cinnamon, cocoa, allspice, and cloves. It is served over spaghetti or hot dogs rather than eaten on its own.
If your Skyline chili recipe gets too thick while simmering, just stir in a bit more beef broth or water until it reaches that classic thin, pourable consistency.
Yes. This Skyline chili recipe tastes even better the next day. Make it ahead, chill it, then skim the fat and reheat before serving.
Absolutely. This Skyline chili recipe freezes well for up to 3 months. Cool it completely, freeze in airtight containers, then thaw and reheat on the stove.
A three way is chili over spaghetti with cheese, a four way adds onions or beans, and a five way adds both. You can also make cheese coneys with the chili over hot dogs.
No. For an authentic Skyline chili recipe, you simmer the raw beef directly in the liquid and mash it fine, which creates the signature smooth texture.
Love a good chili night? Try our award winning chili next.
Craving more chili? Our chili mac blends beefy chili with creamy macaroni and two melty cheeses.
Love a good coney? Make the dogs fast in the air fryer with our air fryer hot dogs method.
Wash down these cheese coneys with a bubbly wine spritzer.
Add a platter of crispy buffalo chicken egg rolls to your game day spread.
Love a loaded sausage? Try our bacon wrapped brats with grilled onions.
Love Cincinnati-style Skyline chili? Our Wendy’s chili is another fast-food copycat worth making.
Love chili cheese dogs? Try them baked into our chili cheese dog casserole.
Skyline Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef 80% lean
- 1 large yellow onion finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- 3 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon allspice
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 can tomato sauce 15oz
- 4 cups beef broth
Instructions
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, add the ground beef, chopped onion, and minced garlic.2 pounds ground beef, 1 large yellow onion, 4 cloves garlic
- Add the tomato paste, mixing well with the beef and onion.¼ cup tomato paste
- Stir in the chili powder, cocoa powder, cinnamon, cumin, allspice, ground cloves, brown sugar, cayenne pepper, salt and black pepper.3 tablespoons chili powder, 2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, ½ teaspoon allspice, ¼ teaspoon ground cloves, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper
- Toss in the 2 bay leaves.2 bay leaves
- Stir in the vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, tomato sauce and beef broth until all ingredients are well combined.1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1 can tomato sauce, 4 cups beef broth
- Use a potato masher to break up any larger lumps of ground beef. This step helps achieve a smoother, more traditional Cincinnati chili consistency.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low. Partially cover the pot and simmer for 1½ to 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
- If the chili becomes too thick, add a bit more broth or water. If it’s too thin, simmer uncovered to reduce.
- After simmering, taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, or spices if needed. Remove the bay leaves before serving.
Notes
- Mash Early. Use a potato masher while the beef is still raw in liquid for that fine Skyline texture.
- Simmer Low & Slow. Gentle heat lets spices bloom without scorching the pot bottom.
- Skim Fat. Chill cooked chili; solid fat rises. Lift it off for a leaner bowl.
- Shred Cheese Fine. The thinner the shred, the faster it melts on your “Way.”
- Warm the Bowls. Hot bowls keep chili and spaghetti cozy longer.
- Batch Cook. Double the recipe; freeze half. Future dinner saved!
Nutrition
Love This Recipe?
Follow @ThisSillyGirlsKitchen on Instagram and @danadevolk on Pinterest for more!
These look and taste amazing – Thanks for the recipe!