Best Chili Recipes (15+ Hearty & Delicious Chili Variations To Make Today!)
Chili recipes are a beloved staple in the world of comfort food because of their hearty and flavorful combination of ingredients! From classic homemade beef chili to regional variations like Texas or Cincinnati chili, the term chili encompasses a wide range of recipes! Find the best of the best here!
Add the 2 cups water and 1¼ lb lean ground beef to a large pot. Break up the beef as much as possible and bring to a boil.
2 cups water, 1¼ lb lean ground beef
Slowly boil until the meat is cooked through and tender (about 30 minutes), breaking it up into a fine texture as it cooks. Skim any fat off the top and discard.
Add 1 large white onion, 8 oz tomato sauce, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 2 teaspoon garlic, 2 tablespoon chili powder, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground cumin, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon sugar, ¼ teaspoon ground allspice, ¼ teaspoon ground cloves, ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper, ½ oz unsweetened baking chocolate, and 1 whole bay leaf. Stir to combine.
1 large white onion, 8 oz tomato sauce, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 2 teaspoon garlic, 2 tablespoon chili powder, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground cumin, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon sugar, ¼ teaspoon ground allspice, ¼ teaspoon ground cloves, ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper, ½ oz unsweetened baking chocolate, 1 whole bay leaf
Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and let simmer for 1 ½ hours, stirring occasionally.
Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Serve over hot dogs or thin spaghetti noodles if desired.
Notes
There is an official 'guide' for how Skyline Chili serves its Cincinnati chili. 2-way is just spaghetti topped with chili. 3-way is spaghetti and chili topped with cheddar cheese. 4-way is spaghetti, chili, cheese, and beans OR onions. Lastly, 5-way is spaghetti, chili, cheese, beans, and onions! Oyster crackers are an additional fave topping.
Add a splash or two of water as needed, or remove the chili from the heat once it has thickened.
Cincinnati chili is not watery like soup or thick like traditional chili. Instead, it should be a consistency similar to ground beef pasta sauce like bolognese.
If desired, an immersion blender or potato masher can be used to get the chili to a super fine and 'soft' consistency.
Cincinnati chili tastes even better the next day! For the best flavor, let it cool and refrigerate overnight. Then, reheat and serve!
To store: Let the chili cool to room temperature, then place it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
To freeze: Once the chili has cooled, transfer it to a heavy-duty freezer bag and flash-freeze it flat on a baking sheet for easy storage. Thaw frozen chili in the fridge overnight and enjoy it within 6 months.
To reheat: Add leftover chili to a large pot over medium-low heat and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until warmed through.