Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (2024)

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (1)

amyhudak

Rating: 1 stars

02/21/2014

So disappointing! I made this exactly as the recipe calls, but this dish fell flat. Neither my husband nor I wanted to eat beyond the first two bites. A waste of time and money. The chocolate did not mesh, the spaghetti was weird, and overall a poor combination of flavors, although I will admit it looked intriguing on paper.

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (2)

TexasKook

Rating: 1 stars

01/16/2014

Gad-zooks! Chocolate in chili?!! It's sacrilege, I tell ya, and I'm thinkin' you can get arrested for somethin' like that around these parts. I just won't stand for it! (LOL)

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (3)

stellacorona

Rating: 5 stars

12/07/2013

I really like this version of chili for a different flair. since jennie-o ground turkey is in 20 oz pkgs, i used that with the 28 oz petite diced tomatoes and an extra can of northern beans….1 cup of broth, and doubled the spices, and chocolate. came out great. my family always wants elbow macaroni with any chili so i just make that. have already made this a few times in the past. i used to put 1/4-1/2 c kahlua in my spicier chili.

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (4)

GayleR

Rating: 5 stars

02/23/2012

Delicious and easy! The house smells great, and the spices remind me of a one-dish spaghetti recipe my mother used to make. I didn't use the chocolate or the noodles this time, and omitted the raw onions on top. This recipe was good enough that I'm sure I'll make it again and try it with chocolate and spaghetti.

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (5)

bagregg

Rating: 5 stars

01/15/2012

This was a great recipe. I have a picky eater and SHE even loved it. I raised an eyebrow when I saw that cinnomin and alspice was a part of the ingredients, but they really gave it a unique flavor. I served it over rice instead of noodles.

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (6)

cawahine

Rating: 4 stars

12/11/2011

I like the complexity of flavors in this dish. I made this again tonight, and I added a can of black beans which made this much heartier. My husband loves it over the spaghetti; my daughter and me not so much. He added more hot sauce (choulula) to give it some kick. I think I might add a chopped jalapeno the next time.

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (7)

mipinkri

Rating: 3 stars

11/23/2011

I made this chili and it was pretty good with everything except the chocolate. I then added the chocolate and did not like it. My husband did not eat any more than one taste. Maybe we just do not like the chocolate taste in chili. I will make this again and not add the chocolate.

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (8)

nicolecorsi

Rating: 4 stars

05/25/2011

Cincinnati chili is its own type of chili, and this one does not disappoint. The complexity of flavors was good, not too overpowering, but next time I will cut the cinnamon in half (for some reason I can always taste cinnamon very strongly in dishes). The tomatoes and beans were chunky, and over spaghetti this is a dish worth of being called comfort food.

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (9)

Lizard780

Rating: 4 stars

03/09/2011

This is a delicious quick and easy recipe! It is really good as-is, however if you like your chili a bit more spicy you will need to add more seasoning or hot sauce. I will definitely make this one again.

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (10)

cookinggirl1

Rating: 2 stars

02/20/2011

I read all of the reviews and was very excited to make this. Usually, I strongly agree with the rating of recipes on this site, but really, this wasn't all that great. It was bland, actually. I will not be making this again. The suggested corn muffin side dish was excellent, however. I will make the muffins, but stick to my own chili recipe.

Rating: 4 stars

01/12/2011

I was intimidated to try this - cinnamon, all spice, and chocolate sounded to be odd chili ingrediants. But, I have seen Cincinnati Chili popping up everywhere and wanted to give it a shot. I think this recipe was 3 stars - but will make again with some mild changes to make it 4 stars. For me, I need heat. I will add cayenne pepper to the spice mix. I will chop a jalapeno to add to the saute step. I also topped with tabasco and light sour cream. I can't wait to make it again, and make it more "me!" Also, a lot of the other reviewers skipped on the spaghetti. I recommend trying it. It is a fun way to add life to your chili. But, overall, the noodles are not necessary - the chili can stand alone. ENJOY!

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (12)

akdb69

Rating: 4 stars

01/04/2011

I really liked the flavor combination and my picky daughter (who doesn't like her chili spicy) liked it too. The frozen onions are a great timesaver and worked well in the chili, but I would suggest chopping fresh ones for the topping.

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (13)

judkinss

Rating: 5 stars

10/06/2010

I am from Cincinnati and never liked any chili but Skyline - this chili is amazing, though. It has great flavors, texture, and is delicious over whole wheat pasta - especially with a little bit of Skyline cheese on top :)

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (14)

AshleyJ

Rating: 5 stars

10/05/2010

This was THE BEST chili I've ever eaten! I was very nervous when I chose to make it but my husband has not stopped raving about it, he even took leftovers to work and has been encouraging coworkers to try it too. He says he loves it (and that is saying a lot considering I am not the cook in our family)! I added extra chicken stock instead of pouring it over spaghetti. I also had a little bit of leftover turkey taco meat (just ground turkey with taco seasoning on it) so I threw that in along with the regular turkey. I don't know if that added much but I will definitely do it again! I am so excited to have found a recipe this good:) I made Parmesan Corn Bread to go with it.

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (15)

Jessiebear

Rating: 5 stars

08/29/2010

This chili is outstanding! I wound up adding extra chicken stock and an extra can of diced tomatoes and it was fabulous! I didn't serve it over spaghetti noodles, and instead served my chili as is with a nice loaf of bread on the side for dipping into the bowls. :)

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (16)

jill0609

Rating: 3 stars

08/12/2010

Good recipe overall. The chocolate was pretty intense flavor, but delicious. Throwing chili on spaghetti is such an interesting concept!

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (17)

NicoleLovesFood

Rating: 2 stars

07/13/2010

This was strange but good. I loved the idea of putting it with spaghetti noodles! I will be doing that every time I make chili now. I would next time omit chocolate, cinnamon & allspice & add more hot spices. My whole famiy agreed it wasn't the flavor they were wanting in a chili but interesting flavors for sure.

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (18)

Catherine11407

Rating: 5 stars

05/02/2010

This is a family favorite...have made it over and over again. I have two young children and both are good eaters, but this is certainly one I never have to convince them to eat!! As a working mom I love meals that are quick and easy to get on the table but still incorporate fresh ingredients...this one definately fits the bill!

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (19)

iluvcheech

Rating: 3 stars

02/22/2010

Loved the sweet/spicy mix. Not quite as bold as a mole sauce, but still very good. My two kids loved it- I think it was the chili/spaghetti paring. The muffins were very simple to make & added a nice side to the dish.

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (20)

schoodiclk

Rating: 2 stars

02/06/2010

It's the chocolate and sweetness. Just didn't care for it. I liked all the other ingredients and will make it again without the chocolate.

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (21)

BrendaS78

Rating: 5 stars

02/05/2010

I loved the depth of flavor in this recipe. It has a very nice sweet under tone from the chocolate, but it's not overwhelming. I don't care for foods that are too spicy, so I added less heat to suit my taste. This chili was great over a hot dog. I added asiago cheese on top. The saltiness of the cheese helped to cut the sweet undertone of the chili. I would definately make this again.

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (22)

dkwalters08

Rating: 5 stars

01/27/2010

This chili is incredible. I am not a huge chili fan as I do not care for the traditional kidney beans. To me, they seem very overwhelming...but my husband is a huge chunky chili fan. I saw this recipe in the magazine and had to try it. Instead of adding the kidney beans, I added chick peas. THIS RECIPE IS FABULOUS. I never would have thought of pairing it with pasta, but the combination of intense chili flavor, chunky texture, pungent cheese and crunchy unions is great! I was a fan of cooking light before...now I am an even BIGGER one!

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (23)

partythesue

Rating: 1 stars

01/15/2010

I really didn't like this chili and don't think it can be saved. A much better choice and don't know why I strayed from a winner is the Springfield Chili. I highly recommend that over this one if you want to make a lighter chili.

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (24)

runnerlou

Rating: 5 stars

12/14/2009

I love this so much, I made it for company! It's already made it's way into our rotation. The only mistake I've made with it is trying to cook it in too shallow of a pot. Super easy. Really really good.

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (25)

katenyc

Rating: 3 stars

11/23/2009

Great, quick, weeknight meal. My boyfriend and I both like our chili spicy, but agree that this is a good, solid meal. The second time I made it I didn't make spaghetti (cornbread instead) and only put in 1/2 oz. of chocolate (the first time the chocolate was too overpowering). I also like that it doesn't make a lot - I only need to feed 2 so there was just enough leftover for lunch.

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (26)

stacyjen

Rating: 4 stars

11/14/2009

Very easy and delicious. I use chicken andouille sausage instead of the ground turkey because I hate the taste of ground turkey. This is on the sweeter side for chili, but I liked the chocolate and cinnamon flavor. It's a keeper for the winter.

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (27)

jwinkelman

Rating: 5 stars

10/23/2009

This is now one of my favorite chili recipes! Didn't like the idea of eating spaghetti with chili, so I just didn't make any. I doubled the recipe (except for the spaghetti) threw it all in the slow cooker and cooked it on low for about 10 hours. I ran out of chile powder, so I used about 1 tsp of chile powder and 2 tsp of chipotle chile powder for a double recipe. Also substituted a tablet of Abuelita (mexican chocolate) for the semi-sweet chocolate. I found the end result had a nice heat w/just a little underlying sweetness.

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (28)

Saecca

Rating: 3 stars

10/18/2009

My husband loved this recipe, but I like my chili with a bit more pizazz. The noodles are interesting touch-- I used whole wheat spaghetti. On the other hand, the corn muffins were GREAT! I seeded and chopped a jalapeño and cheddar cheese to the muffins because I didn't buy jack cheese. It still turned out wonderfully. I'm not sure I would make this again; If I do, I will make changes.

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (29)

CherylR1954

Rating: 3 stars

10/13/2009

Of the 3 Cincinnati chili recipes on this site, it's about average. I actually prefer the one w/garam marsala. My main gripe w/this is the portion calculation. I had way too much spaghetti (the 5-way recipe called for 8 oz for 6 portions) and was shy of the 1/2 cups chili per serving, and I'm precise w/measurements.

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (30)

valthepal6

Rating: 1 stars

10/10/2009

I thought it was just okay. Spaghetti with chili is weird. The corn muffins were very good though! I wasn't sure I could really taste the cheese in them, but they were good anyway.

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (31)

Larelle

Rating: 5 stars

09/28/2009

Just made this chili and my husband and I loved it. I made it exactly as the recipe called for only doubling the size. Would definitely make again.

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (32)

Andreita

Rating: 5 stars

09/26/2009

This Chili was delicious. It doesn't necessarily need the spaghetti and I added more turkey. It was a nice change from everyday chili with lots of beans!

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (33)

Sarah11226

Rating: 5 stars

09/22/2009

A keeper. I had a pound of ground turkey on hand, so I doubled the recipe, using one can kidney beans and one can black beans. It looked like like an excess of spices, but came out perfectly. The only other way I deviated from the recipe was to omit the semisweet chocolate. I would definitely try it again.

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (34)

Kristy13

Rating: 1 stars

09/22/2009

Made it last night on a cold day in Denver. Thought I'd try a different chili recipe since I don't have a sweet one in my file. It was a bit too sweet & not enough zing for our liking. I tried to have my husband take it to work today and his response was no thanks.

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (35)

pcmommee

Rating: 5 stars

09/22/2009

Quick and Easy... Family asked me to put this in the regular meal rotation. I used leftovers for burritos the next day.

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (36)

BensMom

Rating: 5 stars

09/21/2009

This was a great recipe! My family loved it. It was easy to make, healthy and flavorful. I served it with cornbread and a salad. I would definitely make this again! This is a great, quick, weeknight recipe. I did use fire roasted diced tomatoes instead of regular diced tomatoes. My son asks for this at least once a month. I love that I usually have all ingredients on hand.

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (37)

Danigirl2

Rating: 5 stars

09/21/2009

Exceptional flavor! We like heat, so I modified just a bit by adding one whole chopped jalepeno with the onion, pepper and garlic. Also used turkey sausage, rather than plain ground turkey to add more flavor to the meat itself. Otherwise, followed the recipe to a 'T' and it was perfect! One tip: if you use semi-sweet chocolate chips, don't skimp on quality. Lower quality chips don't melt completely. ;)

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (38)

HoneyB

Rating: 5 stars

09/20/2009

This is absolutely amazing! I love how the chocolate makes the dish seem so rich. We like a little more heat than this produced but it is good to make as is and adjust the heat according to your own taste in your own serving. Grumpy adds hot sauce. I used ground venison which is also a lean meat. The spice and chocolate in the recipe masked the wild taste quite well. I also doubled the amount of meat (recipe called for 8 oz, I used a pound). There was still enough sauce to go with the meat/veggie mixture. You would have to adjust your serving size accordingly if you were counting the calories. I will definitely make this again, it was simple, quick and as I already said - delicious!

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (39)

StacyYC

Rating: 5 stars

09/13/2009

Terrific recipe! I doubled the recipe and used semi-sweet chocolate chips instead of chopped semi-sweet chocolate. I made the corn muffins as well and they were yummy. The Cincinnati Chili recipe from 2008 is also very tasty - maybe a little better than this one.

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (40)

jessicabcd

Rating: 5 stars

09/05/2009

I tweaked this recipe a bit by substituting 1.5 T of unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 T of semi-sweet chocolate chips, and 1 t of Splenda brown sugar blend for the 2.5 T of semi-sweet chopped chocolate to lower the calories and carbs. I also used chicken stock instead of broth and pinto beans instead of kidney. This chili was so delicious and flavorful! 5 stars. I topped it with reduced fat Cabot jalapeno cheddar and a dollop of light sour cream and served it without pasta, alongside sweet and spicy roasted baby carrots.

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (41)

bigbadmama

Rating: 5 stars

09/05/2009

This is outstanding! I doubled the recipe and used kidney and black beans. We loved it so much we ate it the very next night but with rice. Loved the sweetness of the cinnamon and allspice.

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (42)

Tinkleflick

Rating: 5 stars

08/26/2009

Wow this was good. Loved the smoky chocolate cinnamon taste. Reminded me of Mexican Hot Chocolate. YUM! My kids are going to love this!

Cincinnati Turkey Chili Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the distinguishing ingredient in Cincinnati chili? ›

It's ground beef simmered in a sauce filled with Mediterranean spices. There are two key ingredients in Cincinnati chili that differentiate it from other kinds of chili: ground cinnamon and dark chocolate.

What are the 6 ways at 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.

What is another name for Cincinnati chili? ›

Skyline Chili is a perfect food and I will tolerate no slander of it. We can agree that sauce-like clove-nutmeg-cinnamon-and-god-knows-what-else-infused Cincinnati chili bears little resemblance to the bean-studded or beef-chunked stews that other regions of this great land might recognize as chili.

What is the difference between Skyline Chili and Cincinnati 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 unusual about Cincinnati chili? ›

Cincinnati chili has a flavor all its own

The unique spice blend, texture, and toppings are the three elements that set Cincinnati chili apart from the rest. According to Simply Recipes, many soup and stew dishes get their flavor from the caramelization that occurs when you sear the protein featured in the dish.

Does Cincinnati chili have cinnamon in it? ›

Cincinnati chili is always seasoned with cinnamon, allspice, cloves, cumin, nutmeg, and chili powder.

How to thicken Cincinnati chili? ›

Use All-Purpose Flour or Cornstarch

"Transfer some warm liquid [from the chili] to a separate bowl. Whisk in the flour or cornstarch, then slowly stir it back in the pot," advises Wofford. Bring the mixture back to a boil, which will "activate" the ingredient, instantly thickening the dish.

Who made the original Cincinnati chili? ›

As its name suggests, this chili originated in Cincinnati, Ohio. In The Authentic History of Cincinnati Chili, Dann Woellert traces the original recipe to two brothers, Tom and John Kiradjieff, who immigrated from Macedonia in northern Greece in the early 1920s.

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.

Does Cincinnati chili have chocolate in it? ›

Answer: Nope, according to Dann Woellert, author of "The Authentic History of Cincinnati Chili." For the 2013 book, Woellert spoke with the owners of all the local chili parlors – Skyline, Gold Star, Pleasant Ridge and Price Hill, to name a few – and they all confirmed chocolate was not an ingredient in their recipes.

What Greek dish is Cincinnati chili based on? ›

Originally, Cincinnati chili was just chili spaghetti. It was based on the Greek saltsa kima, which is meat sauce on pasta.

What is chili over spaghetti called? ›

Cincinnati Chili was first served in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1922. It is traditionally served on a bed of spaghetti piled high with cheese, beans, ground beef, onions, and oyster crackers. It is sweetened up with very unique flavors to chili like chocolate, cinnamon, cloves and allspice.

What is the oldest chili restaurant in Cincinnati? ›

It was October 24, 1922, when Athanas (“Tom”) and Ivan (“John”) Kiradjieff opened their Empress Chili Parlor, the first ever to serve what we now call Cincinnati chili, at 816 Vine Street, tucked inside the Empress Burlesk Theater.

What is the distinct flavor in Skyline chili? ›

Why is Skyline Chili so popular? This dish has a Mediterranean influence in flavor so it is really unique! It has the traditional chili powder and cumin but also cinnamon, allspice, and cloves. Skyline Chili has perfected their recipe so well that it is even sold in grocery stores.

What gives chili its distinctive flavor? ›

Cumin, Chile Powders, and Paprika are the most common spices in chili followed by garlic, onion, coriander, Mexican oregano, and bay leaves. These ingredients can be combined to create a savory and well-balanced pot of top notch comfort food.

What's the difference between Cincinnati chili and chili con carne? ›

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.

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