A trademark of the Queen City for over 60 years. Our recipe is sweet and spicy just like the many versions still available throughout this bustling Ohio River city. Serves 8-10.

Cook time: 2.5 hours

Cincinnati 5-Way Chili

Ingredients to have on hand

• 6 cups cold tap water
• 1 tsp. salt or savory saltless spices
• 21⁄2  lb. fresh, lean ground beef
• 2 cups onions, chopped fine
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can (16 oz.) tomato sauce
• 2 cups cold tap water
• 2 T. tomato paste
• 2 T. honey
• 2 T. white vinegar
• 1⁄2 oz. unsweetened chocolate
• seasoning packet (enclosed)
• 2 qts. cold tap water
• 1 T. salt
• 18 oz. spaghetti
• 1⁄2 lb. cheddar cheese
• 2 medium onions, diced
• oyster crackers

Directions

1. Sort through and thoroughly wash beans.  Soak beans four hours or overnight in water to cover by 2 inches. Drain beans and rinse well.
2. Place beans in a large 6 qt cooking pot along with the 6 cups of water. Cover and bring beans to a boil. 
   Reduce heat to medium low and cook for 1 hour.   Add salt or salt substitute, stir and cook for 30 additional minutes.
3.  When beans begin cooking, start making the chili. In a large stockpot, begin browning the ground beef over medium heat.   Use a fork to break up the meat into very fine pieces. Add onions and garlic. Cook for 15 minutes until meat is browned, stirring occasionally. Then, add the tomato sauce, water, tomato paste, honey, white vinegar, chocolate, and contents of seasoning packet. Mix well and cook, covered, over medium low heat for 1 to 1 1⁄2  hours. Stir occasionally until desired thickness is achieved.
4. One half hour before chili is completed, heat 2 qts. of water and 1 T. salt in a large pot. Bring to a boil and add spaghetti.   Stir once and cook according to the directions on the spaghetti package.
5. While spaghetti, chili and beans finish cooking, shred the cheddar cheese and dice the 2 onions. Set aside.
6. Drain the beans. Now you are ready to assemble Cincinnati 5-Way Chili.

Beginning at the bottom, assemble 5-Way Chili in this order:

spaghetti, beans, chili, cheddar cheese and onions.

The traditional accompaniment to this gastronomic masterpiece is oyster crackers. Also, don't try to be neat. It never works. Simply dive in. Thank you, Queen City!

Serves 8. Enjoy!