Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili: Five-Way With Beans
The full Cincinnati plate: spaghetti, fine chili, whole kidney beans, onion and cheddar. The beans are warmed separately so they stay intact.
Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili: Five-Way With Beans
Course: Main CourseDifficulty: Easy8
servings20
minutes8
hoursThe full Cincinnati plate: spaghetti, fine chili, whole kidney beans, onion and cheddar. The beans are warmed separately so they stay intact.
Ingredients
2 lb 85/15 ground beef, raw
3 cups cold beef broth
1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 large yellow onion, finely diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tbsp chili powder
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground allspice
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp kosher salt
2 cans (15 oz each) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 lb spaghetti, cooked separately
1 cup finely diced onion for topping
3 cups finely shredded mild cheddar
Directions
- Pour the cold broth into the slow cooker and whisk in the tomato sauce and paste until fully blended.
- Add the diced onion, garlic, cocoa, chili powder, cumin, cinnamon, allspice and salt. Whisk for a minute so the spices disperse evenly.
- Crumble in the raw beef and break it up with a potato masher until no piece is larger than a pea. Do this before the heat is on.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours. Stir once near the 30 minute mark.
- Check the chili at the end: the sauce should coat the back of a spoon and the beef should be completely cooked through with no pink.
- Stir in the vinegar and Worcestershire, then taste and adjust salt. Keep the pot on WARM while you finish the sides.
- Rinse the kidney beans well to remove the canning liquid, then warm them in a small saucepan for 5 minutes with a splash of broth. They should be hot but still hold their skins.
- Cook the spaghetti separately until just tender, about 9 minutes, then drain without rinsing.
- Build each plate in order: spaghetti, chili, a scoop of beans, diced onion, then a heap of cheddar. Serve at once while the beans are still warm.
Notes
- Keep the beans out of the slow cooker, because long cooking turns them to mush. Pinto or black beans work if you prefer them to kidney beans. Store the chili, beans and spaghetti in separate containers for up to 4 days so nothing goes soggy. The chili alone freezes for 3 months. Serve with oyster crackers on the side, as is traditional.
The five layers in order
Five-way means spaghetti, chili, beans, onion and cheese stacked on one plate. The chili is cooked fine and silky, and the beans are warmed on their own so they stay whole. That contrast between smooth sauce and firm beans is the point of this version.
Warm the beans in a small pot with a spoonful of broth.
Swaps and one to skip
Pinto or black beans work in place of kidney beans. Do not add beans to the slow cooker early, because they break down and cloud the sauce. Shredded mozzarella is not a good stand-in for cheddar.
Serving and building
Layer each component in the order above and top with a mound of cheddar. Put out oyster crackers and hot sauce on the table.
Storage
Store the parts in separate containers so nothing goes soggy. Only the chili freezes well.
Warm the beans gently so they stay whole and creamy. Drain and rinse them first to remove the can liquid, which can make the plate watery and dull the flavor.
Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili: Five-Way With Beans at a glance
- Prep time: 20 minutes
- Cooking time: 8 hours
- Servings: 8 servings
- Ingredients: 18, led by 85/15 ground beef, cold beef broth, (15 oz) tomato sauce, tomato paste
Tips for Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili: Five-Way With Beans
Keep the beans out of the slow cooker, because long cooking turns them to mush. Pinto or black beans work if you prefer them to kidney beans. Store the chili, beans and spaghetti in separate containers for up to 4 days so nothing goes soggy. The chili alone freezes for 3 months. Serve with oyster crackers on the side, as is traditional.
Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili: Five-Way With Beans FAQ
How long does Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili: Five-Way With Beans take?
Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili: Five-Way With Beans takes 8 hours of cooking after 20 minutes of prep.
How many people does Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili: Five-Way With Beans serve?
This recipe makes 8 servings.
What do I need to make Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili: Five-Way With Beans?
18 ingredients, led by 85/15 ground beef, cold beef broth, (15 oz) tomato sauce, tomato paste. Amounts are in the recipe card above.
Part of: 10 Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili Recipes for Spaghetti Night
