Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili: Workday Hands-Off Pot
A set-it-and-leave-it Cincinnati chili that cooks 8 hours on LOW and holds on WARM until you return. A cold start and a thicker sauce keep it safe and silky.
Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili: Workday Hands-Off Pot
Course: Main CourseDifficulty: Easy6
servings15
minutes9
hoursA set-it-and-leave-it Cincinnati chili that cooks 8 hours on LOW and holds on WARM until you return. A cold start and a thicker sauce keep it safe and silky.
Ingredients
2 lb 85/15 ground beef, raw
2 3/4 cups cold beef broth
1 can (8 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
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar, added at the end
1 1/4 tsp kosher salt
1 lb spaghetti, cooked fresh at serving time
3 cups finely shredded mild cheddar
Directions
- The night before, dice the onion, mince the garlic and measure the spices into a small bowl. Store the onion and garlic in a covered container in the fridge.
- In the morning, use a cold slow cooker insert straight from the cupboard. Pour in the cold broth, tomato sauce and tomato paste and whisk until smooth.
- Add the onion, garlic and the spice bowl and whisk for a minute. Hand-stirring now means you do not need to lift the lid later.
- Crumble in the raw beef and mash it until no piece is larger than a pea. This takes about 3 minutes and it is the only real work of the day.
- Cover, set the cooker to LOW for 8 hours, then to WARM if your model switches automatically. If it does not, use a plug-in timer.
- Do not open the lid while you are away. Every peek adds 15 to 20 minutes to the cook time.
- When you return, stir the chili. It should be dark and thick, with the beef fully cooked and the sauce coating the back of a spoon.
- Stir in the vinegar and Worcestershire, then taste and adjust salt. Cook the spaghetti in 10 minutes while the chili rests.
- Serve over spaghetti with plenty of cheddar. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.
Notes
- Hold on WARM for no more than 2 hours after cooking. Do not use a frozen starting pot or frozen meat, because it spends too long in the unsafe zone. If your cooker runs hot, 7 hours on LOW is enough. The chili keeps for 4 days and freezes for 3 months.
Why a cold start matters
When the raw beef and cold broth go in together and the cooker begins warming up slowly, the meat breaks into fine crumbs rather than clumps. That is the signature Cincinnati texture. A thick sauce also holds up on WARM without scorching.
Add the vinegar at the end so the flavor stays bright.
Swaps and what not to do
Ground turkey can replace the beef if you add a spoonful of oil. If your cooker runs hot, shorten the time as noted. Never start with frozen meat or a frozen insert, which stays in the unsafe temperature zone too long.
What to serve
Spaghetti cooked fresh when you get home is the base, with a pile of shredded cheddar. Add diced onion and oyster crackers.
Leftovers
Cool the chili in shallow containers and refrigerate. Reheat gently with a splash of broth.
Do not lift the lid during the first hours. Stir only at the end. Cook the spaghetti fresh at serving time, because noodles sitting in the pot turn soft.
Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili: Workday Hands-Off Pot at a glance
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Cooking time: 9 hours
- Servings: 6 servings
- Ingredients: 16, led by 85/15 ground beef, cold beef broth, (8 oz) tomato sauce, tomato paste
Tips for Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili: Workday Hands-Off Pot
Hold on WARM for no more than 2 hours after cooking. Do not use a frozen starting pot or frozen meat, because it spends too long in the unsafe zone. If your cooker runs hot, 7 hours on LOW is enough. The chili keeps for 4 days and freezes for 3 months.
Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili: Workday Hands-Off Pot FAQ
How long does Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili: Workday Hands-Off Pot take?
Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili: Workday Hands-Off Pot takes 9 hours of cooking after 15 minutes of prep.
How many people does Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili: Workday Hands-Off Pot serve?
This recipe makes 6 servings.
What do I need to make Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili: Workday Hands-Off Pot?
16 ingredients, led by 85/15 ground beef, cold beef broth, (8 oz) tomato sauce, tomato paste. Amounts are in the recipe card above.
Part of: 10 Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili Recipes for Spaghetti Night
