What is Cincinnati without its insane pride for everything local? Especially its local fare. From chili and German eats to all things goetta, below are a number of inventive recipes to make dishes inspired by The Queen City’s culinary staples.
[Goetta] Hanky Panks
Like Hanky Panks, the high school graduation party staple, but with goetta (preferably from Eckerlin Meats)! Originally posted February 2018
Prep time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Makes: one loaf of party ryes
Ingredients:
Party ryes (Get rye bread locally from Em’s Bread and cut it in fours)
1 lb ground beef (Get it from a local butcher)
1 lb goetta (Get it locally from Eckerlin Meats)
Velveeta cheese block—16 or 32 oz (Get cheese locally from Gibbs Cheese)
Instructions:
1. Brown the beef and place into a large bowl
2. Brown the goetta and place into the same large bowl
3. Preheat the oven to 375º
4. Cut the Velveeta into 1″ cubes (how much cheese you add is up to you, but about half of a 32 oz block should suffice—you can always add more)
5. Place beef, goetta, and cheese into a saucepan to melt the cheese and to mix all ingredients; place back into the large bowl if you prefer
6. Spoon the mix onto the party ryes
7. Bake on a cookie sheet for about 18 minutes or until golden brown
Additional [Goetta] Hanky Pank Ideas
Using the Goetta Hanky Pank meat and cheese mixture, you can make:
- Goetta Hanky Pank Omelettes
- Goetta Hanky Pank breakfast wraps with scrambled eggs
Goetta Crepes
My take on Taste of Belgium’s ‘Nati Crepe, filled with egg, Eckerlin goetta, Havarti, roasted peppers, and onions. Disclaimer: a “crepe,” to me, is the combination of pancake and filling. I refer to the thin pancake as a pancake and the entire concoction as a crepe.
Prep time: 7 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Makes: two large crepes
Ingredients:
Filling:
1/2 lb goetta
3 large eggs
Cheese (Your choice! I typically use shredded cheddar jack)
Pancakes/crepes:
3/4 cup flour
3/4 cup milk
2 large eggs
1 tbsp shortening (You can use coconut oil or Crisco)
Instructions:
1. Brown the goetta
2. In the same skillet, scramble the eggs
3. Combine the goetta and eggs and, when finished, turn the burner on low
4. While the goetta and egg mixture is simmering, start the pancakes
5. Turn the pancake burner on medium/medium high
6. In a medium bowl, mix 3/4 cup of flour and 3/4 cup of milk
7. Add 2 large eggs, mix
8. Add 1 tbsp shortening to the hot skillet and spread around the pan
6. Pour half of the pancake batter in the skillet and spread the batter to take up most of the skillet—the shortening will fry the edges and make them crispy
7. When the pancake is finished, add the egg and goetta and cheese; roll and top with syrup (optional)
German Pancakes
Kinda like Dutch Pancakes, but because we’re in Zinzinnati, German Pancakes it is!
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 18 minutes
Makes: 9×13 glass dish (6–8 servings)
Ingredients:
1 tbsp butter
1 cup flour
1 cup milk
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
Instructions:
1. Grease rectangular glass baking dish (~9×13″) with nonstick spray or olive oil, then add 1 tbsp of butter
2. Preheat oven to 400º and, while it is preheating, put the dish in the oven so that the butter will melt
3. Mix 1 cup of flour and 1 cup of milk in a medium bowl
4. Add 3 eggs to the batter, mix
5. Add 1 tsp of vanilla, mix
6. When the oven is finished preheating, the butter should be melted. Take out the dish and tilt the sides of the dish to cover in butter.
7. Pour the batter into the dish and bake for 15–18 minutes, or until preferred golden brown
8. Serve topped with powdered sugar, fruit, syrup, or whatever you choose
Breakfast Turtles
Inspired by Gomez Salsa; originally made June 2019
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Makes: 1 breakfast turtle
Ingredients:
Large flour tortilla
Corn tostada (or tortilla chip)
2 eggs
1/4 cup shredded cheese
Breakfast meat or vegetables (optional)
Sauce (sour cream, salsa, etc. optional)
Instructions:
1. Scramble two eggs
2. Spoon sauce of your choice on the flour tortilla
3. Put half of the eggs on top of the sauce
4. Add cheese and other toppings (if applicable)
5. Corn tostada
6. Put rest of eggs, more cheese, and other toppings
7. Fold the large flour tortilla
8. Put cheese directly into the skillet; place the “turtle” folded side down to crisp the cheese to the tortilla; brown the reverse side when done
Chili Dip Turtle
Inspired by Gomez Salsa; originally made April 2020
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes
Makes: 1 chili dip turtle
Ingredients:
Large flour tortilla
Corn tostada (or tortilla chip)
Cream cheese
Cooked spaghetti
Cincinnati chili
1/4 cup shredded cheese
Instructions:
1. Cook spaghetti noodles in boiling water
2. In a separate sauce pan, heat Cincinnati chili
3. Heat up skillet where you can warm the flour tortilla for easy folding
4. Spread cream cheese on the tortilla
5. Add spaghetti noodles
6. Spoon chili onto the noodles
7. Add cheese on top of the chili
8. Place tostada (or tortilla chip) on top of cheese
9. Fold the large flour tortilla
10. Put cheese directly into the skillet; place the “turtle” folded side down to crisp the cheese to the tortilla; brown the reverse side when done
Click here to view the Reel on Instagram
Skyline Dip
A classic Cincinnati delicacy popular at parties, movie nights, pool days, and so much more!
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 2:30 minutes (microwave) or 15–20 minutes (oven at 400º)
Makes: medium to large glass dish (amounts can be modified to make a variety of serving sizes)
Ingredients:
16 oz. cream cheese
1 can of Skyline Chili (or Cincinnati chili of your choice)
Shredded cheese (cheddar or cheddar jack—amount to your preference)
Instructions:
1. Spread cream cheese on the bottom of the dish or bowl
2. Add chili
3. Sprinkle cheese on top
4. Microwave or bake until done
Skyline Dip Wraps
Not feeling tortilla chips? Scoop your chili dip into a flour tortilla instead! Originally made April 2020
Chilidilla
Not feeling a chili dip wrap, either? Simply scoop your chili dip into a flour tortilla, pan fry, and cut into triangles to serve as a quesadilla. Originally made July 2019
Skyline Dip Naan Bites
A twist on Skyline Dip—perfect for the kids … or me! Originally made July 2019
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 8–10 minutes at 350º
Ingredients:
Naan rounds (available at most grocery stores)
Skyline Chili (or Cincinnati chili of your choice)
Shredded cheese (cheddar or cheddar jack—amount to your preference)
Instructions:
1. Spread cream cheese on the naan
2. Add chili
3. Top with cheese
4. Bake
Goetta Fried Rice
Asian fusion X Cincinnati delicacy. Originally made January 2025
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
Frozen vegetable fried rice (available at most grocery stores, but you can also make your own)
Goetta (recommended: Eckerlin, but any will do)
Instructions:
1. Heat up fried rice in a skillet with vegetable oil
2. In a separate pan, brown the goetta
3. Mix and enjoy!
4. Optional: top with Yee Mama Garlic Sweet Soy Sauce (available at these local stores)
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