Italian beef sandwiches for 10: roast and slice the beef at home the day before, then heat the garlicky jus in a pot on the grill and dip the sandwiches at the lot, with giardiniera on top. About 30 minutes at the lot, and at Soldier Field grills are fine in the open-air lots, but tents, propane tanks over 19 lbs, fryers and heaters are banned.
Feeds: 10 · Hands-on: about 45 min · Total: about 2 hours 45 min at home plus an overnight chill, plus about 30 min at the lot
Home gear: a roasting pan with a rack, a sharp carving knife or a meat slicer, a fine strainer and lidded containers
Pack for the lot
- Sliced beef, lidded, in the cooler on ice
- Jus, in a sealed container, in the cooler
- Giardiniera and sweet peppers
- Rolls, in their bag, out of the cooler
- An 8-quart pot with a lid
- Grill and propane (a tank of 19 lbs or less)
- 2 pairs of tongs and a ladle
- Instant-read thermometer
- Heat-proof gloves
- Foil sheets or sandwich paper and plenty of napkins
Lot notes
- The Soldier Field rule: grills are fine in the open-air lots, but tents, propane tanks over 19 lbs, fryers and heaters are banned. The guide's rules allow grills in open-air lots and on the upper Waldron Deck, with "No fryers or oil cooking." The enclosed North Garage allows no grills, and the lower Waldron Deck is a no-flame zone. A pot of jus on the grill is grill cooking, with no oil and no fryer.
- Timing: tailgating stops at kickoff, and comes back for 2 hours after day games only. Get the jus hot early so the beef is served well before kickoff.
- Holding hot: keep the pot covered on low heat, at 140°F or above. Beef that sits out of the jus follows the 2-hour rule, or 1 hour above 90°F.
- Fuel: a pot of jus on low burns little propane. A 1 lb cylinder or a tank of 19 lbs or less is the legal limit here.
- Cleanup: let the jus cool before you pour it into a sealed container to take home. Don't dump it in the lot.
Can you make Italian beef ahead?
Yes, and you should. Roast it, make the jus and chill both overnight, then slice the beef cold the next morning. At the lot it only needs reheating to 165°F in the jus.
How do you keep Italian beef hot at a tailgate?
Keep the sliced beef sitting in the jus in a covered pot on the grill's lowest setting. Check that it stays at 140°F or above, and add a splash of broth if the jus cooks down.
How much do you need for 20 people?
Double it: 10 lb of beef (2 roasts), 16 cups of broth for the jus, 2 jars of giardiniera and 20 rolls. Use a 12-quart pot, or 2 smaller pots, so the beef has room to sit in the jus.
Can you grill at Soldier Field?
Yes, in the open-air surface lots and on the upper level of the Waldron Deck. There are no grills in the enclosed North Garage or on the lower Waldron Deck, no propane tanks over 19 lbs, and no deep fryers, fire pits or heaters.
What cut of beef is best for Italian beef?
A lean roast like top round or sirloin tip. It slices thin without falling apart, and the jus brings the moisture back.