Cincinnati chili for 12: a thin, cinnamon-and-clove-spiced beef chili served over spaghetti with a mound of cheddar (a 3-way) and on hot dogs with mustard, onion and cheese (coneys). Make it the day before, because it's better after a night in the fridge, then reheat it on the grill at the lot in about 30 minutes.
Feeds: 12 (a 3-way and a coney each) · Hands-on: about 45 min · Total: about 4½ hours, plus an overnight chill
Home gear: a heavy 6-quart or larger pot
Pack for the lot
- Chili, cold and sealed, in the cooler
- Spaghetti in a covered foil pan, in the cooler
- Hot dogs, in the cooler
- Cheese, onions and beans, in the cooler
- Buns, mustard, oyster crackers and hot sauce
- Large pot or 2 deep foil pans for the chili
- Ladle, tongs and a spoon for the cheese
- Instant-read thermometer
- Charcoal and a chimney starter, or a full gas tank
- Paper plates, forks and napkins
Lot notes
- The Paycor Stadium rule: the Paycor Stadium guide says open flames are allowed in the surface lots only, never in a garage. The garages open 6 hours before kickoff, but they're for parking, not cooking. If you're reheating chili, buy a surface lot pass.
- Timing: surface lots open 4 hours before kickoff, and night-game tailgates have to wrap by midnight.
- Holding hot: keep the chili at 140°F or above on the cool side of the grill. Once it drops below that, eat it within 2 hours, or 1 hour when it's over 90°F.
- Cold stuff stays cold: the cheese and onions sit in the cooler between rounds, at 40°F or below.
- Cleanup: scrape the leftover chili into a sealed container and get it on ice right away, or throw it out if it's been out more than 2 hours. Let the coals burn out before you pack the grill.
Can you make Cincinnati chili ahead for a tailgate?
Yes, and you should. Make it the day before: the spices settle in overnight, and the fat sets on top so you can lift it off. Reheat it to 165°F at the lot.
How do you keep chili hot at a tailgate?
Keep it in a pot on the cool side of the grill, stirring now and then, so it stays at 140°F or above. Without a grill, reheat it at home to 165°F and carry it in an insulated jug or a towel-lined cooler, and eat it within 2 hours.
What's the difference between a 3-way, 4-way and 5-way?
A 3-way is spaghetti, chili and shredded cheddar. A 4-way adds onions or beans, and a 5-way adds both.
How do you make chili dogs Cincinnati style?
Put a hot dog in a soft bun, add yellow mustard, then a spoon of Cincinnati chili, diced onion and a pile of finely shredded cheddar. In Cincinnati, that's a coney.
How much do you need for 20 people?
Multiply everything by 1⅔: 5 lb of ground beef with the rest of the chili scaled to match, 2½ lb of spaghetti, 20 hot dogs and buns and about 2½ lb of cheddar. Use an 8-quart or larger pot, or make 2 batches.
Can you cook at Paycor Stadium?
Yes, in the surface lots. The Paycor Stadium guide says open flames are allowed in the surface lots only, never in a garage.