Here's How Much Meat to Buy to Serve Your Group (2024)

FAQs

Here's How Much Meat to Buy to Serve Your Group? ›

A question we often get is “How much meat do I need?” The starting rule of thumb is: Boneless Meat: 1/2 lb. per person for adults and 1/4 lb. per person for children.

A question we often get is “How much meat do I need?” The starting rule of thumb is: Boneless Meat: 1/2 lb. per person for adults and 1/4 lb. per person for children.

When cooking something like steak, turkey or pork, where meat is the main dish of the meal and paired with a few side dishes, we recommend about 1/2 pound (eight ounces) per person, or up to 3/4 (12 ounces) pound for bigger appetites and those who love leftovers.

Each adult will consume 1 pound of food total; children, about 1/2 pound. The more options you have, the less you need of each; decrease the main course portion sizes by 1 to 2 ounces if served on a buffet.

Half a pound times 25 people is 12.5 pounds of cooked beef. Typically you lose 25% to shrink so 12.5 divided by 75% means you need just about 17 pounds raw beef.

Serving budget-friendly cuisines like salads, sandwiches and pasta dishes can be a very cost-effective choice. Or, if you're looking for a more casual option, how about a barbeque? Burgers, hot dogs and other grill-oriented foods are sure to be crowd favorites, and they won't rack up a big bill.

In general, it's safe to assume that each guest will want one burger and one hot dog, and then add twenty percent for anyone who may want multiples. So if you are hosting 100 people, that's 120 hot dogs and 120 burgers. If you're purchasing pre-made hamburger patties, purchase 120.

As a general rule of thumb, plan for the following portion sizes: For buffet-style events: Estimate about 1/2 to 3/4 pound of meat per person. For plated dinners: Plan for approximately 6 to 8 ounces of meat per person. Consider offering a variety of meats to cater to different preferences and dietary restrictions.

How many people can 1 lb of meat feed? ›

How many lbs of brisket will feed 100 people? The general rule of thumb when calculating how much meat is needed, whether it is brisket, pork, or chicken, is 4–6 people per pound.

In general, a safe bet is to plan for about 1/2 pound to 1 pound of meat per person. If you're serving meats with a higher bone-to-meat ratio, like ribs or pulled pork, you'll need to purchase more meat in order to achieve the same amount of servings.

As a general rule of thumb, plan for the following portion sizes: For buffet-style events: Estimate about 1/2 to 3/4 pound of meat per person. For plated dinners: Plan for approximately 6 to 8 ounces of meat per person.

Throwing a Large Party

With a larger group, consider the number of adults and children when planning your meal. This will determine if you need a half or a quarter pound of meat per guest. If you're feeding 20 people and are unsure about age ranges, 10 or more pounds of meat is a great place to start.

I like 6oz finished meat per person total + sides for an abundant meal with leftovers. You have to subtract loss during cooking which is about 50% for pulled pork and 35-40% for brisket. So it ends up looking like this for 40 people: 40 people*6oz per person = 240 oz or 15 lbs finished meat.