How Much BBQ Per Person? When you’re planning a backyard BBQ, you’re probably looking forward to the day. But how much food should you really prepare per guest? If you want to plan your BBQ dinner menu with ease, then this guide is for you. We’ll show you the amount of BBQ food to prepare per person, from the appetizers to the desserts. It will be easy to determine how much food you need for your party.
The Barbecue Planning Guide
1. Prepare the grill. If you’re using a charcoal or gas grill, clean the cooking grate and preheat it to high (gas or charcoal); medium-high (wood or charcoal). For a wood fire, let the coals burn down until they are glowing red with a thin coating of white ash. Spread the coals in an even layer.
2. Prep the meat for smoking. Pat brisket and pork shoulder dry with paper towels; season all over with salt and pepper.
3. Start smoking the meat. Put brisket and pork shoulder on cooler side of grill, fat side up. Smoke until meat registers 200°F (brisket) or 195°F (pork), turning brisket every hour, 4 to 5 hours total (pork will take longer).
4. Wrap the meats in butcher paper or foil; continue to smoke until tender, 2 to 3 hours longer (brisket) and 4 to 5 hours longer (pork). Pork should register 200°F on an instant-read thermometer when done; brisket should be very tender but not falling apart.
5. Transfer meat to a cutting board; let rest for 15 minutes.
6. Serve the meats on a platter, with the prepared side dishes. Discard excess fat before serving, if desired; slice brisket and pork crosswise into thick slices. (If you have extra sauce, serve it separately.)
How Much Turkey Do You Need Per Person?
If you’re planning to cook a turkey for your Thanksgiving feast, you probably want to know how much meat you’re going to be serving. It may not be as much as you think.
Turkeys are often sold with a rating of “how many people it will feed.” For example, a 20-pound turkey is labeled as feeding 10 to 12 people.
But the average person only eats about 1 pound of meat at a meal — and that’s taking into account leftovers.
So, if your guests eat an average of 1 pound of turkey, then you need 1 pound of turkey per guest. If they eat more than that, increase your estimate accordingly. If they eat less than that, then go with the lower estimate.
So, in our example, if your guests are going to eat 1 pound each, then you’ll need 20 pounds of turkey (1 pound per person multiplied by 20 people).
How Much Chicken Do You Need Per Person?
The amount of chicken you need per person depends on the part of the bird you’re planning to use, your recipe, and how much fat, skin and bone is left on the cut. Here are some general guidelines:
- Buy a whole chicken if you’re making a soup or stew. A whole chicken will yield about 3 cups (750 mL) of diced meat.
- Legs and thighs need a little more than 1 lb (500 g) per person. That includes skin, bone and fat. A 4 oz (125 g) serving is a good estimate for meat alone.
- Chicken breasts with bone and skin need ½ to ¾ lb (250 to 375 g) per person. Again, 4 oz (125 g) of meat alone makes for a good portion size.
- Boneless breasts need even less — about 3 oz (80 g) per person after cooking.
How Much Ham Do You Need Per Person?
The first thing to consider is what else you are serving. If you are serving a full meal, then one pound of ham will serve approximately six people. However, if you are serving ham as a side or a carving station, then one pound of ham will serve approximately 10-12 people.
If you don’t have time to do the math, here is a handy chart that tells you how many pounds of ham to buy based on the number of people:
| Number of People | Ham Weight |
| 10 | 123 lbs |
| 14 | 164 lbs |
| 20 | 205 lbs |
| 25 | 246 lbs |
| 30 | 287 lbs |
How Much Beef Do You Need Per Person?
The amount of meat you need per person will depend on the type of beef you are serving and the reason for serving it.
For those who are watching their calories, you can use 1/3 pound of beef per person. For the average adult, a full pound of beef is appropriate. For those with a hearty appetite or who are very active, you may need up to 2 pounds!
As for cuts, each cut has a different shape and density. You should also consider how you’re preparing it (roasting and braising takes longer than grilling) and how many other dishes are on the table.
If grilling ribs or steaks, plan for about 3/4 pound per person. This is based on an 8-ounce portion that includes bone-in weight. If serving hamburgers or meatballs, plan for 1/3 to 1/2 pound raw meat per person. For ground chuck patties, plan on 3 ounces per burger to start; 6 ounces is considered a large burger by today’s standards.
How Much Prime Rib Do You Need Per Person?
To help figure out how much prime rib you need for a crowd, you first need to know how many people will attend the event. Then use the information below to figure out what size standing rib roast to buy.
Remember when purchasing any meat, it is always better to have too much than not enough. If there are any leftovers, they can be saved and used later in sandwiches or other recipes.
- 2 Rib Prime Rib Roast – 3/4 pound per person (1 1/2 pounds serves 2)
- 3 Rib Prime Rib Roast – 1/2 pound per person (1 1/2 pounds serves 3)
- 4 Rib Prime Rib Roast – 3/8 pound per person (1 1/2 pounds serves 4)
- 5 Rib Prime Rib Roast – 1/3 pound per person (1 1/2 pounds serves 5)
- 6 Rib Prime Rib Roast – 1/4 pound per person (1 1/2 pounds serves 6)
How Much Pulled Pork Do You Need Per Person?
Pulled pork is a crowd favourite, so it can be hard to know how much pork you need for a party or event. You need to consider the type of event, whether you’re serving other dishes and the size of your guests.
If you’re cooking pulled pork at home, use our general guide below to estimate how much meat you’ll need.
- For a casual dinner party, we recommend roughly ½ lb. of smoked pork per person. This will allow for plenty of leftovers and different meal options, like salads and sandwiches.
- For a larger banquet, we recommend ¾ lb. per person—the extra meat will ensure there’s enough for seconds and maybe even thirds!
- If you’re hosting a wedding reception or similar formal event with many courses, we recommend allowing ¼ lb. of slow-cooked meat per guest.
How Much Burgers And Hot Dogs Do You Need Per Person?
If you’re making your own burgers and hot dogs, you’ll need to allow about 4oz of meat per burger or hot dog. So if you’re feeding 40 people, you’ll need 20 burgers and 40 hot dogs. If you’re buying pre-made burgers or hot dogs, it will depend on the brand you buy. Go for the bigger ones! As a rule of thumb, we say 3 per person, but if they’re small go for 4-5.
If you’re cooking meat yourself and have lots of vegetarians attending, then we recommend allowing 150g/5oz raw per person as a guide – this should give you generous portions after cooking (don’t forget to take into account reduction in weight during cooking). If you don’t want any leftovers, reduce this to 100g/4oz per person.
When it comes to sausages, allow 6-8oz per person.
How Much Fish Do You Need Per Person?
People often wonder how much fish they should buy for a party or family dinner. A good rule of thumb is 1/2 pound (225 grams) per person if the fish is part of a meal that includes other dishes; otherwise, 3/4 to 1 pound (340 to 450 grams) per person.
The serving size you need depends on many factors, including whether the fish will be the main dish or part of a multi-course meal, and whether it will be served hot or cold. For example, if you are serving salmon as an appetizer with a dipping sauce and crackers, 1/4 pound (110 grams) will be plenty per person. If you are serving it as the main course for dinner with vegetables, potatoes and salad, you’ll need about 3/4 pound (340 grams).
Other factors that affect how much fish people eat include how many side dishes there are and the size of the portions. Studies show that when there is more food on the table we tend to eat more, so if your menu includes several different dishes, cook less salmon than you would if it were your only course. You can always cook more later; cooked salmon can be gently reheated in a microwave oven without drying out as long as it’s not overcooked in the first place.
The yields listed above are generous but not excessive amounts; you can serve more or less depending on what else is on the menu and your appetite. If you don’t go overboard on other foods and make salmon the main attraction, a half-pound (225 grams) of fish will usually satisfy most people.
