How Much Meat Do You Need?

What’s the right amount of meat to serve per person?

If meat is the main dish, aim to have at least ⁄2 lb (8.0 oz) of meat per person. Estimating how much meat to serve for dinner or an event doesn’t have to be rocket science! Just stick to the general rule that you typically want to serve at least ⁄4 lb (4.0 oz) of meat per person if the meat is the main focus of the dish. If meat is simply a component of the dish, stick with around ⁄4 lb (4.0 oz) or ⁄3 lb (5.3 oz) per person. For example, a steak dinner or Thanksgiving feast would include ⁄2 lb (8.0 oz) of steak or turkey per person because the meat is the focus of the meal. If you’re having spaghetti and meatballs, aim to have ⁄4 lb (4.0 oz) of meatballs per person. Now, this doesn’t include leftovers, so make a little extra if you enjoy having extra meals handy.

How Much Meat Do You Need

For BBQ Aim to have at least ⁄2 to ⁄4 lb (8.0 to 12.0 oz) of meat per person for large barbecue style events. Whether you’re serving ribs, pulled pork, chicken, hot dogs, or burgers, make sure you have enough variety for everyone. It’s always better to have more food than not enough, so order or make more rather than less. Bulk up your BBQ food options with delicious sides, like mac and cheese, corn on the cob, and coleslaw.

For Tacos A typical taco uses about ⁄8 pound (2.0 oz) of meat. So, to determine how much meat you’ll need per person, figure out how many tacos everyone will eat. Adults usually eat 2 to 3 tacos each with kids eating between 1 and 2. Multiply the number of tacos by the number of guests, then multiply that number by 2 ounces. For example, say you’re serving 5 adults who’ll likely eat 3 tacos each. 5 x 3 is 15, and 15 x 2 is 30. This means you’ll need roughly 30 oz (1.9 lb) of meat for the entire meal.

For Sandwiches If you’re serving up some classic cold cuts or lunch meats, the general rule is to serve 6 oz (0.38 lb) of meat per person. This is enough to make 1 sandwich per person. If you’re serving a large crowd, multiply the number of people by 6 to find out how many ounces of lunch meat you’ll need in total. For instance, say you’re hosting a luncheon with 25 guests. 25 x 6 is 150, so you’ll need 150 oz (9.4 lb) of lunch meat in total. Consider dividing the 6 oz (0.38 lb) portion size between 2 or 3 types of deli meats. This way, people can get a variety of meats on their sandwiches, like turkey, chicken, and ham.

What to Know About Serving Portions

Your guest count. In order to figure out how much meat to serve, you need to know how many people you’re feeding. Whether you’re making dinner for the family or hosting a backyard BBQ, this is important! Do a headcount or rough estimate of how many people you think will be there. Then, multiply that number by the ounces or pounds of meat you’ll eat. For example, say you’re hosting a dinner party with 10 guests. If pork chops are the main dish, you’ll multiply 8 ounces by 10, giving you 80 ounces. This means you’ll need 5 pounds or 80 ounces of meat in total to serve everyone.

The type of event. The style of event you’re hosting can help determine how much meat to serve. More casual events, like backyard BBQs or friend gatherings, can have a variety of meats and sides, making the portions not too strict. More formal events, like weddings, likely require a stricter menu with exact portion serving sizes.

Preferences and appetites. Who you’ll serve can affect how much and what type of food to serve. If you know your guests have bigger appetites, aim to serve a few extra portions of meat. Similarly, if you know some guests prefer chicken over beef, ensure there’s a variety of meat options to choose from. Knowing who’s attending not only helps with portion sizes and preferences, but it can also help you order or serve anything that’s suitable for any allergies.