How much food per person: quick chart
For a main course, plan about ½ lb of boneless meat per person and about ¾ lb if it's bone-in. Sides are smaller: about ¼ cup of uncooked rice or 4 oz of dry pasta per person.
| Food | Per adult | For 20 adults |
|---|---|---|
| Boneless meat (beef, pork, chicken) | ½ lb | 10 lb |
| Bone-in meat | ¾ lb | 15 lb |
| Brisket (raw weight) | ½ to ¾ lb | 10 to 15 lb |
| Pulled pork (cooked) | ½ lb | 10 lb |
| Prime rib, bone-in | 1 lb (1 rib per 2 people) | 20 lb (10 ribs) |
| Prime rib, boneless | ¾ lb | 15 lb |
| Ham, bone-in | ½ lb | 10 lb |
| Ham, boneless | ⅓ lb | About 6¾ lb |
| Salmon fillet | ½ lb | 10 lb |
| Potatoes | ⅓ to ½ lb | 7 to 10 lb |
| Pasta (dry) | 4 oz | 5 lb |
| Rice, side (uncooked) | ¼ cup | 5 cups |
| Rice, main (uncooked) | ½ cup | 10 cups |
Example: brisket for 15 adults and 4 kids
- Kids count as half: 15 + 2 = 17 portions
- 17 × ¾ lb raw = about 12.8 lb of raw brisket
- Brisket loses a lot of weight as it cooks, which is why raw amounts look large
Why raw and cooked weights differ
Meat loses water and fat as it cooks. Slow-cooked cuts like brisket and pork shoulder shrink the most, so their raw amounts per person are higher than quick-cooked cuts. Pulled pork in the chart is a cooked weight, because that's how most people buy it from a caterer or barbecue place.
Adjust for your crowd
- Serving several mains? Cut each one back by about a third.
- Lots of filling sides, like mac and cheese and bread? Use the low end of each range.
- Teens, athletes or a long party: add about 10 to 20 percent.
- Want sandwiches the next day? Pick "Some leftovers".
Cooking a holiday bird? The turkey calculator sizes it and works out thaw and roast times. For a whole party menu with appetizers, sides and dessert, use the party food calculator, and if you're ordering in, the pizza calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much meat per person for a party?
About ½ lb of boneless meat or ¾ lb of bone-in meat per adult when it's the main course. Kids under 12 eat about half that.
How much brisket per person?
Plan ½ to ¾ lb of raw brisket per person. Brisket shrinks a lot during a long cook, so buy by raw weight.
How much prime rib per person?
About 1 lb bone-in per person, which is one rib for every two people, or about ¾ lb per person for a boneless roast.
How much rice per person?
About ¼ cup of uncooked rice per person as a side dish, or ½ cup if rice is the main part of the meal.
How much pasta per person?
About 4 oz (¼ lb) of dry pasta per person, which cooks up to roughly 1 cup.
Sources
- The Old Farmer's Almanac: Party Planner, How Much Food to Serve
- Safeway: Prime Rib Roast, How to Buy It and Roast It Right
- Fry's Food Stores (Kroger): How to Cook a Ham, Boneless and Bone-In
- Live Eat Learn: How Much Rice Per Person
Amounts are planning estimates. Appetites, the rest of the menu and the cut you buy all change how much you need.
Spotted a mistake? Email corrections@ipartybot.com and we'll check it.