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EmailHow much do you need when you're cooking for a crowd?
If you're planning a big meal, these estimates can help you determine how much food you should buy.
They're based on "average" servings; adjust quantities upward for extra-big eaters and downward if children are included.
| FOOD | SERVE 25 | SERVE 50 | SERVE 100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meats | |||
| Chicken or turkey breast | 12–1/2 pounds | 25 pounds | 50 pounds |
| Fish (fillets or steaks) | 7–1/2 pounds | 15 pounds | 30 pounds |
| Hamburgers | 8–9 pounds | 15–18 pounds | 30–36 pounds |
| Ham or roast beef | 10 pounds | 20 pounds | 40 pounds |
| Hot dogs | 6 pounds | 12–1/2 pounds | 25 pounds |
| Meat loaf | 6 pounds | 12 pounds | 24 pounds |
| Oysters | 1 gallon | 2 gallons | 4 gallons |
| Pork | 10 pounds | 20 pounds | 40 pounds |
| Miscellaneous | |||
| Bread (loaves) | 3 | 5 | 10 |
| Butter | 3/4 pound | 1–1/2 pounds | 3 pounds |
| Cheese | 3/4 pound | 1–1/2 pounds | 3 pounds |
| Coffee | 3/4 pound | 1–1/2 pounds | 3 pounds |
| Milk | 1–1/2 gallons | 3 gallons | 6 gallons |
| Nuts | 3/4 pound | 1–1/2 pounds | 3 pounds |
| Olives | 1/2 pound | 1 pound | 2 pounds |
| Pickles | 1/2 quart | 1 quart | 2 quarts |
| Rolls | 50 | 100 | 200 |
| Soup | 5 quarts | 2–1/2 gallons | 5 gallons |
| Side Dishes | |||
| Baked beans | 5 quarts | 2–1/2 gallons | 5 gallons |
| Beets | 7–1/2 pounds | 15 pounds | 30 pounds |
| Cabbage for cole slaw | 5 pounds | 10 pounds | 20 pounds |
| Carrots | 7–1/2 pounds | 15 pounds | 30 pounds |
| Lettuce for salad (heads) | 5 | 10 | 20 |
| Peas (fresh) | 12 pounds | 25 pounds | 50 pounds |
| Potatoes | 9 pounds | 18 pounds | 36 pounds |
| Potato salad | 3 quarts | 1–1/2 gallons | 3 gallons |
| Salad dressing | 3 cups | 1–1/2 quarts | 3 quarts |
| Desserts | |||
| Cakes | 2 | 4 | 8 |
| Ice cream | 1 gallon | 2 gallons | 4 gallons |
| Pies | 4 | 9 | 18 |
| Whipping cream | 1 pint | 2 pints | 4 pints |
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