Whether you’re having a family reunion or a backyard gathering, it can be tricky to figure out how much food to feed a crowd.
You don’t want to run short, and yet you’d rather not blow your food budget on one meal. Here’s a look at the most commonly-served summer foods, and an estimate for what you’ll need to feed a large (and often ever-growing) group!
| FOOD/DRINK | TO SERVE 12 |
TO SERVE 20 |
TO SERVE 35 |
TO SERVE 50 |
TO SERVE 65 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold Cuts | 2 pounds | 3–¾ pounds | 6 pounds | 9 pounds | 12 pounds |
| Sliced Cheese | 1–⅛ pounds | 2 pounds | 3 pounds | 4–¾ pounds | 6 pounds |
| Bread | 2 loaves | 3 loaves | 5 loaves | 7 loaves | 9–¾ loaves |
| Chips/Snacks | 1 pound | 2 pounds | 3 pounds | 4 pounds | 6 pounds |
| Dip | 2 cups | 3–¾ cups | 6 cups | 9 cups | 12 cups |
| Hot Dogs | 2 pounds | 3 pounds | 5 pounds | 7 pounds | 9 pounds |
| Rolls or Buns | 1 dozen | 2 dozen | 3 dozen | 5 dozen | 6 dozen |
| Baked Ham | 3 pounds | 5 pounds | 8–¾ pounds | 12 pounds | 16 pounds |
| Salads (potato salad and coleslaw, also baked beans; ¾ cup per person) |
2 quarts | 3–¾ quarts | 1–¾ gallons | 2 gallons | 3 gallons |
| Ice Cream | 2 quarts | 3–¾ quarts | 1–¾ gallons | 2 gallons | 3 gallons |
| Cookies | 2 dozen | 3 dozen | 5 dozen | 8 dozen | 11 dozen |
| Cold Drinks | 6–¾ quarts | 3 gallons | 5 gallons | 7 gallons | 9 gallons |
| Hot Drinks - Ground Coffee |
½ pound | ¾ pound | 2 pounds | 2 pounds | 3 pounds |
| Hot Drinks - Brewed Tea or Coffee |
1 gallon | 2 gallons | 4 gallons | 6 gallons | 8 gallons |
–courtesy University of Illinois, College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, Cooperative Extension Service
