Summertime Meals to Feed a Crowd food large groups

Mostly commonly-served summer foods

November 12, 2021

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	3–3/4 pounds	6 pounds	9 pounds	12 pounds
Sliced Cheese	1–1/8 pounds	2 pounds	3 pounds	4–3/4 pounds	6 pounds
Bread	2 loaves	3 loaves	5 loaves	7 loaves	9–3/4 loaves
Chips/Snacks	1 pound	2 pounds	3 pounds	4 pounds	6 pounds
Dip	2 cups	3–3/4 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	8–3/4 pounds	12 pounds	16 pounds
Salads (potato salad and coleslaw, also baked beans; 3/4 cup per person)	2 quarts	3–3/4 quarts	1–3/4 gallons	2 gallons	3 gallons
Ice Cream	2 quarts	3–3/4 quarts	1–3/4 gallons	2 gallons	3 gallons
Cookies	2 dozen	3 dozen	5 dozen	8 dozen	11 dozen
Cold Drinks	6–3/4 quarts	3 gallons	5 gallons	7 gallons	9 gallons
Hot Drinks - Ground Coffee	1/2 pound	3/4 pound	2 pounds	2 pounds	3 pounds
Hot Drinks - Brewed Tea or Coffee	1 gallon	2 gallons	4 gallons	6 gallons	8 gallons