Hosting a barbecue can be a great way to bring friends and family together, but one of the most challenging details is figuring out how much food to prepare. Making sure there is enough meat and side dishes for everyone without having a lot of wasted food requires careful planning. This guide will help you determine the right amount of meat to cook per person, taking into account the type of meat, side dishes and other important considerations.
Try my recipes for Smoked Pulled Pork, Smoked Beef Dino Bones with Bourbon BBQ Sauce and Baby Back Ribs Using the 3-2-1 Method.
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General Guidelines for BBQ Portions
When planning your BBQ, it’s a good idea to start with a general rule of thumb to determine the amount of food you'll need. Here’s a breakdown:
- Adults: Plan for about one-half pound of cooked meat per adult.
- Older Adults: Plan on one-quarter pound of cooked meat per older adult. They tend to have smaller appetites.
- Children: Kids generally eat smaller portions, so plan for about one-quarter pound of cooked meat per child.
- Big Eaters: If you’re hosting big eaters or a hungry crowd, increase the portions to around three-quarters pound per adult.
The time of day and type of event can also influence portion sizes.
- Lunch: People tend to eat smaller portions at lunch.
- Dinner: Guests usually eat more during dinner.
- Cocktail Party: For casual BBQ cocktail parties, smaller portions of finger foods like sliders, wings, and hot dogs will be sufficient.
Keep in mind that meat loses moisture during the cooking process, and it varies with different cuts of meat. For example, a whole packer beef brisket can lose 30-40% of its weight during cooking, but thick-cut pork chops may only lose 15-20% of their weight.
Calculating Portions Based on the Type of Meat
Different types of meat have varying yields and portion sizes. Here’s a breakdown for the most popular BBQ options:
Beef Brisket
Brisket is a crowd favorite and makes a delicious main dish for BBQ parties.
- Yield: Brisket typically loses about 30-40% of its weight during the cooking process.
- Portion Size: Plan for three-quarters to one pound of raw brisket per adult, less if making sandwiches. For big eaters, plan for one to one and one-quarter pounds per person.
Beef brisket.
Smoked meatloaf.
Pulled Pork
Pulled pork is another crowd favorite and works well in sandwiches or as a standalone main course.
- Yield: Like brisket, pork shoulder loses about 30-40% of its weight during cooking.
- Portion Size: Plan for three quarters to one pound of raw pork per adult to yield one half pound of cooked meat.
Chicken (WhoChicken wingsle Chickens, Wings, or Breasts)
Chicken has a higher yield compared to red meat, because it loses less moisture loss during cooking. So, how much chicken should you buy? It depends on the cut.
- Whole Chickens: Plan for about a half chicken per adult if it’s the main dish.
- Chicken Breasts: Plan on one breast, or one-half pound per adult.
- Chicken Legs: Plan on two to three legs per adult.
- Chicken Wings: Plan on six to eight wings per adult.
Chicken wings.
Rotisserie chicken.
Pork Ribs (Spare Ribs or Baby Back Ribs)
Ribs are tricky because of the bone weight. Plan based on racks of ribs rather than pounds of ribs.
- Spare Ribs: Plan a half rack per adult as part of a meal with side dishes. For big eaters, increase to three-quarters rack to a full rack of ribs.
- Baby Back Ribs: Serve one-half to three-quarters rack of ribs per adult.
Baby back ribs.
St. Louis ribs.
Beef Ribs (Dino Bones or Beef Chuck Short Ribs)
Beef ribs are great for a barbecue, but the bones are huge. That means they take up a lot of space while being cooked so make sure your grill or smoker is big enough to accommodate the number or ribs you need to make.
- Beef Ribs: Plan two to three ribs per adult with side dishes. For big eaters, increase to four ribs.
Hot Dogs and Burgers
- Hot Dogs: Plan for one to two hot dogs per adult, depending on the number of sides.
- Hamburgers: Plan for one-half pound ground beef per adult with sides.
Think About Side Dishes
While the meat is the star of a BBQ, offering multiple side dishes will reduce the overall amount of meat needed.
- Portion Size: Plan for about four to six ounces of each side dish per adult if there are multiple side dishes. Increase to six to eight ounces per adult if there are only a few side dishes.
- Popular Sides: Potato salad, coleslaw, baked beans, mac and cheese, corn, fruit salad and cornbread are BBQ staples that complement the main course dishes. People tend to eat more potato salad and baked beans than other sides.
- Vegetarian Options: Include some vegetarian dishes to accommodate guests who may not eat meat.
Grilled corn.
French fries cooked in beef tallow.
Avoiding Food Waste
The last thing you want is to end up with too much food left over. Here are some tips to strike the right balance:
- Ask About Preferences: Ask your guests in advance about their preferences for meat and side dishes.
- Start Small: Serve smaller portions initially and keep extra food on hand for seconds.
- Leftovers: Use leftover meat for other meals like tacos, sandwiches or salads.
- Store Properly: Store leftovers in airtight containers in the refrigerator to keep them fresh for the next day. Any meat or side dishes left out more than two hours should be discarded.
Quick Reference Chart for BBQ Portion Planning
| Type of Meat | Raw Meat per Person | Cooked Meat per Person |
| Beef Brisket | 1.0 pound | .5 - .75 pound |
| Pulled Pork | 1.0 pound | .5 - 75 pound |
| Chicken Wings | 6-8 wings | 6-8 wings |
| Spare Ribs | .5 rack | .5 rack |
| Baby Back Ribs | .5 rack | .5 rack |
| Hot Dogs | 1-2 hot dogs | 1-2 hot dogs |
| Burgers | 0.5 - patty | 1 burger |
Tips for Larger Groups
Planning for a large BBQ party can be overwhelming. Think about:
- Hiring a BBQ Caterer: For very large groups, a BBQ caterer can ensure there’s enough food without the stress of cooking everything yourself.
- Grilling On-Site: If possible, grill the meat on-site to serve it fresh and hot.
- Making Additional Food: It’s better to have some extra food than to run out, especially with a big crowd.
Final Thoughts
Planning the right amount of BBQ to cook per person doesn’t have to be stressful. By using a general guideline for portion sizes, factoring in your guest list, and balancing meat with side dishes, you can ensure there’s enough food for everyone without going overboard. Whether it’s a family gathering, BBQ party or casual cookout, careful planning will help you determine the amount of meat to prepare and serve.
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Pairing
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