Factors That Affect Meat Quantities Needed
Several things impact how much meat you need to purchase per person for a BBQ:
- Type of meat – Beef and pork generally require more per person than chicken or sausages
- Appetites of guests – Consider if you’re feeding large appetites or smaller eaters
- Other foods being served – Sides like salads help fill people up
- Cooking method – Grilling usually requires more meat than slow cooking
- Leftovers – Do you want extras for sandwiches the next day?
Keeping these factors in mind will help estimate meat quantities.
Recommended Pounds of Meat Per Person
Burgers
- 1/4 pound uncooked weight per regular burger – Allows for an average single patty burger
- 1/3 pound for bigger burgers – For heartier burgers with thicker patties
- Mini slider burgers – Around 2 ounces each
Calculate about 2-3 burgers per adult as a starting point.
Hot Dogs
- 2-3 hot dogs per person is typical
Chicken Pieces
- 1/4 to 1/2 pound per person for bone-in chicken pieces
- 4-6 ounces of boneless chicken per adult
Ribs
- 1/2 to 1 pound per person for baby back or spare ribs
- 2-3 ribs per person is a safe estimate
Steaks
- 1/2 pound per person for averaged size boneless steaks
- 2/3 pound per person if bone-in steaks like T-bones
- 8-12 ounces each for large cuts like New York strip
Pork Chops
- 1 medium chop per person (around 1/3 pound)
- 1 large chop per heartier appetite (1/2 pound)
Sausages
- 2-3 sausages per person, depending on size
General Guide Per Person
As a general guide for a variety of meats:
- 1/2 pound total per average appetite
- 3/4 pound per large appetite
- 1 pound per extra hearty eater
Purchase a little extra if you want leftovers. Having a couple extra pounds for a crowd is usually wise.
Tips for Calculating Quantities
- Weigh meats at home on a food scale for most accuracy
- Check serving sizes on packaging for approximate weights
- Overestimate rather than underestimate if unsure
- Prepare extra burgers and hot dogs as they cook quickly
- Cook larger meat cuts like ribs and pork shoulder in bigger portions
- Have backups ready like extra chicken wings or sausages
- Let guests take home leftovers in foil wraps or storage containers
With an idea of the average recommended pounds of meat per person, you can more easily plan for a successful barbecue with enough food for all. Pay attention to your guests’ preferences and appetites as well for most precise results. A little extra is usually better than not enough when grilling up a summer BBQ feast.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pounds of Meat Per Person for BBQ
How many pounds of brisket per person should I buy?
For brisket, plan on around 1/2 to 3/4 pound of uncooked weight per person. Allowing for some leftovers, 1 pound per person is a safe quantity.
How many racks of ribs do I need for 10 people?
For a group of 10, you’ll need 4-5 racks of ribs total. Each rack weighs around 2-3 pounds and serves 2-4 people. To have plenty, get 5 racks to feed 10.
How many pounds of pulled pork for 30 people?
For a large group, estimate 1/3 to 1/2 pound uncooked weight per person. So for 30 people, buy 10-15 pounds of pork shoulder to make pulled pork.
How much chicken should I grill for 20 guests?
For boneless chicken breasts allow 4-6 ounces per person, so for 20 plan on 5-7.5 pounds of chicken breasts. Bone-in chicken needs 1/4 to 1/2 pound per person, so get 7.5 to 10 pounds of bone-in chicken for 20.
How many pounds of sausage for 25 people?
Figuring 2-3 sausages per person, for 25 people you’ll need 75 sausages. If they are average sized (4 oz) that’s about 15 pounds of sausages for 25 people. Go a little over as they are easy to grill quickly.
How much beef for my family of 5 for burgers?
For a family of 5 allowing for 2-3 burgers each, pickup 2-2.5 pounds of ground beef. That gives each person 1/3 pound burgers with a little leftover. Go for 3 pounds for heartier eaters.
Conclusion
Estimating food for a barbecue takes some calculating, but going into it with a good idea of pounds of meat per person helps remove the guesswork. Keep portions hearty as the focus of a BBQ is the meat. Now armed with a better understanding of how much to buy and grill, you can host the ultimate backyard barbecue bash for family and friends.