Whether you’re planning a family reunion, backyard BBQ, summer cookout, or casual gathering with friends, figuring out how much food to serve a crowd can be challenging. You don’t want guests to go hungry, but you also don’t want to spend more than necessary or end up with a refrigerator full of leftovers.
This handy party food guide makes planning easier. Use the serving chart below to estimate how much cold cuts, cheese, bread, chips, dips, hot dogs, salads, desserts, and drinks you’ll need for groups of 12, 20, 35, 50, or 65 people.
How Much Food Do You Need for a Crowd?
FOOD/DRINK
TOSERVE 12
TOSERVE 20
TOSERVE 35
TOSERVE 50
TOSERVE 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
–courtesy University of Illinois, College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, Cooperative Extension Service
Catherine Boeckmann is the Executive Digital Editor of Almanac.com, the digital home of The Old Farmer’s Almanac. She leads digital editorial strategy and publishing across a wide range of Almanac sub...
Comments