When it comes to BBQ, there are a lot of questions that need to be answered. What type of meat should I serve? How long should I cook it for? How much should I make? Today, we’re going to tackle the question of how much meat should be served per person at a BBQ. By following our guide, you’ll be able to host the perfect backyard bash and ensure that everyone gets their fill of delicious BBQ! Keep reading to learn more.
Factors to Consider When Calculating How Many Pounds of Meat You Need
There are a few important things you’ll need to take into account when it comes to how much meat you’ll need for your BBQ. How much food you prepare depends heavily on the number of guests.
You don’t want to have too much or not enough meat. So, what is the right amount of meat?
Whether you’re considering how many people you are preparing to feed or how many different meats you will be serving, the following factors must be taken into consideration in order to determine how much BBQ meat per person you’ll need.
Focus of the Meal: Is the Meat the Main Dish or is Something Else the Main Course?
The first thing to consider is how much of the meal will be focused on the meat. If you’re planning on serving a variety of different dishes, you won’t need as much meat per person as you would if it was the main dish. For example, if your BBQ menu includes sides like potato salad, baked beans, and coleslaw, you’ll need less meat per person than if you were serving BBQ chicken as the main dish with a simple side of corn on the cob.
How Many Different Meats Are You Serving?
Another factor to take into account is how many different types of meat you’ll be serving. If you’re planning on having a variety of different meats, you won’t need as much of each individual type. For example, if you’re serving BBQ chicken, ribs, and sausage, you won’t need to make as much as if you were just serving chicken, because people will likely want to try a little bit of each type of meat, rather than filling up on just one.
What Are the Side Dishes?
A third consideration to make is what type of side dishes you’ll be serving. If you’re planning on serving heavier sides like macaroni and cheese or mashed potatoes, you’ll need less meat per person than if you were serving lighter sides like a green salad or fruit salad. Your guests are more likely to want to fill up on the heavier sides, rather than the meat.
Adjusting for Big Eaters and Smaller Eaters
Look at your guest list. Are they big eaters and smaller eaters?. Is the party for adults or are there going to be kids as well? Big eaters will obviously want more meat than smaller eaters, so you’ll need to take that into account when calculating how much BBQ meat you’ll need.
Portion size does not always correlate with person size. A good rule of thumb is to have 8 oz. of cooked meat per adult and 4 oz. of meat per child.
Similarly, if you have any vegetarians or vegans attending your BBQ, you’ll want to make sure that you have enough of the non-meat items to accommodate them.
Bones, Bones, Bones: Bone-In or Boneless?
As you’re preparing for your BBQ, you’ll also need to decide whether you want to serve bone-in or boneless meat. Bone-in meat typically weighs more than boneless meat, so you’ll need to take that into account when calculating how many pounds of BBQ you’ll need to cook.
How Much Fat?
The last thing to think about is how much fat you want in your meat. Fatty meats like ribs and pork shoulder typically weigh more than leaner meats like chicken breast. So, if you’re looking to save some money, you may want to go with leaner meats. However, if you’re looking for the most flavor, you’ll want to go with fattier meats.
Types of BBQ Meat
Now that you know how to calculate how much BBQ meat you’ll need per person, it’s time to decide what types of meat you want to serve. There are a variety of different meats that are commonly served at BBQs, so you’ll need to decide which ones you want to include on your menu. Some of the most popular options include:
- Chicken
- Beef
- Pork
- Hot Dogs
- Ribs
- Brisket
- And more
Keep reading to learn more about these different types of meat, their average yield after cooking them, and anything you’ll need to take into consideration while deciding how much BBQ meat you’ll need depending on the type of meat you’re using.
Hot Dogs: America’s Favorite BBQ Meat
Hot dogs are a staple at most American BBQs, and for good reason. They’re easy to cook, they’re affordable, and they’re crowd-pleasers. Plus, there’s no need to worry about how much you’ll need per person with hot dogs since they come in pre-packaged packages of eight, sixteen, or even twenty-four.
How Many Hot Dogs Will You Need?
Hot dogs are one of the easiest BBQ meats to choose because the cooking process is simple and straightforward, and it’s easy to determine how many you’ll need based on how many people are attending. If you’re unsure of the headcount, always guess high. It’s better to have too many hot dogs than to not have enough.
Ground Beef: The Classic BBQ Meat
Ground beef is another classic BBQ meat that’s perfect for feeding a large crowd. It’s affordable, it can be cooked quickly, and it’s easy to customize with different seasonings and toppings. Ground beef is also a versatile meat that can be used in a variety of dishes, from burgers and sliders to tacos and chili.
When cooked, the average yield of ground beef is about 50% of its raw weight. So, if you’re looking to serve four ounces of meat per person, you’ll need to start with eight ounces of raw ground beef per person.
How Much Ground Beef Will You Need?
With ground beef, the amount you’ll need really depends on what you’re making. For burgers, you’ll want to plan for about a 1/2 pound per person. However, for dishes like chili or tacos, you might only need 1/4 pound per person since there will be other ingredients in the dish.
Ribs: The Messy, but Delicious, BBQ Meat
Ribs are the perfect BBQ meat for those who like to get messy. They’re sticky, they’re saucy, and they’re oh-so-delicious. Ribs can be made with different types of meat, but pork ribs are the most popular option. Baby back ribs are a bit smaller and leaner, while St. Louis-style spare ribs are larger and have more fat.
The average yield of cooked ribs is about 40% of their raw weight. So, if you’re looking to serve two ounces of cooked ribs per person, you’ll need to start with five ounces of raw ribs each.
How Many Ribs Will You Need Per Person?
Figuring out how many ribs you’ll need really depends on the size of the rib and how hungry your guests are. For baby back ribs, plan for about one rack per person. For St. Louis-style ribs, you might want to plan for one and a half racks per person. And, if you’re really looking to feed your guests well, you can always plan for two racks per person.
Pork: A Versatile BBQ Meat
Pork is a versatile BBQ meat that can be used in a variety of dishes, from pulled pork sandwiches to pork chops. Pork tenderloin is a leaner option that’s perfect for those who are watching their fat intake, while pork shoulder is a fattier option that’s packed with flavor.
Depending on the type of pork you are using, the average yield of cooked pork is about 40-60% of its raw weight. If you’re looking to serve four ounces of pulled portk per person, you’ll need to start with six to eight ounces of raw pork butt.
How Much Pork Should You Plan for Per Person?
If you’re planning on serving pork at your BBQ, the amount you prepare really depends on the type of pork you’re using. For leaner cuts like pork tenderloin, plan for about a half-pound per person. For fattier cuts like pork shoulder, you might want to plan for a quarter-pound per person.
Chicken: A Lean BBQ Meat
Chicken is a lean option that’s perfect for those who are looking to eat a bit healthier. Chicken breasts are the leanest option, while chicken thighs have a bit more fat. Chicken wings are also a popular option, but they can be quite messy.
The average yield of cooked chicken is about 70% of its raw weight, so if you’re looking to serve four ounces of cooked chicken per person, you’ll need to start with at least six ounces of raw chicken for each guest.
How Much Chicken Should You Plan for Per Person?
If you’re going with chicken for your next BBQ, you should plan to serve one chicken breast per person. If you’re going with thighs, you could assume that each person will eat two chicken thighs. And, if you’re going with chicken wings, each person is likely to eat 8-15 wings.
Brisket: The Perfect BBQ Meat for a Crowd
Brisket is the perfect BBQ meat for feeding a large crowd. It’s a bit more expensive than other meats, but it’s worth it because it’s so flavorful and juicy. Beef brisket can be cooked in a variety of ways, but the most popular method is to slow cook it over low heat.
The average yield of cooked brisket is another important thing to keep in mind, as it’s only about 50% of its raw weight. So, if you’re looking to serve eight ounces of cooked brisket per person, you’ll need to start with one pound of meat per person.
How Much Brisket Should You Plan for Per Person?
With brisket, you should plan to serve about a pound per person. This will give each person a nice, hearty portion of brisket that’s packed with flavor.
Steak: The Perfect BBQ Meat for a Small Party
Steak is the perfect BBQ meat for a smaller party. It’s a bit more expensive than other meats, but it’s worth it because it’s so tender and juicy. Steak can be cooked in a variety of ways, but the most popular method is to grill it over high heat.
Depending on the type of steak you buy, it’s most likely that each person will eat one whole steak. The average yield of a cooked steak is about 60-70%, so if you’re splitting up your steak, it’s important to take that into consideration before you purchase your BBQ meat.
How Many Steaks Should You Plan for Per Person?
If you’re going with steaks for your next BBQ, you should plan for about a half-pound per person. This will give each person a nice, hearty portion of steak that’s packed with flavor.
Beef: A Versatile BBQ Meat
Beef is a versatile BBQ meat that can be used in a variety of dishes, from burgers to tacos. Ground beef is the most popular option, but there are also many other cuts of beef that can be used for BBQing.
When you’re cooking any type of beef, remember that the average yield of cooked beef is about 70% of its raw weight. Plan to start with about six to eight ounces of raw beef when you’re planning how much meat you’ll need per person because once it’s cooked, it will come out to about 4-6 ounces of delicious beef for each guest.
How Much Beef Should You Plan for Per Person?
How much beef you prepare really depends on the type of beef you’re using. If you choose ground beef as previously mentioned, you should plan for about a quarter to a half-pound per person. For other cuts of beef, you might want to plan for a half-pound or more per person.
Host the Perfect BBQ
Now that you know how much BBQ meat to plan for per person, you’re ready to throw the perfect BBQ. Just remember to keep the yield in mind when cooking, as it can vary depending on the type of meat you’re using. With these tips in mind, you’ll be sure to have enough BBQ meat for everyone at your next gathering. Thanks for reading!