One of the most challenging details of hosting a meal or cocktail party is estimating how much to buy and prepare. You don't want to overbuy and run the risk of a bunch of food waste, but there's no quicker way to kill the mood at the party than to run out of food or drinks, right? From poultry and fish to burgers and steaks, our guide for how much meat per person for BBQ will make it easy to shop and prepare wisely before your next grilling or smoking session.
Read on for all of the details to keep in mind as you dial in your meat or fish purchase plans, round up these best BBQ wine pairings for summer cookouts, and prepare to accept the award for hosting MVP.
Important Factors to Consider to Determine How Much Meat to Buy Per Person for BBQs
As a general rule, we recommend allocating 8 to 12 ounces of raw meat per adult at BBQ, and about 4 to 6 ounces per child. This can be adjusted either up or down depending on many factors, so ask yourself the questions below to determine whether to serve more or less.
Serve more than 8 ounces for adults (or 4 ounces for kids) if you answer yes to any of these questions:
- I am planning to serve 2 or fewer side dishes.
- Meat is going to basically make up the entire meal (meaning there are few, if any, appetizers or desserts).
- The side dishes are mainly light, such as fruit salads or green salads.
- I love leftovers or plan to share them with guests.
- Most guests didn't eat a large meal earlier in the day.
- I am serving alcohol. (This tends to crank up guests' appetites.)
- My guests enjoy very generous portions.
- Most cuts of meat I'm cooking will not be served in a bun.
How Much Meat to Prepare Per Person For BBQ Meals
Keep in mind that most meats lose between 15% and 45% of their weight when they are cooked. (A half-pound ground beef burger, for example, will likely weigh just shy of 7 ounces after you grill or smoke it.) That's because cooking causes animal protein to lose some moisture and fat. The difference between the weight of cooked food and the weight of raw meat is called a "yield."
The meat estimates below are designed to act as a guide for how much meat to buy in its raw state, since that's the detail you'll be looking for at the supermarket.
The quantities above for how much meat per person for BBQ are designed for hungry adults; trim them in half for kids. And it's always wise to offer a vegetarian or vegan option, so check out our tips for how to make delicious BBQ without meat, too.