Beef on a Bun will be served at any event in Calgary during Stampede season. That’s the only thing that’s certain in life besides death and taxes. And that’s a good thing! But when I moved to Calgary 25 years ago, I didn’t really understand how great it was. But let me tell you, it grows on you. to the point that eventually you cant live without it. Because there haven’t been any Stampede events in the last few years, I chose to make my own Slow Cooker Beef on a Bun this year.
I LOVE slow cooker recipes (see all of my slow cooker recipes HERE!), especially ones like this slow cooker BBQ beef that you can dump and go or set and forget! It only takes 10 minutes to put together and the slow cooker does all the work! It’s also WW friendly! [feast_advanced_jump_to].
Every BBQ beef on a bun place I’ve been to in Calgary is a little different. Some roast and shred the beef, while others use a slow cooker, like I have. But they’re all delicious.
Beef on a bun – also known as a sloppy joe – is a fun, handheld sandwich that’s a hit with kids and adults alike With its saucy, seasoned ground beef filling, this messy sandwich is a casual crowd-pleaser. But when making sloppy joes for a group, how much beef per person should you buy?
Planning the right amount of meat ensures there’s enough to go around without ending up with lots of leftovers. Whether you’re feeding your family or a larger gathering, read on for a handy beef buying guide for serving beef on a bun.
Figuring Out Serving Size
First let’s talk serving sizes. The standard serving size for cooked ground beef is 3 ounces. This is about the size of a computer mouse or a bar of soap.
For a sloppy joe, you’ll want to pile that 3 ounces of meat onto a bun This makes for a satisfying sandwich with a good meat-to-bun ratio
Here are some serving size guidelines per person:
- 3 ounces ground beef
- 1 hamburger bun or sandwich roll
- Desired toppings like cheese or onions (optional)
The 3-ounce pre-cooked serving size equals about 4 ounces of raw ground beef. Keep this in mind when purchasing meat to allow for cook down.
How Many People Are You Serving?
The number of people you’re expecting will determine how many total servings you need to prepare.
For a smaller gathering like a family meal, simply multiply the 3 ounce per serving guideline by each family member. For example, for a family of four you’ll need:
- 3 ounces ground beef x 4 people = 12 ounces raw ground beef
For a larger party, estimate 10-20% over your headcount to allow for hangry teenagers, unexpected guests, and second helpings.
You’ll also need to think about what size buns you’ll use. Larger buns may be able to hold 4 ounces of meat rather than 3. Likewise, slider-style buns hold less. This will adjust your meat calculations slightly.
Purchasing Your Ground Beef
Ground beef is usually sold in 1 pound or 1/2 pound packages. A pound equals 16 ounces.
Knowing this makes it easy to purchase the right amount, with minimal waste or leftovers.
For example, if you’re serving 10 people you’ll need about 30 ounces of pre-cooked ground beef. That equals 40 ounces or 2 1/2 pounds of raw meat.
To keep it simple, buy:
- Two 1-pound packages
- One 1-pound package and one 1/2 pound package
This puts you at a total of 2 1/2 pounds for a bit of wiggle room.
Cooking and Serving
Cook your ground beef ahead of time and let it cool slightly before piling it onto buns. This allows you to get an accurate cooked weight for your servings.
Scoop a mound of approximately 3 cooked ounces onto each bun, adding toppings as desired. Offer any extra meat on the side.
Pro tip: Place cooked meat in a slow cooker on warm to keep it piping hot if you won’t be serving it all immediately.
Going Bun-less
Don’t want the carbs? You can also serve this recipe bun-less over a salad, roasted veggies, or cauliflower rice for lower-carb option.
In this case, plan on purchasing 4-6 ounces of cooked ground beef per person depending on their appetite. Then cook, chill, and reheat to serve over the base of your choosing.
Enjoy Your Saucy, Beefy Treat
Armed with the 3 ounce per person guideline, you now know exactly how much ground beef to buy for serving a crowd delicious beef on a bun. This tasty sandwich is sure to satisfy everyone’s craving for a handheld meal. Adapt the serving size based on your bun size, appetites, or dietary preferences for a perfect beefy feast.
Slow Cooker Beef on a Bun Recipe
- ▢ 5 lbs beef – chuck roast round roast,
- ▢ 1 – medium yellow onion finely diced
- ▢ 1 cup -barbecue sauce- I use presidents choice gourmet
- ▢ ½ cup chili sauce * I use Heinz
- ▢ ½ cup brown sugar
- ▢ 2 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- ▢ 2 teaspoon mustard
- ▢ 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ▢ 2 teaspoon -minced garlic
- ▢ 2 teaspoon liquid smoke
- ▢ 1 teaspoon salt
- ▢ 1 ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ▢ 20 buns
- Spray nonstick cooking spray inside the slow cooker and put the meat on the bottom.
- Whisk remaining ingredients together in separate bowl.
- Pour over meat.
- Low for 8 hours or high for 4 to 6 hours, or until beef is soft.
- To shred the beef, take it out of the slow cooker and use two forks. You can also use a mixer (see VIDEO in the notes).
- Return beef to the slow cooker. Mix in the sauce, then remove the fat from the cooking liquid. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until heated through.
- Using a slotted spoon, remove from slow cooker.
- Place meat on each bun.
- Then, if you want, add coleslaw, onions, pickles, pepperoncini, or jalapenos on top.
- Buns: You can use any kind of bun (hamburger, Kaiser, etc.) or my Dinner Buns (Granny Buns) recipe. *I use hamburger buns.
- Any cheap cut of beef, like a round roast, chuck roast, or sirloin tip
- ketchup and an extra teaspoon of chili powder could be used instead of chili sauce. I use Heinz Chili Sauce (affiliate link).
- Apple cider vinegar or regular vinegar mixed with a splash (about 2 tsp) of white wine, if you have it. This is what wine vinegar is.
- Instead of brown sugar, use white sugar and add 1 teaspoon of molasses.
- If you don’t have liquid smoke (affiliate link), leave it out for now. But I do think you should try it—it really does make a difference! You can get it on Amazon or at almost any grocery store.
- You can add pickles or jalapenos, and some people put the coleslaw right on top.
Variations & Substitutions
- You can use any kind of bun (hamburger, Kaiser, etc.) or my Dinner Buns (Granny Buns) recipe. *I use hamburger buns OR make it WW-friendly with a thin bun.
- Beef: round roast, chuck roast, or sirloin tip—Any cheap beef roast will do.
- ketchup and an extra teaspoon of chili powder could be used instead of chili sauce. I use Heinz Chili Sauce (affiliate link).
- Do not use wine vinegar. Instead, use apple cider vinegar or regular vinegar mixed with a splash of white wine, if you have any.
- Instead of brown sugar, use white sugar and add 1 teaspoon of molasses.
- If you don’t have liquid smoke (affiliate link), don’t use it. But if you do have it, use it. It makes a huge difference, and you can find it at almost any grocery store.
- Pickles, jalapenos, or pepperoncini are some of the toppings. Some people put the coleslaw right on top, which is something I love to do.
Traditionally, beef on a bun is served with coleslaw and beans. It seems wrong to suggest anything else, so here are some coleslaw recipes and another side dish I think goes well with this dish:
It is much faster to shred or pull your beef with a stand mixer. If you don’t have a stand mixer, you could use a hand mixer instead, which is what I did. ).
This recipe makes a lot, so if you’re making it for a big group, make the full amount. However, if you are making it for a smaller group, you can reduce the servings. Just click on the blue serving size and choose how many servings you need. The amounts will then change to match!
And if youre looking for an even quicker recipe, try my shortcut version (Speedy Beef on a Bun!) And for even more Stampede recipes, be sure to try my other recipes at the bottom of the recipe card!
Make up to 2 days in advance and store in fridge for up to 3 days after making.
Stampede is on this year, albeit a scaled down version with a few more restrictions. But whether you’re going to Stampede or not, this is the time of year when you’ll probably want Beef on a Bun! Oh, and I can promise you one more thing: this recipe will most definitely satisfy that craving!
Barbecued Roast Beef on a Bun – Food Wishes
FAQ
How many pounds of beef are on a bun per person?
How much beef do I need for a bun for 20 people?
How much does 1lb of beef serve?
|
Boneless Meat
|
Number of People
|
Bone in meat
|
|
1lb / 0.45kg
|
2 – 3
|
|
|
2lb / 0.91kg
|
4 – 5
|
3lb / 1.36kg
|
|
3lb / 1.36kg
|
6 – 7
|
4lb / 1.82kg
|
|
4lb / 1.82kg
|
8 – 9
|
6lb / 2.73kg
|
How much does 5 lbs of ground beef feed?