How Much Pulled Pork for Tacos Do You Need for 50 Guests?

Planning to make pulled pork tacos for a crowd? Figuring out how much meat you need can be tricky. You want to make sure you have enough so everyone gets their fill of delicious tacos, but you also don’t want to be stuck with pounds of leftover pork.

When cooking for a group, especially a large one like 50 people, calculating portions and amounts is key. With some simple math and planning, you can figure out exactly how much pulled pork you need for tacos for 50 guests.

The Basic Formula

The basic formula for figuring out how much pulled pork you need is

• Count the number of guests
• Decide how many tacos each person will eat (on average)
• Determine how much pulled pork goes in each taco
• Do the math

So for a group of 50 people here’s how to break it down

Step 1: Count Your Guests

For this example, there are 50 guests coming to the taco party.

Step 2: Portion Size

How many tacos will each person eat? For a meal, plan for 2-3 tacos per person. To be on the safe side, let’s plan for 3 tacos per guest.

Step 3: Meat Per Taco

How much pulled pork should go in each taco? About 1/3 pound of cooked pork is a good amount.

Step 4: The Math

• 50 guests
• 3 tacos each
• 1/3 pound pork per taco
• 50 x 3 = 150 tacos
• 150 tacos x 1/3 pound = 50 pounds of cooked pulled pork

So for 50 guests having 3 tacos each, you’ll need about 50 pounds of cooked pulled pork.

But remember pork shoulder loses about half its weight when it’s cooked low and slow to make pulled pork. So you’ll actually need about 100 pounds of raw pork shoulder to end up with 50 pounds of pulled pork after cooking.

Buying the Pork

To get 100 pounds of raw pork shoulder, you’ll need to go to a butcher shop or warehouse club. Grocery stores don’t usually stock cuts that large.

Opt for a bone-in pork shoulder, also called a pork butt or Boston butt. It has great marbling which keeps the pork moist and tasty. You can also use a picnic shoulder.

Get all the pork from the same cut of shoulder so it cooks evenly. Plan to rub the pork with spices and let it marinate overnight before cooking.

Cooking the Pork

To cook 100 pounds of pork, you’ll need a very large smoker or you’ll have to cook it in batches. Allow 1-1.5 hours of smoking time per pound.

Use indirect heat, maintaining a temperature between 225-275°F. Hickory, apple, or cherry wood chips give great flavor. Spritz the pork with apple juice or cider every hour for moisture.

Cook until the internal temp reaches 200-205°F. The pork should shred easily. Allow it to rest 30 minutes before pulling.

Pulling the Pork

Once cooked, the pork needs to be hand pulled or shredded with bear claws. Add your favorite BBQ sauce or the pork juices to keep it moist.

Portion the pork into bags or containers for easy serving. Label with the weight so you know how much is there. Keep it refrigerated until the taco party.

Serving the Tacos

When it’s go time, set up a taco bar with warmed tortillas, shredded cabbage, pico de gallo, guacamole, cheese and any other favorite toppings.

Reheat the pulled pork in pans on the stove with a little water or broth to moisten.

Keep the pork warm in slow cookers or chafing dishes as guests build their tacos.

Monitor the servings and refill as needed so the last guests get as much pork as the first.

Planning Makes Perfect Pork Tacos

Cooking pulled pork for a crowd takes some work, but following this formula will ensure you make enough for everyone. The key is planning ahead and buying the right amount of meat.

With 100 pounds of pork shoulder, you’ll end up with roughly 50 pounds of cooked, pulled pork – enough for 50 guests to each have 3 tasty tacos! Proper planning prevents poor pork portions.

So do the math, shop smart, prep well and your crowd will be thoroughly enjoying your tasty tacos. Just be ready for the rave reviews and requests for your top secret taco recipes after this successful shindig!