Planning a dinner party or event for 50 guests can seem like a daunting task, especially when it comes to figuring out food quantities Chicken is often a crowd-pleasing protein option, but determining how much chicken to cook for a large group requires careful calculation
As an event host you want to make sure you cook enough chicken so there are generous portions for all your guests. However you also want to avoid being stuck with a refrigerator full of leftovers. Striking the right balance takes some strategic planning.
In this comprehensive guide we’ll walk through the key factors to consider when calculating how many pieces of chicken to cook for 50 guests. Follow our tips and you’ll be able to serve up a delicious chicken feast without the stress of shortages or waste.
The Basics: Estimate 2 Pieces Per Person
As a general rule of thumb, plan on serving approximately 2 pieces of chicken per person. For a group of 50 people, this means you’ll need about 100 pieces of chicken. This provides a reasonable portion size for most adult guests.
However, simply multiplying your guest count by 2 pieces is just a starting point. You’ll want to fine-tune this number based on several factors:
Factor #1: The Age of Your Guests
The ages of your guests is an important consideration. If children will be present, keep in mind that kids typically eat less than adults. For kids, plan on 1 piece of chicken each.
For example, if you have 35 adults and 15 kids, you’d need:
- 35 adults x 2 pieces = 70 pieces
- 15 kids x 1 piece = 15 pieces
- Total = 85 pieces
Adjust the adult portion up or down for older or younger guests. Teen boys for instance may eat closer to 3 pieces each.
Factor #2: Other Menu Options
Take a look at the rest of your menu. Are you serving other substantial proteins like beef or fish? Or lots of hearty sides? In that case, you may be able to reduce the chicken portion to 1.5 pieces per person.
On the flip side, if chicken is the main event, or you’re only serving lighter sides, plan on the full 2 pieces or maybe even 2.5 per guest.
I like to think about the overall bulk and protein content of the full menu when estimating chicken quantities.
Factor #3: Type of Chicken Pieces
The type of chicken you choose also affects how much you need to buy. For example, bone-in, skin-on pieces like drumsticks and thighs are bigger and heavier than boneless, skinless breasts.
If you’re serving a mix of breast meat, thighs, drumsticks, and wings, 2 average-sized pieces per person is a safe bet. If you’re only doing boneless breasts, you may want smaller 4 oz portions.
Factor #4: Time of Day
Is your party a lunch or dinner? As a general rule, people consume less food at lunch compared to an evening dinner party. For a lunch event, consider scaling back to 1.5 pieces of chicken per person.
An early afternoon brunch gathering might call for even smaller portions, like 1 breast or thigh per guest.
Factor #5: Appetites and Dietary Needs
If possible, get a sense of your guests’ appetites. Are there big chicken lovers in the group? Or a lot of dainty eaters? This will help you gauge portion sizes.
And importantly, find out if any guests are vegetarian/vegan so you can reduce the chicken amount and offer meatless options. Food allergies are also critical to be aware of.
Ordering Tips for 50 People
Once you’ve estimated the number of chicken pieces needed, it’s time to place your order or shop for your chicken. Here are some useful chicken ordering tips:
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Buy in bulk – check restaurant supply stores or wholesale clubs for deals on bulk chicken. Buying a larger quantity can save significantly per pound.
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Whole chickens – roasting 10-12 whole chickens is budget-friendly and impressive. But allow time for carving.
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Get a mix of cuts – order a variety of breast, thigh, drumstick and wing pieces to please all guests. Aim for 50% white meat, 50% dark.
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Estimate 1.5 lbs per person – when buying boneless chicken breast, plan on around 1.5 lbs per person if chicken is the star of the show.
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Leave a buffer – order 5-10% more chicken than your guest count estimate to be safe. You can always save leftovers.
Chicken Cookery for a Crowd
Once you’ve got your chicken, proper preparation and cooking is key to serving 50 people. Here are some handy chicken cookery tips:
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Prep ahead – marinate chicken a day or two ahead. Chop vegetables for sides in advance.
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Use multiple ovens/grills – coordinate cooking in phases across different equipment to get food out hot and fast.
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Cook thoroughly – use a meat thermometer to confirm chicken reaches safe 165°F internal temperature.
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Keep it warm – use chafing dishes and warming trays to keep cooked chicken hot until serving time.
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Moisturize – baste chicken and keep it covered during cooking to prevent it drying out.
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Offer sauce – have extra BBQ sauce, sriracha mayo, etc on hand so guests can add flavor.
Plan for Leftovers
Even with the most careful calculations, you’ll likely end up with some leftover chicken when cooking for 50. Planning ahead for extras makes handling leftovers easy:
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Pack up chicken in resealable containers for guests to take home.
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Repurpose extras into sandwiches, salads, casseroles, soups.
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Portion and freeze leftovers for quick future meals. Chicken keeps 2-6 months in the freezer.
The More the Merrier
When cooking chicken for 50 guests, don’t stress about getting the exact right quantity. The joy of a dinner party is bringing people together to enjoy each other’s company and your tasty food.
Having a little extra chicken is always preferable to leaving guests hungry. So be generous with your portions, and get ready to make some delicious memories together!
Here is a quick recap of how much chicken to cook for 50 guests:
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Start with 2 pieces per person (100 pieces for 50 people)
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Adjust for kids, other menu options, and appetites
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Aim for a mix of white and dark meat pieces
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Allow 1.5 lbs boneless chicken per person
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Add a buffer for safety
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Prep and cook chicken properly in batches
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Have leftovers plan ready
With this handy guide, you can confidently plan a chicken dinner for 50 without any shortage or waste worries. Now get cooking!
❓How much chicken to cook
Assume about 1½ to 2 pieces of trimmed chicken per person. After trimming, you will get 3 to 4 pieces per pound of raw split chicken breasts and drumsticks.
- For 20 people, cook 30 to 40 trimmed pieces from about 8 to 10 pounds of chicken.
- For 25 people, cook 37 to 50 trimmed pieces from about 10 to 13 pounds of chicken.
- For 50 people, cook 75 to 100 trimmed pieces from about 20 to 25 pounds of chicken.
- For 100 people, cook 150 to 200 trimmed pieces from about 40 to 50 pounds of chicken.
The amount you need to cook will vary depending on the number of side dishes and other options that are also served. Due to the number of other dishes, I initially cooked 150 pieces for 100 people.
The Recipe Card with Step-by-Step Instructions
CHICKEN CURRY RECIPE FOR 50 PEOPLE | 01/07/2022 | #35thvideo #chickencurry
FAQ
How many pieces of chicken will feed 50 people?
| FOOD | SERVE 25 | SERVE 50 |
|---|---|---|
| Meats | ||
| Chicken or turkey breast | 8–9 pounds | 16–18 pounds |
| Fish (fillets or steaks) | 7-1/2 pounds | 15 pounds |
| Hamburgers | 6-1/2–9-1/2 pounds | 13–15 pounds |
How much chicken do I need for 50 people?
If you’re serving a buffet-style meal, you can estimate slightly less, 110-140 grams per person. For example: If you plan to serve chicken as the main course, you will need around 11-14 kilograms of chicken for 50 people if serving a plated meal.
How many chickens do you need to feed 50 people?
Serving Sizes for Different Gatherings
Medium gathering (20-30 people): 10-15 pounds of bone-in chicken or 6-8 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Large gathering (30-50 people): 15-25 pounds of bone-in chicken or 10-12 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
How many pieces of chicken do you need for 40 people?
Assume about 1½ to 2 pieces of trimmed chicken per person.
How much chicken do you need for a party?
That’s because each person will need around half a pound of chicken to ensure they have enough to eat. Meanwhile, for a party of 50 guests, you’ll need at least 25 pounds of boneless chicken. For a party of 25 guests, you should plan to buy at least 19 pounds of chicken with bones.
How many chicken breasts do I need for 50 people?
To serve 50 people, you will need to double the ingredients for 100. Each person will receive 2 pieces of chicken. If desired, pound 100 chicken breasts to an even thickness for even cooking and easier serving. Combine flour, salt, pepper, and cheese in a large bowl.
How much chicken do you serve per person?
When calculating chicken per person, start with half a pound of boneless chicken for each guest. If you are serving chicken with bones, plan for three-quarters of a pound per person. Adjust the amount as needed depending on the size and hunger level of your guests.
How much shredded chicken do I need for 100 guests?
As The Main Ingredient: You’ll need to prepare a whole 50 pounds of shredded chicken for your 100 guests. Get yourself ready, because if you’re using chicken breasts that’s about 60 average sized chicken breasts!
How much chicken do I need for a large group?
Plan to prepare 14 pound of chicken per person. About two cups of pulled chicken can be made from one pound of chicken. Don’t worry if you overestimate when preparing for a large group so you have enough food. How many pieces of chicken do I need for 30 people? How much chicken do I need to feed 60 people?
How much chicken per person in a pound?
In case you’re wondering how much chicken to use, aim for ⅙ of a pound per person if meat is accounting for about half of everything. So, that’s roughly 2-3 ounces of chicken per person. A pound of chicken in a pasta recipe (like our Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Spaghetti) will serve about 6 lovely people.