Planning to host dinner for 20 adults but unsure about how much chicken to make? Getting the portions right is crucial for a successful meal, You want to ensure every guest gets enough to eat without having loads of leftovers,
As an avid home cook and entertainer, I’ve learned some key tips for calculating chicken quantities over the years. In this article, I’ll share everything you need to know to determine the perfect chicken amount for your 20 adult guests.
Key Factors to Consider
Here are the main things that affect chicken amounts per person
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Type of event – Formal dinners generally need smaller portions than backyard BBQs or game-day parties where people tend to eat more.
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Meal time – Serving chicken for dinner usually requires larger portions than at lunchtime.
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Chicken parts – Breasts, thighs, drumsticks etc. have different serving sizes.
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Side dishes – When other protein options are available, you may need less chicken per person.
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Guest demographics – Men often consume more than women. Kids eat less than adults.
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Dietary needs – Adjust for vegetarian, gluten-free, or other special diets.
While these factors make it tricky to provide a one-size-fits-all amount, I’ll share some general guidelines to get you started.
Recommended Amount of Chicken Per Person
For a standard dinner party, plan for:
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6-8 oz boneless chicken breast per adult
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1 chicken leg or thigh per person
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2-3 chicken wings per person
As a general rule of thumb:
- Each adult guest will consume approximately 1⁄4 of a whole chicken
So for 20 adults you’ll need about 5 whole chickens total.
To be safe, I recommend getting 10-12 pounds of boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs. This allows 6-8 ounces per person, with a little extra as insurance.
For bone-in chicken parts, use this handy chart:
| Number of Adults | Legs/Thighs | Wings |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 20-30 pieces | 40-60 pieces |
Serving Different Chicken Dishes
Here are some specific guidelines for different chicken preparations:
Fried Chicken
Fried chicken is a crowd favorite, so allow for larger portions:
- 3-4 drumsticks per person
- 4-5 wings per person
- 2-3 thighs or breasts per person
With 20 guests, that’s about 60 drumsticks, 80-100 wings, and 40-60 thighs/breasts.
BBQ Chicken
For more casual BBQs, plan for 1/3 to 1/2 pound of chicken per adult. For 20 people, that’s 7-10 pounds of chicken total.
Healthier Chicken
For lower-calorie or gluten/dairy-free needs:
- Focus on lean breasts instead of legs and wings
- Use skinless chicken or remove skin before cooking
- 8 ounces boneless skinless breasts per person
So for 20 guests, aim for around 10 pounds of skinless breasts.
Cooking Time and Preparation
Cooking chicken for large groups takes some advance planning:
- Marinating: At least 4 hours for flavor infusion
- Prep time: 1 hour for seasoning, cutting, etc.
- Cooking: Varies by method (see estimates below)
- Resting: 10-15 mins before serving for juicier meat
- Serving setup: 30-45 mins for presentation
Here are approximate cooking times:
| Cook Method | Time for 10 lb Chicken |
|---|---|
| Oven baked | About 1 hour |
| Grilled | 15-20 minutes per batch |
| Air fried | 1 3/4 hours (in batches) |
| Deep fried | 45 minutes to 1 hour |
Side Dishes and Menu Planning
Complement your chicken with classic pairings:
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Fried chicken – Biscuits, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, cornbread
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BBQ chicken – Potato salad, baked beans, grilled veggies
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Healthy chicken – Green salad, roasted veggies, whole grains
For a foolproof feast, offer a mix of cold and hot sides to please all preferences.
Making Leftovers and Limiting Waste
To avoid waste while ensuring satisfied guests:
- Carefully calculate quantities using the portion guidelines
- Have storage containers ready for leftovers
- Repurpose extras into sandwiches, soups, etc.
- Send guests home with any remaining chicken
It’s better to have a little too much than not enough. For peace of mind, I recommend rounding up portions by 10-15%.
The Bottom Line
When hosting dinner for 20 adults, plan for about 10-12 pounds of boneless chicken or 5 whole cut-up chickens. Adjust amounts based on your menu, guest appetites, and other key factors. Following these chicken quantity tips will ensure you serve the perfect portions for a successful dinner party.
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How Many Chicken Breasts Per Person
Anywhere from 4 to 6 ounces of boneless, skinless chicken breasts is enough for one adult and half that amount for kids.
Most people are used to being served a single chicken breast on a plate; and while some pieces are cut into a 6-ounce portion, others can be up to 10 ounces in weight!
One thing to try with the larger chicken breast pieces when you want to serve a breast-shaped piece of chicken is to butterfly the chicken breast. This creates two equally sized portions out of one large breast.
If you’re making my juicy baked chicken breasts you’re definitely going to want a little more than a 4-ounce serving, and that’s perfectly okay.
Boneless Skinless Chicken breasts: 4 to 6 ounces per adult | 4 ounces per child
If you plan on cooking split chicken breasts, which come with the bone in and skin on, these have about 12 ounces worth of meat since they include the underside of the breast and part of the rib meat.
Bone-In Split breasts: 8 ounces per adult | 6 ounces per child (includes bone-weight)
Split breasts are larger and are great for cooking chicken in bulk to make a batch of shredded chicken for soups, tacos, and pasta.
How Much Chicken to Cook Per Person
The amount of chicken to cook per person depends on whether it’s the main dish or a part of the meal.
If chicken is the main entree, like these pan-seared chicken breasts, you can plan on 4 to 6 ounces per person.
It can also vary based on the number of side dishes you plan to serve.
If chicken is being added to pasta or stew, then you might not need a generous amount. In these cases 3 to 4 ounces per person is plenty.
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*The following serving amounts are based on the average cut of chicken but keep in mind the sizes can drastically vary. Some cuts will be much larger and yield more than the suggested 4 to 6 ounces of cooked meat. You can check the weight of the package and go from there, or if you need specific amounts get chicken from behind the meat counter.
How to Cook the Perfect Chicken Breast
FAQ
How much chicken do I need for 20 people?
How many people does a 5lb chicken feed?
A 5-pound chicken can generally feed 4 to 6 people, depending on appetites and whether it’s the main course or part of a larger meal, according to The Spruce Eats and other sources. If it’s the main dish, you might lean towards feeding 4 people.
How many chickens for 20 adults?
How many chickens would be needed to feed 20 people at a party? We went with 1/4 per person plus 3 x sides when we catered out engagement party plus dessert. A quarter to half a chook per person depending on sides!
How many pounds of pulled chicken do I need for 20 people?
Smoked whole chickens that are pulled, includes white and dark meat. Our Full tray of Pulled Chicken on average will feed 20-30 people. We estimate a third of a pound per person to go, so if you have big eaters grab some more food to go!
How much chicken should a 20 year old eat?
For 20 adults, you will need approximately 10-12 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs. This would allow each adult to have a portion size of around 6-8 ounces of chicken. Remember to adjust the quantity based on the specific dish you are preparing and consider any additional protein sources if necessary.
How much chicken do you eat per person?
The average adult will eat approximately 1/4 of a whole chicken or 2-3 pieces of bone-in chicken. For boneless chicken breasts, plan on 1.5-2 pieces per person. For boneless thigh meat, allocate about 6 ounces of cooked meat (or 1/2 pound raw) per guest. Quick Reference: For a standard meal, plan for 1/4 chicken per person.
How much chicken do I need to serve 20 people?
To determine the total amount of chicken needed to serve 20 adults, you first need to consider the recommended portion size for each individual. On average, a typical serving size of chicken per person is about 6-8 ounces. Multiply this amount by the number of guests to get an estimate of the total weight required.
How many ounces of chicken do I Need?
On average, a typical serving size of chicken per person is about 6-8 ounces. Multiply this amount by the number of guests to get an estimate of the total weight required. In this case, for 20 adults, you would need approximately 120-160 ounces of chicken.
How many chicken thighs per person?
If you are making fried chicken thighs, then you need 2-3 pieces per person for a full meal or 1 piece per serving for a simple appetizer. If you plan on using the thigh as part of a dish such as butter chicken or noodles, you need at least 1 boneless, skinless thigh per serving. How Many Chicken Wings Per Person?
How much chicken should I buy?
Knowing how much chicken to purchase for your desired number of servings is crucial when cooking. As a general rule of thumb, one pound of boneless, skinless chicken typically should provide around 3 to 4 servings, but several factors can affect this estimate, such as cut and serving size.