How Much BBQ Do You Need to Cater? A Per-Person Guide for Indianapolis Events
Few questions come up more when planning a party than "How much food do we actually need?" Order too little and your guests are hunting for seconds. Order too much and you're eating brisket for a week. (That may not be the worst thing ever)
We cater events all around Indianapolis and the surrounding areas, so we've fine-tuned these numbers over a lot of weddings, graduation parties, company lunches, and family reunions. Here's how to figure out the right amount of BBQ for your crowd.
The Quick Answer
For a standard BBQ meal, plan on ¼ - ½ pound of cooked meat per adult. If your guests are big eaters, you're serving meat-forward plates with lighter sides, or the event runs long, bump that to ¾ pound per adult.
Portions by Meat
The numbers below are cooked weight per person. They assume a main meal with sides and buns to make sandwiches.
Meat | Per Adult (Cooked) |
Pulled pork | ¼ lb |
Sliced brisket | ½ lb |
Pulled chicken | ¼ lb |
Ribs | 3 to 4 ribs or 3-4 people per rack |
Serving more than one meat? You don't quite need the full amount of each. If you offer two or three meats, plan on a bit less for each item. Guests will usually take a little of everything rather than a full portion of each.
Don't Forget the Sides
Sides fill plates, and they stretch your budget. A good rule is 2 to 3 sides per meal.
Classic picks: mac and cheese, baked beans, coleslaw, cornbread, green beans.
Buns: we usually plan on 1 per person unless you know your group better.
Why Cooked Weight Matters
Here's something that surprises a lot of people. Brisket and pork shoulder lose roughly 40 to 50 percent of their weight during smoking as fat renders and moisture cooks off. A 20-pound raw brisket may yield only 10 to 11 pounds of sliced meat.
When you compare catering quotes, be sure to check whether the portions are listed by raw or cooked weight. It makes a big difference to how much food actually lands on your guests' plates. We always quote you based on the cooked weight that will arrive at your event.
Adjust for Your Guests and Your Event
Every crowd is a little different. Consider these factors before you finalize your headcount:
Kids: children under 12 typically eat about half an adult portion.
Teens and athletes: treat them as big eaters and plan for the higher end.
Time of day: dinner crowds eat more than a mid-afternoon open house.
Other food: if you're also serving appetizers, desserts, or a full bar with snacks, you can trim the meat a bit.
Event length: a four-hour party means guests come back for seconds. A 90-minute lunch usually doesn't.
Your guest list: think about who's coming. A group of linemen after a long day eats differently than a bridal shower.
When in doubt, a little extra is always better than running short. Leftover pulled pork never goes to waste.
Planning Tips From the Pros
Use your confirmed headcount, not your invite list. Not everyone shows, and RSVPs help you avoid over-ordering. We will work with you to finalize your numbers about a week prior to your event date.
Offer a variety. Two meats and three sides usually satisfies everyone without overcomplicating the menu..
Book early. Popular dates, especially graduation season, wedding weekends, and the holidays, fill up quickly. A 50% Deposit holds your event date and time slot.
Let Us Do the Math for You
You don't have to be a numbers person to plan a great BBQ event. Tell us your date, headcount, and your desired menu items, and we'll recommend the perfect amount of food for your crowd, whether you're in Indianapolis, Carmel, Fishers, Greenwood, or anywhere in our service area.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much BBQ do I need for 50 people? Plan on about 25 pounds of cooked meat, or up to 37 pounds if your guests have big appetites. Our Side Items are priced per person so you don’t need to do hard math.
How much pulled pork per person for a sandwich? We typically figure about ¼ pound of cooked pulled pork or pulled chicken per sandwich is plenty. If you’re worried that isn’t enough for your group, just let us know and we will be happy to bump up the portions per
person..
Do I need to order extra for leftovers? Not necessarily. Ordering for your confirmed headcount plus a small cushion of about 10 percent covers most events. The real question is, Do you want leftovers?
Can you cater events outside Indianapolis? Yes. We serve customers throughout the central Indiana area and beyond. Just know that an extra delivery charge will apply for those out of town events.
Do you have additional questions? Give is a call anytime at 317-500-4321
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