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Catering portion guide

Catering portions chart: food per person, dish by dish

In short

A catering main is about 6 oz of cooked protein per guest, a hot side about 4 to 5 oz, and salad about 4 oz. The number that catches people out is purchase weight: meat loses up to half its weight to trim and cooking, while dry rice and pasta gain weight, so what you order is rarely what you serve.

Planning in a spreadsheet? Download the free catering portions CSV for 25, 50, and 100 guests, including purchase amounts, yield assumptions, and links to each dish guide.

Quick Jump:Half & Full Tray Guide25, 50, 100 Guest ChartMains (20)Sides (10)FAQs

Quick-reference chart

Catering portions for 25, 50, and 100 guests

Use the order amount, not only the served amount, when buying ingredients. The chart accounts for normal trim, cooking loss, or dry-food expansion. Open any dish for its full guest-count table and assumptions.

Catering portion chart showing the per-person serving and purchase quantities for 25, 50, and 100 guests across 23 common dishes.
DishPer personOrder for 25Order for 50Order for 100Trays for 50
Brisketmain5.3 oz served16.6 lbraw packer brisket33.1 lbraw packer brisket66.3 lbraw packer brisket3 full trays
Pulled porkmain5.3 oz served16.6 lbraw bone-in pork shoulder33.1 lbraw bone-in pork shoulder66.3 lbraw bone-in pork shoulder3 full trays
BBQmain6 oz served18.8 lbraw mixed barbecue cuts37.5 lbraw mixed barbecue cuts75 lbraw mixed barbecue cuts3 full trays
Chickenmain6 oz served16.4 lbraw bone-in chicken32.8 lbraw bone-in chicken65.6 lbraw bone-in chicken3 full trays
Turkeymain6 oz served25 lbwhole raw turkey50.1 lbwhole raw turkey100.1 lbwhole raw turkey3 full trays
Hammain5.3 oz served12.4 lbbone-in ham24.8 lbbone-in ham49.7 lbbone-in ham3 full trays
Shrimpmain5 oz served12.5 lbshell-on shrimp25 lbshell-on shrimp50 lbshell-on shrimp2 full + 1 half trays
Deli meatmain3 oz served4.7 lbsliced deli meat9.4 lbsliced deli meat18.8 lbsliced deli meatNot tray-based
Taco meatmain3 oz served6.2 lbraw ground beef12.5 lbraw ground beef24.9 lbraw ground beef2 full + 1 half trays
Meatballsmain5 oz served9.8 lbraw meatball mix19.5 lbraw meatball mix39.1 lbraw meatball mix2 full + 1 half trays
Lasagnamain8 oz served12.5 lbassembled lasagna25 lbassembled lasagna50 lbassembled lasagna4 full + 1 half trays
Baked zitimain8 oz served12.5 lbassembled baked ziti25 lbassembled baked ziti50 lbassembled baked ziti4 full trays
Biryanimain10 oz served15.6 lbfinished biryani31.3 lbfinished biryani62.5 lbfinished biryani4 full trays
Chilimain10 oz (1¼ cups)2 galfinished chili3.9 galfinished chili7.8 galfinished chili2 full + 1 half trays
Soupstarter8 oz (1 cup)1.6 galfinished soup3.1 galfinished soup6.3 galfinished soupNot tray-based
Pizzamain3 slices75 slicesfinished pizza150 slicesfinished pizza300 slicesfinished pizzaNot tray-based
Mashed potatoesside5 oz served9.8 lbraw potatoes19.5 lbraw potatoes39.1 lbraw potatoes2 full + 1 half trays
Mac and cheeseside5 oz served7.8 lbfinished mac and cheese15.6 lbfinished mac and cheese31.3 lbfinished mac and cheese2 full + 1 half trays
Riceside4 oz served2.1 lbdry rice4.1 lbdry rice8.3 lbdry rice2 full trays
Fried riceside5 oz served3.1 lbdry rice6.3 lbdry rice12.5 lbdry rice2 full + 1 half trays
Pastaside4 oz served2.8 lbdry pasta5.6 lbdry pasta11.3 lbdry pasta2 full + 1 half trays
Saladsalad4 oz served7.5 lbwhole lettuce heads15 lbwhole lettuce heads30 lbwhole lettuce heads2 full trays
Gravyside2 oz (¼ cups)1.6 qtfinished gravy3.1 qtfinished gravy1.6 galfinished gravyNot tray-based
Ribsmain6 oz served16.4 lbraw pork rib racks (St. Louis or baby back)32.8 lbraw pork rib racks (St. Louis or baby back)65.6 lbraw pork rib racks (St. Louis or baby back)3 full + 1 half trays
Prime Ribmain8 oz served18.1 lbraw bone-in standing rib roast (USDA Choice)36.3 lbraw bone-in standing rib roast (USDA Choice)72.5 lbraw bone-in standing rib roast (USDA Choice)4 full trays
Salmonmain6 oz served10.8 lbraw skinless salmon sides / fillets21.6 lbraw skinless salmon sides / fillets43.1 lbraw skinless salmon sides / fillets3 full trays
Pork Loinmain5.5 oz served10.7 lbraw boneless center-cut pork loin21.5 lbraw boneless center-cut pork loin43 lbraw boneless center-cut pork loin2 full + 1 half trays
Roast Beefmain5 oz served10.9 lbraw top round or sirloin roast21.9 lbraw top round or sirloin roast43.8 lbraw top round or sirloin roast2 full + 1 half trays
Green Beansside3.5 oz served6.3 lbfresh whole green beans12.6 lbfresh whole green beans25.2 lbfresh whole green beans2 full trays
Coleslawsalad3.5 oz served5.5 lbfinished dressed coleslaw (or shredded cabbage blend)10.9 lbfinished dressed coleslaw (or shredded cabbage blend)21.9 lbfinished dressed coleslaw (or shredded cabbage blend)2 full trays
Potato Saladside4.5 oz served7 lbfinished prepared potato salad14.1 lbfinished prepared potato salad28.1 lbfinished prepared potato salad2 full trays
Baked Beansside4 oz (0.5 cups)3.1 qtfinished seasoned baked beans1.6 galfinished seasoned baked beans3.1 galfinished seasoned baked beans2 full trays
Cornbreadside1.3 slices33 slicesfresh baked cornbread squares65 slicesfresh baked cornbread squares130 slicesfresh baked cornbread squaresNot tray-based

Meat: order amounts include the yield loss listed in each dish guide. Boneless and pre-trimmed cuts may need less.

Rice and pasta: order amounts use dry weight where noted because they gain weight during cooking.

Tray sizes

How many people does a half tray feed?

A half tray feeds 6 to 10 people as a main course and 10 to 14 as a side. A full tray feeds 12 to 20 as a main and 20 to 28 as a side. The spread is the dish, not the pan: a half tray of lasagna is 6 hearty portions, while the same pan holds 12-14 servings of mashed potatoes because nobody takes a lasagna-sized scoop of potato.

These counts assume a standard steam-table pan and a guest going through the line once. If the tray is the only main, or the crowd is teenagers and tailgaters, plan the lower number.

How many servings a half tray and a full tray hold, by dish.
DishServed asHalf tray feedsFull tray feeds
BrisketMain9 guests18 guests
Pulled porkMain9 guests18 guests
BBQMain9 guests18 guests
ChickenMain9 guests18 guests
TurkeyMain9 guests18 guests
HamMain9 guests18 guests
ShrimpMain10 guests20 guests
Taco meatMain10 guests20 guests
MeatballsMain10 guests20 guests
LasagnaMain6 guests12 guests
Baked zitiMain7 guests14 guests
BiryaniMain7 guests14 guests
ChiliMain10 guests20 guests
Mashed potatoesSide11 guests22 guests
Mac and cheeseSide11 guests22 guests
RiceSide12.5 guests25 guests
Fried riceSide11 guests22 guests
PastaSide11 guests22 guests
SaladSalad12.5 guests25 guests
RibsMain8 guests16 guests
Prime RibMain7 guests14 guests
SalmonMain9 guests18 guests
Pork LoinMain10 guests20 guests
Roast BeefMain11 guests22 guests
Green BeansSide14 guests28 guests
ColeslawSalad15 guests30 guests
Potato SaladSide12.5 guests25 guests
Baked BeansSide16 guests32 guests
CornbreadSide12 guests24 guests

Deli meat, pizza, soup, and gravy are not normally tray-served, so they are left out here. Their per-person guides are below.

Mains

Portions and purchase weights for the centre of the plate.

How much brisket per person

For 50 guests: order 33.1 lb, serves 16.6 lb.

How much pulled pork per person

For 50 guests: order 33.1 lb, serves 16.6 lb.

How much BBQ per person

For 50 guests: order 37.5 lb, serves 18.8 lb.

How much chicken per person

For 50 guests: order 32.8 lb, serves 18.8 lb.

How much turkey per person

For 50 guests: order 50.1 lb, serves 18.8 lb.

How much ham per person

For 50 guests: order 24.8 lb, serves 16.6 lb.

How much shrimp per person

For 50 guests: order 25 lb, serves 15.6 lb.

How much deli meat per person

For 50 guests: order 9.4 lb, serves 9.4 lb.

How much taco meat per person

For 50 guests: order 12.5 lb, serves 9.4 lb.

How much meatballs per person

For 50 guests: order 19.5 lb, serves 15.6 lb.

How much lasagna per person

For 50 guests: order 25 lb, serves 25 lb.

How much baked ziti per person

For 50 guests: order 25 lb, serves 25 lb.

How much biryani per person

For 50 guests: order 31.3 lb, serves 31.3 lb.

How much chili per person

For 50 guests: order 3.9 gal, serves 3.9 gal.

How much pizza per person

For 50 guests: order 150 slices, serves 150 slices.

How much ribs per person

For 50 guests: order 32.8 lb, serves 18.8 lb.

How much prime rib per person

For 50 guests: order 36.3 lb, serves 25 lb.

How much salmon per person

For 50 guests: order 21.6 lb, serves 18.8 lb.

How much pork loin per person

For 50 guests: order 21.5 lb, serves 17.2 lb.

How much roast beef per person

For 50 guests: order 21.9 lb, serves 15.6 lb.

Sides

Starches and hot sides, planned alongside a main.

How much mashed potatoes per person

For 50 guests: order 19.5 lb, serves 15.6 lb.

How much mac and cheese per person

For 50 guests: order 15.6 lb, serves 15.6 lb.

How much rice per person

For 50 guests: order 4.1 lb, serves 12.5 lb.

How much fried rice per person

For 50 guests: order 6.3 lb, serves 15.6 lb.

How much pasta per person

For 50 guests: order 5.6 lb, serves 12.5 lb.

How much gravy per person

For 50 guests: order 3.1 qt, serves 3.1 qt.

How much green beans per person

For 50 guests: order 12.6 lb, serves 10.9 lb.

How much potato salad per person

For 50 guests: order 14.1 lb, serves 14.1 lb.

How much baked beans per person

For 50 guests: order 1.6 gal, serves 1.6 gal.

How much cornbread per person

For 50 guests: order 65 slices, serves 65 slices.

Salads

Cold sides, where trim loss is the thing to watch.

How much salad per person

For 50 guests: order 15 lb, serves 12.5 lb.

How much coleslaw per person

For 50 guests: order 10.9 lb, serves 10.9 lb.

Starters

Served before the main, so portions run smaller.

How much soup per person

For 50 guests: order 3.1 gal, serves 3.1 gal.

Frequently asked questions

Catering portioning FAQs

How many people does a half tray feed?

A half tray feeds 6 to 10 people as a main course (such as lasagna, baked ziti, or pulled pork) and 10 to 14 people as a hot side dish (such as mashed potatoes or mac and cheese).

How many people does a full tray feed?

A full tray feeds 12 to 20 people as a main course and 20 to 28 people as a side dish or salad, assuming a standard steam table pan depth.

How much meat per person should you plan for catering?

Plan for 6 to 8 oz of cooked meat per adult guest for a main course. When ordering raw meat, factor in trim and cooking yield: raw brisket loses 40-50% of its weight, raw pork shoulder loses 35-40%, and boneless chicken breast loses 20-25%.

How many trays of food do I need for 50 guests?

For 50 guests with a standard buffet (1 main + 2 sides), plan for 3 to 4 full trays of main protein and 4 to 5 half trays (or 2 to 3 full trays) of each side dish.

What is the general rule of thumb for buffet catering portions?

A reliable catering standard is 1 to 1.25 lbs (16 to 20 oz) of total prepared food per adult, split into 6–8 oz protein, 4–6 oz starches/sides, 3–4 oz vegetables/salad, and 2–3 oz dessert.

Planning a full menu?

These charts cover one dish at a time. The catering food calculator takes your whole dish list and guest count and returns quantities, trays, and a cost range together.

Open the catering food calculator

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