Food Planning Guide For A Crowd

Our chart takes the guesswork out of how much food you will need to serve a large group, army of family or just some friends.. Keep in mind that the number of servings does not necessarily mean the number of guests served. So, consider the appetites and eating habits of your guests when figuring the number of servings needed.

Food Item	1 Serving	12 Servings	24 Servings	48 Servings
Bacon or Sausage (strips/links/patties)	2	24	48	96
Cheese Slices	1 ounce	1 pound	2 pounds	4 pounds
Meat Cold Cuts	2 1/2 ounces	2 pounds	4 pounds	8 pounds
Meat, Poultry and Fish (boneless)	1/4 pound	3 pounds	6 pounds	14 pounds
Meat, Poultry and Shellfish (bone-in, unshelled)	3/4 pound	9 pounds	18 pounds	36 pounds
Potato Salad, Baked Beans or Coleslaw	1/2 cup	1 1/2 quarts	3 quarts	1 1/2 gallons
Chicken Salad (Main Dish)	1 cup	3 quarts	1 1/2 gallons	3 gallons
Chicken Salad (Side Dish)	1/2 cup	1 1/2 quarts	3 quarts	1 1/2 gallons
Tossed Salad	1 1/2 cups	4 1/2 quarts	9 quarts	4 1/2 gallons
Salad Dressing	2 tablespoons	1 1/2 cups	3 cups	1 1/2 quarts
Dip	2 tablespoons	1 1/2 cups	3 cups	6 cups
Fruit or Vegetable Dippers	4 pieces	4 dozen	8 dozen	16 dozen
Chips	1 ounce	14 ounces	1 1/2 pounds	3 pounds
Crackers	4 crackers	8 ounces	1 pound	2 pounds
Rolls	1 1/2 rolls	2 dozen	3 dozen	6 dozen
Muffins	1 muffin	1 dozen	2 dozen	4 dozen
Toast	2 slices	One 1 1/2- pound loaf	Two 1 1/2-pound loaves	Four 1 1/2 pound loaves
Cakes, 14 x 9", 14-cup Ring or 9" Layer	1/16 cake	1 cake	2 cakes	3 cakes
Cookies	2	2 dozen	4 dozen	8 dozen
Ice Cream	1/2 cup	2 quarts	1 gallon	2 gallons
Coffee, Brewed	3/4 cup	9 cups water	18 cups water	36 cups water
Ground Coffee		(1 1/2 cups)	(3 cups)	(5 cups)
Tea, Brewed	3/4 cup	9 cups water	18 cups water	36 cups water
Loose Tea		(1/4 cup)	(1/2 cup)	(1 cup)
Tea Bags		(14 bags)	(24 bags)	(48 bags)
Fruit Juice or Punch	1/2 cup	1 1/2 quarts	3 quarts	1 1/2 gallons
Iced Tea or Milk	1 cup	3 quarts	1 1/2 gallons	3 gallons
Mineral Water	8 ounces	3 quarts	6 quarts	14 quarts
Ice	4 ounces	3 pounds	6 pounds	14 pounds

Plan on one drink per hour per guest, unless it's a very hot day, then plan on two.

Fruits	Approximate Yield
Cantaloupe, 4-pound	36 chunks
Grapes, 1 pound seedless	12 to 15 clusters
Honeydew melon, 2-pound	36 chunks
Pineapple, 3- to 4-pound	40 chunks
Strawberries, 1 pound large	20 to 25 berries
Watermelon wedge, 4 to 5-pound	48 chunks
Vegetables	Approximate Yield
Asparagus, 1 pound	30 to 45 spears
Bell pepper, 1 large	24 strips, 3 1/2x1/2"
Broccoli or cauliflower, 2 pounds	32 flowerets, 1 1/4"
Carrots, 1 pound	65 sticks, 3x1/2"
Celery, 4 medium stalks	33 sticks, 4x1/2"
Cucumbers, 2 large	45 sticks, 4x3/4"
Mushrooms, 1 pound	20 medium
Chinese pea pods, 4 ounces	30 pea pods
Zucchini, 3 medium	35 slices, 1/2"
Salad Greens	Bite-Size Pieces
Boston lettuce, 1/2-pound head	6 cups
Iceberg lettuce, 1 1/2-pound head	12 cups
Leaf lettuce, 1-pound bunch	8 cups
Romaine, 1 1/2-pound bunch	12 cups
Spinach, 3/4-pound bunch	8 cups