How Much Meat Do I Need?

It's one of those questions that sounds simple until you're standing there doing math in your head.

There are six adults, two kids, Uncle Joe eats like he's been working in the barn all day, somebody will probably bring a friend...

So, how much meat do you actually need?

There isn't one perfect answer, because families—and appetites—are different. But there are some good rules of thumb that can take most of the guesswork out of it.

And around our table, we'd rather have a little left for tomorrow than have everyone politely staring at the last piece of meat.

Steaks

For boneless steaks, about 8 ounces per adult is a good starting point.

If you're serving a large steak like a porterhouse or a thick ribeye, you can also plan to slice and share—especially when there are plenty of sides.

For kids or lighter eaters, figure closer to 4–6 ounces.

And remember: steak doesn't have to cover half the plate. A good steak with a baked potato, vegetables, salad and some good bread makes a pretty substantial dinner.

Burgers

For standard burgers, plan on about 1/3 pound of ground beef per adult.

If you're making smaller burgers or sliders, you'll obviously use less. If you're feeding a hungry crowd around the grill, having a few extra patties ready isn't a bad idea.

For 10 adults, we'd probably start with around 3½ to 4 pounds of ground beef.

Because somebody almost always wants another burger.

Tacos, Chili & Pasta

When the meat is part of a dish rather than the main event, you can stretch it considerably further.

For tacos, chili, meat sauce, casseroles and similar meals, figure roughly ¼ pound of meat per person.

That means a pound of ground beef can comfortably become dinner for about four people—and sometimes more once you add beans, vegetables, pasta, rice or all those taco toppings.

This is also where leftovers become your friend.

Tonight's taco meat can become tomorrow's nachos surprisingly fast.

Roasts

For a boneless beef or pork roast, a good starting point is about ½ pound of uncooked meat per adult.

If the roast has a bone, you'll want to allow a little more.

And if we're cooking a roast, we're usually intentionally making extra.

Leftover roast beef can become hot sandwiches, beef and noodles, hash or an easy second dinner. Pulled pork can become sandwiches one night and tacos the next.

That's not “leftovers.”

That's having Tuesday partially handled.

Chicken

For boneless chicken breasts or thighs, plan on roughly 6–8 ounces per adult.

For bone-in chicken, allow more because part of that weight isn't edible meat.

If you're serving several other substantial dishes—or feeding smaller appetites—you can reduce that amount a bit.

Feeding a Crowd?

Here's the part no chart can completely account for:

You know your people.

A group of teenagers after a football game is different from six adults having Sunday lunch.

A backyard cookout where people graze for four hours is different from a sit-down dinner.

And a table loaded with potatoes, vegetables, salads, rolls and dessert changes things, too.

So use the numbers as a starting point—not a rule carved in stone.

The Quick Guide

Steak: about 8 oz. per adult
Burgers: about ⅓ lb. per adult
Tacos, chili & pasta: about ¼ lb. per person
Boneless roast: about ½ lb. per adult
Boneless chicken: about 6–8 oz. per adult

Add a little more for big appetites or if you want leftovers.

And shave a little off when you're serving plenty of hearty sides.

Most importantly, don't let the math make dinner complicated.

The point isn't to calculate every plate perfectly.

It's to have enough good food, pull up enough chairs and feed your people.

If there's a little left for tomorrow?

Around here, we'd call that good planning.

There’s Always Room at Our Table.

— Lazy L Ranch Meats