How Much Food to Serve at a Party

Few disasters can sink a party quicker than a shortage of food and beverages. It’s impossible to relax at a pool party when guests are parched, and a picnic will come to a close to if the basket is short a few sandwiches. That’s why a savvy host always plans ahead to ensure there are ample beverages, plenty of tempting sides and an abundance of meat, whether they’re organizing a potluck or a cookout.

Here’s how much food and how many drinks to serve at your summer get-together. No matter how small or large a party you’re expecting, our handy charts illustrate how much to plan for each course.

How Many Drinks to Serve

Naturally, the number of drinks you’ll need depends on the type of event you’re hosting. A kids birthday party is obviously going to call for more juice or soda, while an adults-only party may lean toward the boozy end. Likewise, daytime events are usually drier than late-night bashes. A party with a shorter time frame, like a church picnic, will drain fewer drinks than an open-ended event that may last for hours.

Crucially, if you’re hosting outdoors in hot weather—day or night, for all ages and occasions—be sure to have plenty of hydrating beverages, including cold water and juice. Or, find a happy medium and make a big pitcher of fruit-infused water.

No matter what type of event, the more options you offer, the fewer of each you’ll need. This chart assumes that you’re only serving one type of alcohol. If you’re serving several options, reduce the quantity of each.

A special note for cocktails: Expect guests to drink about one to two cocktails in the first hour, and fewer after that. Plan on 1.5 ounces of liquor per drink; a 750mL bottle makes about 16 drinks. Offer mixers to go with the liquor, such as tonic, cranberry juice and orange juice. If you want to serve cocktails, make things simple by choosing a signature cocktail recipe and making a big batch.

How Many Appetizers to Make

Good appetizers are so tasty that guests may be tempted to gobble them up! If you’re serving dinner, stick to about six appetizers per person. That should be enough to satisfy, but not to spoil appetites for your delicious main course. If apps are the only food on offer, plan on serving about twice as many. It’s a good idea to augment your appetizers with easy snacks you can buy in bulk, such as nuts, olives and pretzels. That will reduce both your costs and the amount of cooking you need to do.

How Much Meat to Serve

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This one’s for the barbecue masters. Supplying enough meat for every guest is a point of honor, whether you’re flipping burgers, searing brats or smoking barbecue ribs. Plan for every guest to eat a little bit more than they would at an ordinary meal—your party is a special occasion, after all! It’s better to have extra (meat freezes well) than to run out.

Remember, our chart assumes that you’re planning just one meat option. If you’re serving a few, you’ll need less of each. The recommendations are geared toward adult guests; children will eat about half as much. And, finally, we assume smaller portions (think baby back ribs and chicken wings or drumsticks). If you’re serving hearty portions (like chicken breasts or hefty burgers), you’ll be safe with the smaller end of the suggested range.

How Many Sides to Make

Even though meat may be the main event, don’t underestimate the importance of good side dishes. Sides are a great way to include seasonal produce. It’s easy to make vegetarian sides or gluten-free options so everyone at the party feels included. Consider at least two sides, so you can feature a variety of ingredients, textures and temperatures. Think creamy, cheesy macaroni and crunchy, fresh coleslaw. Our favorite barbecue sides include indulgent favorites as well as fresh, light dishes. (Psst: Here’s a good way to keep cold food cold.).

How Many Desserts to Have

You know your guests will save room for dessert! It can be simple to serve something sweet: bar desserts and sheet cakes feed a crowd and keep well. If you’re offering a sliced dessert like cake, expect guests to take one piece each. Serve-yourself items, like cookies, are a bit looser when it comes to quantities.