Summertime Meals to Feed a Crowd
Mostly commonly-served summer foods
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Whether you’re having a family reunion or a backyard gathering, it can be tricky to figure out how much food to feed a crowd.
You don’t want to run short, and yet you’d rather not blow your food budget on one meal. Here’s a look at the most commonly-served summer foods, and an estimate for what you’ll need to feed a large (and often ever-growing) group!
| FOOD/DRINK |
TO SERVE
12 |
TO SERVE
20 |
TO SERVE
35 |
TO SERVE
50 |
TO SERVE
65 |
| Cold Cuts |
2 pounds |
3–3/4 pounds |
6 pounds |
9 pounds |
12 pounds |
| Sliced Cheese |
1–1/8 pounds |
2 pounds |
3 pounds |
4–3/4 pounds |
6 pounds |
| Bread |
2 loaves |
3 loaves |
5 loaves |
7 loaves |
9–3/4 loaves |
| Chips/Snacks |
1 pound |
2 pounds |
3 pounds |
4 pounds |
6 pounds |
| Dip |
2 cups |
3–3/4 cups |
6 cups |
9 cups |
12 cups |
| Hot Dogs |
2 pounds |
3 pounds |
5 pounds |
7 pounds |
9 pounds |
| Rolls or Buns |
1 dozen |
2 dozen |
3 dozen |
5 dozen |
6 dozen |
| Baked Ham |
3 pounds |
5 pounds |
8–3/4 pounds |
12 pounds |
16 pounds |
Salads
(potato salad and coleslaw, also baked beans; 3/4 cup per person) |
2 quarts |
3–3/4 quarts |
1–3/4 gallons |
2 gallons |
3 gallons |
| Ice Cream |
2 quarts |
3–3/4 quarts |
1–3/4 gallons |
2 gallons |
3 gallons |
| Cookies |
2 dozen |
3 dozen |
5 dozen |
8 dozen |
11 dozen |
| Cold Drinks |
6–3/4 quarts |
3 gallons |
5 gallons |
7 gallons |
9 gallons |
Hot Drinks
- Ground Coffee |
1/2 pound |
3/4 pound |
2 pounds |
2 pounds |
3 pounds |
Hot Drinks
- Brewed Tea or Coffee |
1 gallon |
2 gallons |
4 gallons |
6 gallons |
8 gallons |
–courtesy University of Illinois, College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, Cooperative Extension Service
About The Author
Catherine Boeckmann
Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening so it’s not surprising that she and The Old Farmer’s Almanac found each other. She leads digital content for the Almanac website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana.
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