Cooking

Typical Serving Sizes

Serving Sizes for Events

Planning large events can be stressful where food is involved. You don’t want people to go hungry, but you don’t want to buy too much. Use this chart as a guide to get you started figuring out food quantities.

 

Using this guide

Each event will be different depending on the appetites of who’s invited. A big kids birthday party will need less food than an adult-only wedding reception. The serving sizes in this guide are based on a mixed age group of people with average appetites. 

This guide is for plated meals and not buffet service. If you’re planning a buffet, you might want to prepare for slightly larger servings. 

All items are for cooked or prepared amounts unless otherwise stated. Check out our Food Equivalents page if you need to convert some ingredients.

  • Meats, Poultry and Seafood

    These are based on RAW meat quantities from recipes on our website.

    Food Item Serving Size per Person
    Beef
    steak
    ground
    roasts, bone-in
    roasts, boneless
    4 - 6 oz (188 - 125 g)
    4 oz (125 g)
    11 oz (330 g)
    8 - 12 oz (227 - 340 g)
    Pork/Ham
    chop
    roasts
    ground
    ham, bone-in
    ham, boneless
    bacon
    ribs
    4 oz (125 g) 
    4 oz (125 g) 
    6 - 8 oz (170 - 250 g) 
    4 - 6 oz (125 - 170 g) 
    3 strips 
    1 lb (500 g) 
    Hot Dogs/Sausages
    2
    Hamburgers
    1 1/2 patties
    Turkey
    whole
    bone-in breast
    boneless
    1 lb (500 g) 
    12 oz (375 g) 
    6 - 8 oz (150 - 250 g)
    Chicken
    whole
    breast
    pieces
    12 oz (375 g) 
    2 to 3 
    Fish/Seafood
    fish fillets
    scallops
    shrimp
    8 oz (250 g)  
    4 oz (125 g) 
    4 oz (125 g) 
    Eggs
    2
  • Dinner Accompaniments

    All quantities are for prepared amounts.

    Food Item Serving Size per Person
    Soup
    starter size
    main course
    1/2 cup
    1 1/2 cups
    Stuffing
    1/3 cup
    Potatoes
    baked
    mashed
    scalloped
    1
    1/2 cup
    1/2 cup
    Potato Toppings
    butter
    sour cream
    bacon bits
    green onion
    2 tsp
    1/4 cup
    1 tbsp
    1 tbsp
    Rice
    1/2 cup
    Cabbage Rolls
    3
    Vegetables
    1/2 cup
    Rolls/Buns
    1
    Gravy
    1/3 cup
    Cranberry Sauce
    1/4 cup
    Horseradish
    2 tsp
    Salads
    potato  
    macaroni 
    bean 
    coleslaw 
    marinated vegetable 
    ambrosia 
    green  
    dressings 
    2/3 cup 
    1/2 cup  
    1/2 cup  
    2/3 cup 
    3/4 cup  
    1/2 cup  
    3 oz (90g) 
    2 tbsp 
    Cold Meats
    4 oz (125 g)
    Cheese Slices
    30 g ( 1 oz or 1/4 cup)
  • Desserts and Baking

    All quantities are for prepared amounts.

    Food Item Serving Size per Person
    Cakes
    1 piece

     

    Dainties
    3 pieces
    Tea Loaves
    2 pieces
    Ice Cream
    3/4 cup
    Toppings
    dessert sauces
    whipped cream/whipped topping
    strawberries (fresh, sliced or frozen)
    1/4 cup
    1/4 cup
    1/4 cup
  • Breakfast

    All quantities are for prepared amounts.

    Food Item Serving Size per Person
    Hashbrowns/Cubed Potatoes
    1/2 cup
    Muffins or Rolls
    1 1/2
    Toast
    2 slices
    Pancakes
    pancakes
    syrup
    3
    1/4 cup
    Butter
    1 tbsp
    Jam/Jelly
    2 tbsp
    Cereal
    cold
    hot
    milk for cereal
    1 1/2 cups
    1 cup
    1 cup
  • Barbecue and Picnics

    All quantities are for prepared amounts.

    Food Item Serving Size per Person
    Corn on the Cob
    1 whole cob
    Beans
    side dish
    main dish
    1/2 cup
    1 cup
    Garlic Bread
    1 - 2 slices
    Buns/Rolls
    1 - 2
    Burger Toppings
    cheese slices 
    onions, chopped 
    mustard 
    relish 
    ketchup 

    1 tbsp 
    2 tsp 
    2 tsp 
    2 tbsp 
    Salads
    See "Dinner"
    Potatoes
    See "Dinner"
  • Beverages

    When organizing an event, plan for 1 drink per hour for non-alcoholic beverages and 1 drink per 2 hours for alcoholic beverages.

    Food Item Serving Size per Person
    Coffee or Tea
    coffee or tea
    cream
    coffee whitener
    sugar
    2 cups
    2 tbsp
    1 tsp
    2 tsp
    Hot Chocolate
    hot chocolate
    marshmallows
    1 1/2 cups
    2 - 3 regular or 5 - 10 mini
    Milk
    1 cup
    Juice
    1 cup
    Punch
    1 1/2 cups
    Soft Drinks
    2 cans
    Wine

    5 oz (150 mL)

    Beer
    bottle or can
    draught
    1
    12 oz (355 mL)
    Coolers/Ciders
    1