Fifty guests is one of the most common sizes for a graduation party, a family reunion or a company picnic. It is big enough that guessing can go wrong, but the math is simple once you know a few rules of thumb. Here is what to plan for.
Meat for 50 People
Plan on about one third to one half pound of cooked meat per adult. For 50 adults, that works out to about 17 to 25 pounds of cooked meat in total.
- One meat: about 17 to 25 pounds of that meat.
- Two meats: about 9 to 13 pounds of each. Brisket and pulled pork are the most popular pair.
- Three meats: about 6 to 8 pounds of each.
Use the lower end for a lunch or an event with plenty of appetizers. Use the higher end for a dinner or a hungry crowd. If children are part of the count, figure each child at about half an adult portion.
Brisket and Pulled Pork
Brisket is usually the first meat to run out, so it is worth rounding up. If brisket is your only meat, plan on about 25 pounds of cooked brisket for 50 adults. Pulled pork stretches further, especially on rolls, so about 17 pounds of cooked pork covers 50 adults on its own.
These are cooked weights. A raw brisket loses close to half its weight in the smoker, so you would need roughly twice as much raw meat if you cook it yourself.
Sides for 50 People
Plan on about four to five ounces of each side per guest, or roughly a half cup. For 50 guests, that is about 14 pounds, or 25 cups, of each side. Two or three sides are enough for most events. Mac ’n’ cheese, BBQ beans, coleslaw and potato salad are reliable choices.
Rolls and Sauce
- Rolls: about 50 to 75, or one to one and a half per guest.
- BBQ sauce: about one to one and a half ounces per guest, or roughly 50 to 75 ounces in total.
A Shopping List for 50 Guests
- 12 pounds of cooked brisket
- 12 pounds of cooked pulled pork
- 14 pounds each of two or three sides
- 60 rolls
- About 60 ounces of BBQ sauce
Adjust these numbers for the time of day, the age of your guests and how much other food you are serving.
What Catering for 50 Costs at Stampede
Our catering packages are priced per person, so you do not need to work out pounds of meat. Each package includes dinner rolls and our BBQ sauce. For 50 guests, the food total comes to:
- Value Package (2 meats, 2 sides) at $25.75 per person: $1,287.50
- Standard Package (2 meats, 3 sides) at $28.50 per person: $1,425.00
- Stampede Package (3 meats, 3 sides) at $34.50 per person: $1,725.00
A Custom Package is priced to order. Your quote will confirm the final total for your event.
Request a Quote
Send us your date and guest count through the catering page and we will get back to you within 24 business hours with pricing and availability. We recommend booking at least 3 to 4 weeks ahead. For other group sizes, see our guide to how much BBQ to order per person, and for party ideas, see graduation party BBQ catering.