How much food for 30 people?

Hosting 30 guests? Here are tested portion estimates for the most common menu styles, plus links to precise calculators.

Pasta dinner for 30

3 kg dry pasta, 3.6 L sauce, 450g parmesan, and 1.5 kg green salad on the side.

BBQ for 30

About 9.5 kg raw meat (yields ~6.7 kg cooked), 900 ml BBQ sauce, 45 buns, and 1.8 kg sides such as coleslaw or potato salad.

Taco bar for 30

90 tortillas, 4.5 kg cooked seasoned protein, 1.4 kg cheese, 1 L salsa, and 750g rice + 750g beans.

Party appetizers for 30

Plan 6 pieces per adult: about 180 appetizer pieces, 1.5 kg chips, 1.8 L dip, and 60 drinks for a 2–3 hour event.

Coffee for 30

60 cups (about 14 L brewed), roughly 600g ground coffee, plus 900 ml milk or cream.

Related calculators