Planning a cookout is fun right up until you start wondering if you’ve bought enough burgers…or way too many hot dog buns. Feeding a crowd can feel like a guessing game, but a few simple guidelines make it much easier to shop confidently without ending up with either hungry guests or a refrigerator full of leftovers (though that’s not always a bad thing).
For proteins, plan on about 1/3 to 1/2 pound of meat per person if burgers, hot dogs, chicken, or ribs are the main event. If you’re serving multiple proteins—say burgers and sausages—you can scale that back slightly since guests will likely try a little of everything. A good rule of thumb is one burger and one hot dog per adult, with extra hot dogs for kids, who somehow always seem capable of eating three.
Side dishes are where people tend to overbuy. For potato salad, pasta salad, slaw, baked beans, or fruit salad, aim for about 1/2 cup per person per side. If you’re offering several sides, guests will take smaller portions of each. Three sides plus chips and dip is usually plenty.
Speaking of snacks, count on about 1 ounce of chips or pretzels per person before the meal starts. Watermelon, corn on the cob, and other summer favorites can also help round out the menu without requiring a lot of extra cooking.
Dessert doesn’t need to be enormous after a big cookout. One or two simple options—cookies, brownies, or a fruit dessert—are usually enough. If you’re serving something rich like ice cream cake, smaller portions go a long way.
And finally: people remember abundance more than precision. Running out of ice is a tragedy; having extra pasta salad is just tomorrow’s lunch. When in doubt, buy a little extra for the grill and plenty of drinks, then relax and enjoy the party yourself.
