Plan food for a BBQ party.
Barbecue quantities start from cooked meat per adult, which is about half a pound for a mixed grill where there are also sides — more if meat is the whole meal, less if there are several substantial salads. Children are counted at roughly half an adult portion. The figure is cooked weight, so raw purchase weight needs adding to for shrinkage: burgers and steaks lose about 20% on the grill and pulled pork closer to 40%. Sides run around six ounces a head across all guests including children. Charcoal burns at roughly a pound and a half an hour on a standard kettle, so a three-hour cook wants a five-pound bag with margin.
BBQ Party Planner
Meat oz = adults x oz per adult + children x oz per adult x 0.5; meat lb = oz / 16; sides lb = guests x sides oz / 16; charcoal lb = grill hours x 1.5
Half a pound of cooked meat per adult with sides, or three quarters if meat is the main event. That is about eight ounces, or two quarter-pound burgers.
These figures are cooked. Buy 20% more raw for burgers and steaks and up to 40% more for slow-cooked cuts, which lose a lot of moisture and fat.