As my family gears up to host our annual end-of-summer bash I’ve been put in charge of planning the most important part – the food! Specifically we’re doing a build-your-own beef on a bun bar this year, which is always a huge hit. But figuring out exactly how much beef to buy per person has me scratching my head. I want to make sure everyone gets plenty of delicious meat without breaking the bank.
Luckily, I found an awesome meat per person calculator online that takes the guesswork out of portion planning After playing around with the options, I have a much better handle on precisely how much beef to get for our beefy bun feast Let me walk through the key factors in getting the math right when budgeting beef for a crowd.
Average Serving Size for Beef on a Bun
The first step is determining the right serving size of beef per person. Here are some general guidelines:
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4-6 oz cooked weight is standard for burgers and sandwiches.
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Plan for 6-8 oz servings if beef is the main dish,
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Go lighter at 3-4 oz for kids or those with smaller appetites.
For our featured beef on a bun meal, I’ll plan for 6 oz finished cooked portions to ensure everyone gets a hearty sandwich.
Allowing for Raw Weight and Cook Loss
Raw meat shrinks when cooked due to moisture loss. For beef, plan on about a 25% cook loss from raw weight to finished portions.
So if I want 6 oz cooked servings, I need to buy approximately 8 oz raw weight per person.
This cook loss is factored into the calculator’s beef quantity estimates. Super helpful for budgeting!
Using the Calculator for a 50 Person Bun Bar
Based on 50 guests with 8 oz raw weight portions, here is what the calculator recommends:
- 400 ounces (25 lbs) raw weight
- 300 ounces (18.75 lbs) cooked weight
That gives me a handy guide for roughly how much raw beef to purchase from the butcher.
Adjusting for Appetites and Leftovers
The calculator portions are based on recommended serving sizes. For hearty appetites, I like to bump up beef amounts by 10-20% to ensure everyone gets their fill.
More meat can also cover unexpected guests or those who want seconds. And leftover beef is amazing for next day sandwiches!
So for my cookout, I’ll grab 28-30 lbs of raw beef to be safe. Then I can cook up 25 lbs for the buns and save extras for later.
Ground Beef Versus Steak Options
For shredded beef on buns, ground chuck or sirloin are ideal options. 85% lean gives the best balance of flavor and juiciness.
If offering a mix of sandwiches and steaks, you can portion out quantities between ground beef and steak cuts like sirloin or tri-tip. Just remember steak cuts cost more per pound.
I’m going all in on juicy ground beef for this party menu. At around $4/lb for ground sirloin, 30 lbs will cost me about $120. Very budget friendly!
Planning Sides and Buns Accordingly
Knowing my total cooked beef amount, I can now plan sides and buns in the right proportions.
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Buns: Allow 2 buns per person. So 100 buns for 50 people.
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Sides: Figure 0.25 lbs of potato salad and coleslaw per person. That’s 12.5 lbs of each for 50.
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Chips: Get 5-6 individual bags per person. So 250-300 bags.
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Condiments: Estimate 2 oz diced onions and pickles per person. And squeeze bottles of ketchup, mustard and mayo.
Having the beef quantity as my starting point makes shopping and portioning out the rest of the meal much easier. No stressing about how much is needed – I’ve got the meat math!
Handy Table for Budgeting Beef
Here is a handy reference table to estimate costs for raw beef based on serving sizes and headcount:
| Serving Size | 10 People | 25 People | 50 People | 75 People |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 oz | 2.5 lbs | 6.25 lbs | 12.5 lbs | 18.75 lbs |
| 6 oz | 3.75 lbs | 9.375 lbs | 18.75 lbs | 28.125 lbs |
| 8 oz | 5 lbs | 12.5 lbs | 25 lbs | 37.5 lbs |
Use this to ballpark your beef needs and costs for any bun-based barbecue bash!
Takeaway Tips for Perfect Portions
Planning out portions for a build your own beef bun bar takes a bit of upfront math. But using the handy meat calculator, you can quickly estimate:
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How much raw beef to buy per person
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Total cooked beef for serving
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Adjustments for appetites and leftovers
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Ideal ratios of buns, sides and condiments
Armed with the right beef per person knowledge, you’ll be ready to build the perfect bun bar that satisfies all your guests. So fire up those grills and get ready to enjoy a mouthwatering feast of beefy sandwiches!
Barbecued Roast Beef on a Bun – Food Wishes
FAQ
How many pounds of beef are on a bun per person?
How much beef per person for beef sandwiches?
How much beef do I need for a bun for 20 people?
How many sandwiches does 1 lb of beef make?
How much beef do you put on a bun?
Place a generous amount of sliced beef on each bun and top with additional BBQ sauce if desired. Serve hot and enjoy! Wondering how much beef you’ll need per person for your BBQ beef on a bun? As a general guideline, plan for around 1/2 pound (8 ounces) of beef per person. This will ensure everyone gets a satisfying portion.
How many servings of lean meats should one have per day?
Ideally, each person consumes between 300 and 500 g of meat per week, which means a very small steak per day. This includes red and white meats such as chicken and fish, although they are less fatty.
How much roast beef per person?
Consider serving sandwiches with roast beef as the main course with 1/2 to 1/3 pound of roast beef per person. You can calculate 1/4 to 1/6 pounds of roast beef per person when it’s included in a buffet or appetizer selection. Depending on your particular event and your guests’ appetites, change the quantities.
Is beef on a bun a good thing?
Sharing is caring! If there are any guarantees in life, aside from death and taxes, it’s that if you end up at any kind of event around Stampede time in Calgary, you’ll be served Beef on a Bun. And this is a good thing!