Catering math
BBQ for a crowd
For any crowd, plan 1/2 lb of cooked meat per adult in total. For 50 people that is about 25 lb cooked, or roughly 50 lb raw brisket and pork.
| Guests | Brisket | Pork butt | St. Louis ribs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 people | 1 packer brisket (3.5 lb) | 1 pork butt (3.9 lb) | 2 racks |
| 25 people | 1 packer brisket (8.8 lb) | 2 pork butts (9.7 lb) | 3 racks |
| 50 people | 2 packer briskets (17.5 lb) | 3 pork butts (19.4 lb) | 6 racks |
| 75 people | 2 packer briskets (26.3 lb) | 4 pork butts (29.2 lb) | 9 racks |
| 100 people | 3 packer briskets (35 lb) | 5 pork butts (38.9 lb) | 12 racks |
| 150 people | 4 packer briskets (52.5 lb) | 8 pork butts (58.3 lb) | 18 racks |
Quick calculator
- Brisket1 packer brisket9.6 lb raw
- Pulled pork2 pork butts10.7 lb raw
- St. Louis ribs4 racks39 bones
Two meat menu
| Guests | Brisket | Pork butt |
|---|---|---|
| 10 people | 1 packer brisket (5 lb) | 1 pork butt (5.6 lb) |
| 25 people | 1 packer brisket (12.5 lb) | 2 pork butts (13.9 lb) |
| 50 people | 2 packer briskets (25 lb) | 4 pork butts (27.8 lb) |
| 75 people | 3 packer briskets (37.5 lb) | 6 pork butts (41.7 lb) |
| 100 people | 4 packer briskets (50 lb) | 7 pork butts (55.6 lb) |
| 150 people | 6 packer briskets (75 lb) | 11 pork butts (83.3 lb) |
Big cook tips
- Space runs out before time does. Check the smoker size in the planner.
- Pork reheats beautifully. Cook it the day before to free up room for ribs.
- A long hold in a dry cooler is your friend. Briskets can hold warm for hours.
Trusted recipes to try
Brisket
- Texas style brisket · Meat Church
- Texas brisket, butcher paper method · How To BBQ Right
- Texas style smoked brisket · AmazingRibs
Pulled pork
- Pulled pork · Meat Church
- Competition style pulled pork · How To BBQ Right
- A perfect BBQ pulled pork · AmazingRibs
St. Louis ribs
- St. Louis cut pork ribs · Meat Church
- Malcom style ribs · How To BBQ Right
- Texas style spare ribs · Meat Church
Common questions
How much brisket for 50 people?+
About 50 lb raw, or 4 packers around 14 lb, if brisket is the only meat. With pulled pork alongside, about 2 packers plus 4 pork butts.
How much BBQ for 100 people?+
Plan about 50 lb of cooked meat total. With brisket, pork, and ribs, that is about 3 packer briskets, 5 pork butts, and 12 racks of St. Louis ribs.
Can one smoker handle 100 people?+
Usually not on a backyard cooker. Cook the pork or brisket a day ahead and reheat, or borrow a second smoker.
Plan the whole cook
Pick every meat, set your serve time, and get one shopping list and one smoker timeline.
Open the planner