When you buy chicken to make meals for the week or for a big group, this post will tell you how much chicken to buy or serve each person.
That said, the amount will change depending on the type of chicken and the event. This post takes all of that into account to help you figure out how much.
Planning a meal, gathering, or party that involves chicken often leads to the question – how much chicken do I need to buy? It’s a common dilemma when meal planning, as you want to make sure you have enough for everyone without overbuying and wasting food. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll provide a definitive answer on how many pounds of chicken you need per person.
Key Factors That Determine Chicken Portions
Several key factors impact how much chicken is needed per person
-
Raw vs cooked weight: Chicken loses about 25% of its weight during cooking due to moisture loss. A 1 lb raw chicken breast yields about 3⁄4 lb cooked.
-
Bone-in vs boneless: Boneless chicken requires less per person, about 1⁄2 – 3⁄4 lb. Bone-in portions need about 1 lb per person to account for bones.
-
Type of cut: The meat that can be eaten comes from breasts, thighs, drumsticks, and wings. Breasts and thighs have more meat than wings.
-
Appetite: Adults with big appetites may need bigger portions than kids with small appetites.
-
Side dishes: If the chicken is the main dish, you need more of it; if there are other sides, you need less.
Recommended Portion Sizes
Here are the recommended chicken portion sizes per person:
-
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: 1⁄2 to 3⁄4 lb
-
Boneless thighs: 1⁄2 to 3⁄4 lb
-
Bone-in chicken pieces (breasts, thighs, legs): Approximately 1 lb
-
Whole chicken: Around 1 1⁄2 to 2 lbs
-
Wings 5-8 wings per person
-
For kids: halve the adult portions
Planning Tips
Here are some tips for planning chicken meals for a group:
-
Prepare extra for leftovers
-
Use a kitchen scale for precision
-
Account for cooking method – grilled chicken may need more
-
Freeze extras for future meals
-
Store cooked chicken safely for 3-4 days
-
Thaw frozen chicken in the refrigerator
-
Cook chicken to 165°F minimum internal temperature
Making Adjustments
You may need to adjust the basic portion recommendations based on your specific meal:
-
More chicken needed: Main dish with few sides
-
Less chicken needed: Multiple side dishes served
-
Larger portions: Guests with big appetites
-
Smaller portions: Kids and older adults
-
Cook extra: Plan for leftovers
Sample Calculations
Let’s look at some examples to see portion calculations in action:
Example 1: Grilled chicken dinner for 4 adults
- Boneless chicken breasts
- 2 side dishes
- Average appetites
Solution:
- 4 adults x 0.5 lb boneless chicken per person = 2 lbs
- Add a bit more for grilling = 2.5 lbs raw chicken needed
Example 2: Whole roasted chicken dinner with sides for family of 2 adults, 2 kids
Solution:
- Adults: 2 x 1.5 lbs whole chicken per person = 3 lbs
- Kids: 2 x 0.75 lbs whole chicken per person = 1.5 lbs
- Total raw chicken needed = 4.5 lbs
Example 3: Chicken wings for party appetizers, 12 adults
Solution:
- 12 adults x 6 wings per person = 72 wings needed
The Bottom Line
When planning for a group, allot around 1⁄2 – 3⁄4 lb boneless or 1 lb bone-in chicken per average adult. Adjust up or down for side dishes, cooking method, appetites, kids, leftovers, and your specific menu. Follow safe storage and handling, and enjoy your perfectly portioned chicken meal!
How Much Chicken to Cook Per Person
The amount of chicken to cook per person depends on whether it’s the main dish or a part of the meal.
Four to six ounces of chicken per person is a good amount for a main dish like these pan-seared chicken breasts.
It can also vary based on the number of side dishes you plan to serve.
If chicken is being added to pasta or stew, then you might not need a generous amount. In these cases 3 to 4 ounces per person is plenty.
Do you get tired of making the same chicken recipes over and over again? Check out this eBook!
70+ Epic Chicken Recipes
If chicken is your go-to meal builder, you’re going to love the recipes inside this book!
The recipes inside are tasty and kid-approved. There are marinades, soups, slow cooker meals, one-pot wonders, sheet pan dinners, and more.
*The following serving amounts are based on the average cut of chicken but keep in mind the sizes can drastically vary. Some cuts will be much larger and yield more than the suggested 4 to 6 ounces of cooked meat. You can check the weight of the package and go from there, or if you need specific amounts get chicken from behind the meat counter.
How Many Chicken Legs Per Person
There are two types of chicken legs: drumsticks and leg quarters. Drumsticks are about 4 ounces with skin on and bone-in, with 1 ½ ounces of meat, so two per person is a good amount or up to three for larger appetites.
2 drumsticks per adults | 1 drumstick per child
Chicken leg quarters include both the drumstick and thigh, and have about 6 ounces worth of meat. So one leg quarter per person is perfect.
1 chicken leg quarter per person
What is a serving size of chicken breast?
FAQ
How many ounces of chicken should a pound of chicken serve?
When you are making a recipe where the meat is about ½ of the total ingredients, it is best to use ⅙ of a pound per person. This is when about 2-3 ounces of chicken per person should be used. One easy way to think about this is that my Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Spaghetti, which has one pound of chicken, serves six people.
How much chicken should a person eat per pound?
This is also typically when boneless skinless chicken pieces are used. It is best to use ⅙ of a pound of meat per person when the meat makes up about ½ of the main ingredients. This is when about 2-3 ounces of chicken per person should be used.
How much chicken do I need for 10 people?
For a party of 10 people, a safe estimate would be 5 to 7. 5 pounds of chicken, assuming bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces. 2. If you’re serving boneless, skinless chicken, you might want to figure out that each person will need about 1 pound. 3. How many pounds of chicken do I need for a barbecue?.
How much chicken does a pound of chicken thighs eat?
For boneless breasts or thighs, you will need ½# of chicken meat per person. This is when eating the piece of chicken without any other ingredients in the main course entree – such as grilled chicken thighs. When enjoying it in a recipe like my Paleo Greek Chicken Thighs, 1 pound will feed 4 people, for 4 ounces of chicken per person.
How much chicken do I need for a barbecue?
When serving boneless, skinless chicken, consider calculating around 1 pound per person. 3. How many pounds of chicken do I need for a barbecue? For a barbecue where chicken is the primary protein, you might want to allocate 3/4 to 1 pound per person to account for the greater consumption in outdoor settings.
How many ounces of chicken per person?
These calculations are based on about ½# or 8 ounces per person for whole chicken as the main course. This is for a typical meal where 2-3 side dishes are being served also. if you want leftovers and/or only enjoy something light like a green salad with it, I suggest ¾# or 10-12 ounces of bone-in chicken per person.
How many pounds of boneless chicken do I need for 10 people?
| Boneless Meat | Number of People | Bone in meat |
|---|---|---|
| 3lb / 1.36kg | 6 – 7 | 4lb / 1.82kg |
| 4lb / 1.82kg | 8 – 9 | 6lb / 2.73kg |
| 5lb / 2.27kg | 10 – 11 | 7lb / 3.18kg |
| 6lb / 2.73kg | 12 – 13 | 8lb / 3.64kg |
How much chicken is needed for 8 adults?
| Size of bird | Portions |
|---|---|
| 1.8kg (3.9lb) | 3-4 people |
| 2kg (4.5lb) | 4-6 people |
| 2.5kg (5.5lb) | 6-8 people |
How many servings is 5 lbs of chicken?
5 LB Pack. Boneless/Skinless. Approximately 10 portions.
How many people does 1lb of chicken serve?
1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken: This will yield about 3 to 4 servings. 1 pound of bone-in chicken: This will yield about 2 to 3 servings. 1 whole chicken (3 to 4 pounds): This will yield about 4 to 6 servings.