The last thing you want is to not have enough juicy, tender, and flavorful pulled pork for your guests. This post will help you figure out how much pork you need to make enough. [feast_advanced_jump_to]No time to read?.
First, youll need to determine how many people you need to feed. Then you have to think about what else you are going to serve and how you are going to serve it. Also, if you want your guests to save room for dessert (especially if you made carrot cake!),
I make this slow cooker pulled pork all the time because it’s a crowd-pleaser that’s great for both big and small gatherings.
I always try to make extra pulled pork to use later for nachos, sandwiches, or a quick stuffed sweet potatoes dinner, whether I’m having a family dinner during the week, a backyard barbecue, or a party for a lot of people.
In the event that you are in a similar situation and are wondering how many pounds of meat you need to cook to make sure everyone has enough to eat, I will help you figure it out.
If you want to know how many sandwiches you can make with a pound of pork, we’ll also talk about that.
To start, let’s talk about the things that will affect how much raw pork to cook for each person. Just how much you need will depend on the type of event, the time of day, and whether this is the only main course being served.
If you’re serving hearty sides like coleslaw, potato salad, macaroni and cheese, cornbread, or baked beans, you might be able to reduce the serving size and still have enough food for everyone.
But if your cooked pulled pork is the main dish and there are only a few light sides, people are more likely to eat more.
It’s also important to say whether you want to eat it by itself or as a pulled pork sandwich. If the same amount of cooked pulled pork is put on a bun with extra toppings, it will be more filling than if it isn’t.
To make sure there is enough meat for everyone, you should serve a larger portion if you have a group of people who eat a lot.
However, you will only need a smaller amount of pork if you are serving it to people who aren’t very hungry or to a group with a lot of kids.
Consider if there will be other protein options being served. If you offer other meats, your guests will probably still eat about the same amount of meat, so you can cut back on the pork based on how much other meat is being served.
If you know you need ½ pound of pork per person but also want to serve burgers, you would likely need closer to ¼ pound of pork and ¼ pound of beef per person, assuming they like both equally.
But in this case, I might make a third of a pound of each for each person just in case one is strongly preferred over the other. This is what I would do if I wasn’t sure what people would like.
Pulled pork is a quintessential dish for large gatherings and parties. Its versatility, flavor, and ability to feed a crowd make it a perfect choice But one of the biggest challenges when planning a pulled pork event is determining how many buns or rolls you need to purchase You want to make sure every guest gets a tasty sandwich without having leftovers go to waste.
Follow this complete guide to find out exactly how many buns you should buy when serving pulled pork for a crowd,
How to Calculate How Much Pulled Pork Per Person
The first step is calculating how much cooked pulled pork you need for your guests. Here are some guidelines:
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For a sandwich where pulled pork is the main focus, allow 1⁄3 pound per person. This gives a generous portion.
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If serving slider-style sandwiches or if pulled pork is one of several proteins offered, plan on 1⁄4 pound per person.
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For smaller appetites like kids, allow 2 ounces (or 1/8 pound) per child.
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Buy a little extra as it’s usually better to have leftovers than run out.
Once you know how much pulled pork you need total, you can determine the amount of raw pork butt or shoulder required. Expect a 40-50% loss in weight from cooking.
For example, for 100 people at 1⁄3 pound each you need 33 pounds of cooked pulled pork. So you’ll want to smoke around 65 pounds of raw pork butt to yield that amount.
How Many Buns Per Person?
A good rule of thumb when buying buns is to get the same number as your guest count. This allows one bun per person for filling their plate. Here are some scenarios:
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For a seated meal, provide each guest their own bun. Get 5-6 buns per pound of pork.
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For a buffet, allow 1-2 buns per person. Guests can come back for more.
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At a cocktail party, plan on fewer buns since guests may take smaller portions.
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For kids under 12, allow 1 bun each.
Adjust amounts based on your menu, crowd size and appetites. It’s ideal to have a few extra buns than run short.
Bun Size Matters
Another important consideration is the size of the buns you provide.
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A regular burger bun will hold 4-6 ounces of pulled pork.
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A smaller slider bun accommodates around 2-3 ounces.
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Larger Kaiser rolls or sub rolls can hold 6-8 ounces of meat.
Pick a bun size that matches the portion of pork you’ll be serving per person. Mini slider buns are a great option for appetizer-sized sandwiches.
Account for Sides and Other Dishes
Don’t forget to factor in sides and other dishes when calculating buns needed. If you’ll have lots of salads, sides, or other proteins like burgers or hot dogs, your guests may fill up on those and eat fewer pulled pork sandwiches.
In that case, you can reduce the number of buns, getting maybe 1 bun per 2 people. Or size down to smaller slider buns for lighter appetizer portions.
Bun Choices for Pulled Pork
Choose a bun that can stand up to the juicy pork and messy sauce without getting soggy. Here are good options:
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Potato buns – sturdy yet soft, slightly sweet
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Brioche buns – light and buttery
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Kaiser rolls – bigger size, crunchy topping
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Sourdough bread – holds up well, tangy flavor
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Pretzel buns – crisp exterior, great for barbecue
Stay away from flimsy white burger buns or cheap thin sandwich bread. You want a bun with some structure.
Buying Tips to Avoid Waste
To make sure you get the bun count right, follow these tips:
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Buy a few extra packs just in case. Extra buns keep well frozen.
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If using name brand buns, check the count per package so you know exactly how many you’re getting.
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For bulk or bakery buns, count them out into packs of 12 or 24 for easier serving.
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Have a plan for any leftover buns – use for sandwiches throughout the week or freeze for later.
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Repurpose extra buns into bread pudding, croutons for soups, or breadcrumbs for recipes.
With the right calculations and these tips, you’ll have the perfect amount of delicious buns on hand for your pulled pork crowd to make amazing sandwiches.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pounds of pulled pork for 100 people?
- For 100 people allow around 33-37 pounds of cooked pulled pork. This equals about 65-75 pounds of raw pork shoulder or butt.
How many ounces in 1/3 pound?
- One-third of a pound equals 5.3 ounces. This is a common portion size for a pulled pork sandwich.
How many sliders can you make from a pork butt?
- From an 8-10 pound pork butt, you can expect to yield 4-5 pounds of pulled pork which will make about 18-20 slider sandwiches.
What’s better for pulled pork – burger buns or rolls?
- Sturdy rolls or potato buns hold up better to juicy pulled pork than regular burger buns. Brioche or pretzel buns are also excellent choices.
How do you keep buns from getting soggy with pulled pork?
- Choose a high quality bun and lightly toast it before assembling the sandwich. Limit the amount of barbecue sauce so the bun doesn’t get too soggy.
The Takeaway
Determining bun quantities for pulled pork can take some planning, but the effort is worth it to keep your crowd satisfied. Allow 1 bun per guest as a baseline, then adjust amounts based on your menu, appetites, and bun size. Buy a few extra to be safe and avoid waste. With these tips, your party will be a delicious success!
How Much Pulled Pork Per Person?
Okay, now that we’ve talked about everything that needs to be thought about, let’s do the simple math!
It’s important to remember that the amount will depend on the event and the people who are eating it, but as a general rule, you should plan to give each person ⅓ to ¾ pounds of raw pork.
So to determine the exact amount needed, use this simple equation: Number of guests x 0. 33 (minimum) – 0. 75 (maximum) pounds of pulled pork per person = weight of pulled pork required.
For instance, if you’re having a party with 20 people, the amount of pulled pork you would need is 20 people times 0. 33 pounds = ~7 pounds (minimum estimate) 20 guests x 0. 75 pounds = 15 pounds (maximum estimate).
Based on these calculations, preparing 7 to 15 pounds of pulled pork should be enough pork.
I usually plan to serve ½ pound of raw pork (boneless) to guests and ¼ pound per serving when I’m making it for meal prep and using it in recipes.
Event and Time of Day
You also have to think about the type of event and the time of day.
For early afternoon gatherings, guests might have lighter appetites, but for dinner events, guests may have heartier appetites.
Lastly, think about whether you want to have leftovers.
Pulled pork that has been left over can be kept in a container that won’t let air in, frozen well, and used in many recipes.
Check out this post to learn exactly how to store and freeze leftover pulled pork.
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